Walter Ponce
On our first afternoon in Kyoto, after walking Nishiki Market, we wanted a proper sit-down lunch rather than another round of market snacks. We found it a couple of streets away at Komefuku (米福), a tempura, sushi and seafood restaurant at Shijo-Karasuma.
The place
Komefuku is a modern take on a traditional Japanese restaurant: wooden walls, an exposed concrete ceiling, big paper lanterns with the restaurant’s name, and a large noren curtain printed with a wave and the word KOMEFUKU.
What we ordered
At lunch, the menu is built around set meals (teishoku), and they are good value. We had two different sets that together covered most of what the kitchen does:
- a sashimi selection,
- a basket of tempura: prawn and vegetables,
- a small tofu dish,
- miso soup, pickles and a bowl of rice each.
The name gives a hint of the restaurant’s philosophy: kome means rice, and the rice is treated as a main part of the meal rather than a side.
Good to know
- Address: on Higashinotoin-dori, just south of Nishikikoji, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto. About two minutes on foot from Karasuma Station (Hankyu line) and close to Shijo Station (subway).
- Lunch: set meals at around 1,000 yen per person on average, which is good value for central Kyoto.
- Dinner: in the evening the menu moves to tempura, sushi and seafood à la carte and courses, with an average spend of around 3,000 yen.
- Combine it with: Nishiki Market, just around the corner, and the shopping streets of Shijo.
- Other branch: there is also a Komefuku in Kiyamachi, near Pontocho.
What is a teishoku?
A teishoku is a Japanese set meal: one main dish served on a tray with rice, miso soup and pickles, often with a couple of small side dishes. It follows the traditional idea of ichiju sansai, “one soup, three dishes”, which is the classic structure of a balanced Japanese home meal.
For travellers, set meals are one of the best ways to eat well in Japan at lunchtime. Restaurants that are more expensive at dinner often offer lunch sets at a fraction of the price, and you get to try several things in one go without having to read a long menu.
A quick guide to tempura
Tempura arrived in Japan through Portuguese contact in the 16th century and became a Japanese classic. Seafood and vegetables are dipped in a very light batter and fried quickly, so the coating stays thin and crisp.
How to eat it:
- Dip it in tentsuyu, the light dipping sauce, often with grated daikon radish mixed in.
- Or use salt, if it is offered. Many people prefer salt for vegetables and delicate fish.
- Eat it straight away, while it is hot and crisp.
If you see tendon on the menu, it is tempura served on top of a bowl of rice and finished with a sweet soy sauce. It is a filling, good-value option and one of the most popular dishes at Komefuku.
How to order
- At lunch, choose a set. The sets are the simplest choice and the best value.
- If you are two, order two different sets and share, so you can try both tempura and sashimi.
- Ask for the English menu if you need it.
- Rice refills. In many Japanese set-meal restaurants you can ask for more rice; ask the staff if it is included.
Nishiki Market and the Shijo area
Komefuku is a natural stop before or after Nishiki Market, a narrow covered street of food stalls and shops often called “Kyoto’s kitchen”. It runs east-west for several blocks, parallel to Shijo-dori, and sells pickles, fresh seafood, tofu, sweets, knives and kitchenware. It gets very crowded from late morning, so an early visit is more comfortable.
Also within walking distance:
- The Shijo-Karasuma shopping area, with the Daimaru department store and its food hall.
- Teramachi and Shinkyogoku, two covered shopping arcades at the east end of Nishiki.
- Nishiki Tenmangu, a small shrine at the end of the market.
- Pontocho, a narrow lane of restaurants along the Kamo River, lovely in the evening.
Getting there
- Hankyu Kyoto line: Karasuma Station, about two minutes on foot.
- Karasuma subway line: Shijo Station, also very close.
Both stations are connected underground along Shijo-dori, which is handy on a rainy day. From Kyoto Station, the subway takes only a few minutes to Shijo.
Best time to visit
For lunch, arrive before noon or after 1:30 pm to avoid the main rush. Weekends and Saturday evenings are the busiest times, with waits reported at around 40 minutes, so a weekday visit is easier.
What Google reviewers say
Google rating: 4.3 out of 5 from 2,773 reviews (October 2026).
Most reviewers describe a good-value tempura meal in a cosy, wood-lined room, with friendly staff and an English menu. The tendon (tempura rice bowl) and the shrimp tempura are the most-mentioned dishes. The mixed reviews are about waiting times (around 40 minutes on a Saturday night) and a few people who expected a high-end tempura experience rather than a casual, busy restaurant.
Verdict
My rating: 5 out of 5. A reliable, good-value lunch in the centre of Kyoto, two minutes from Nishiki Market. If you want tempura and sashimi without a big kaiseki bill, Komefuku is an excellent choice.
FAQ
Where is Komefuku in Kyoto? The Shijo-Karasuma branch is on Higashinotoin-dori near Nishikikoji, two minutes from Karasuma Station.
How much is lunch at Komefuku? Set meals average around 1,000 yen per person at lunch.
Is Komefuku near Nishiki Market? Yes, it is a couple of streets away.
What should I order at Komefuku? At lunch, the set meals with tempura and sashimi are the best value. The tendon (tempura rice bowl) is one of the most popular dishes.
How do I get to Komefuku? Walk about two minutes from Karasuma Station on the Hankyu line, or from Shijo Station on the Karasuma subway line.
Is there an English menu at Komefuku? Yes, reviewers mention that an English menu is available.
