Avocado Yakisoba and Tomato Okonomiyaki by Kyo Chabana, Kyoto, Japan

Avocado Yakisoba and Tomato Okonomiyaki

by Kyo Chabana, Kyoto, Japan (my favorite restaurant in the world!)

I have been to Kyoto, Japan three times in my life, and every time I've had dinner at Kyo-Chabana. Each time, I've ordered the same two dishes. Whenever I'm in town, I always make sure to visit Kyo Chabana for dinner and to order the avocado yakisoba and the tomato okonomiyaki. A tradition is a tradition, after all! 

Kyo-Chabana is a teppanyaki restaurant, where dishes are prepared and served in front of guests on top of a teppan, a large, flat heated griddle not unlike a hibachi grill. For years, I've described Kyo Chabana as my favorite restaurant in the world, and I was delighted to stop by again on a recent trip to Japan.

avocado yakisoba at Kyo Chabana Kyoto Station, Japan

I arrived at Kyo Chabana in the evening. It was already dark, and the modern lights of the nearby Kyoto Tower contrasted beautifully with the old-fashioned wooden shophouse feel of the restaurant.

The server handed us our menus and reached beneath our table to turn on the gas heater which would warm up the large plate griddle which was built inside a recess in the table.

Of course, we had to start with an appetizer, and we decided to order a small plate of edamame beans roasted with oil and salt. The dish is simple and packed with flavor, and the salty beans are a fantastic example of a bar snack and go really well with an ice-cold beer while you are waiting for your dinner to arrive.

grilled edamame beans with salt in Kyoto, Japan

Avocado Yakisoba

For the main course, we started with a serving of avocado yakisoba. Yakisoba is a traditional Japanese stir fry made with soba noodles, but at Kyo Chabana, the buckwheat noodles were served on top of the griddle in a creamy, sweet and savory sauce made with chunks of ripe, buttery avocado, grilled bacon, and slivers of onion. Honestly, if you are going to order just one dish here, go for the avocado yakisoba. You won't be disappointed.

Kyo Chabana's avocado yakisoba sizzling on a teppan grill in Kyoto, Japan

Tomato Okonomiyaki

Next, we had Kyo Chabana's signature tomato okonomiyaki.

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese cabbage pancake. It is traditionally made with wheat flour, eggs, shredded cabbage, and other vegetables. Here, it was topped with a runny fried egg and finished with a gravy boat filled with a savory herby tomato sauce.

tomato okonomiyaki with a fried egg at Kyo Chabana, Kyoto, Japan

You can get more traditional teppanyaki dishes at Kyo Chabana too, of course, but I really love their specialty fusion dishes. Kyo-Chabana remains my favorite restaurant in the world! Even though it's been years since I have visited it, the quality of the food has not diminished. It was again one of the best meals that I've ever had!

I will keep returning to Kyo Chabana whenever I'm in Kyoto, especially if I'm able to bring a friend along with me to introduce them to this incredible restaurant.

Japanese okonomiyaki with egg and a savory tomato sauce

Location

Kyo Chabana Kyoto Station is located at Japan, 〒600-8216 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Higashishiokojicho, 578 まつやビル 1F. As the name suggests, the restaurant is very close to Kyoto Station and could be a good place to eat shortly after arriving or before departing the city. It's also close to the iconic Kyoto Tower which defines Kyoto's downtown skyline.

Kyo Chabana Kyoto Station in Kyoto, Japan