Kyogoku Kaneyo

Kyogoku Kaneyo is a historic eel restaurant established during the Meiji era, located near the bustling Shinkyogoku Shopping Street in Kyoto's Kawaramachi area. Directly across from the Movix Kyoto Minami cinema, this nostalgic eatery is marked by its traditional wooden architecture and distinctive red lanterns.

The eel is sourced from Kyushu and famed for its thin skin, high-quality fat, and tender flesh. The sauce, a secret recipe continuously added to since the restaurant's founding, perfectly complements the skillfully grilled eel, for tasty, plump bites.

A standout dish is the "Kinshi Don," which features eel grilled in Edo style and topped with a thick layer of Kyoto-style dashi omelette over rice glazed with the special sauce. This dish offers a unique flavor profile, blending the rich taste of the eel with the savory essence of kombu dashi, distinguishing it from typical unadon (eel rice bowl).

Step up to the second-floor tatami mat room to find monthly rakugo (comic storytelling) performances, making it a popular destination that often books up quickly.