In Fall 2017, a new star emerged in the Kyoto dining scene, Kyoto Gatten Tempura Pub. Combining the fine art of tempura with the trendy wagyu boom, Kyoto Gatten has created a completely new dish to rival the tastiest tempura restaurants and kushiyaki restaurants in the land. With its succulent flavorful wagyu beef enveloped in a crisp exterior, their meat tempura alone is worth the visit.

Especially popular with foreign visitors due to its tasty dishes, convenient location (right at the entrance of the highly popular Pontocho district), its English menu, open kitchen style, friendly atmosphere and helpful staff accommodating both standing pub and sit-down dining, Kyoto Gatten is a dinner destination you'll want to visit. And now for the winter season, they have added the warming and comforting cold weather favorites shabu shabu and sukiyaki featuring prime Kuroge wagyu to their menu.

First, let's take a look at Kyoto Gatten's excellent standard menu selections, beginning with their famed meat tempura.

Not only will you relish their flavorful wagyu sirloin tempura, seasoned as you wish with salt or wasabi, Kyoto Gatten's famous beef tempura skewers featuring the highly valued zabuton (from the chuck eye roll) cut are sensational when dipped in their tangy house dipping sauce flavored with beef broth and chili pepper. You'll want to order several because they're so addictive!

Their beef tripe and pork belly tempura, with their contrasting textures and tastes, are also worth ordering for variety.

Chicken and egg are often featured together in Japanese dishes such as oyako-don (literally "mother and son") rice bowl, but this is a novel permutation of that theme, with a runny cocote-style egg enveloped in a ball of minced chicken, then coated with tempura for a surprising and satisfying combination.

While land-based meats are definitely their specialty, Kyoto Gatten also serves excellent fresh seafood dishes such as this Masu Sushi with salmon and salmon roe served in a Japanese lacquer masu (square wooden sake cup) shaped dish.

In the drinks department, Kyoto Gatten doesn't disappoint, with a selection of cocktails featuring the proud traditions of Kyoto. For example, this sake kir royale is served with sake in a bamboo cup. You can adjust how much sake you add according to your taste. They also have several other original sake cocktails to choose from.

Matcha beer is a trendy drink of late, and Kyoto Gatten's matcha beer features excellent quality matcha from Kyoto's Miyakosaryo Tea Company.

Kyoto Gatten's shandy gaff features freshly grated ginger and is sweetened with sanonto brown sugar, prized by chefs and used in making traditional Japanese sweets.

Before we move on to the newest menu items, let's take a little tour of the premises and get a feel for the lively and friendly atmosphere that has already begun attracting droves of tourists from around the world.

The main dining area is accented by a panel on the back wall adorned with an auspicious dragon, creating a lively blend of contemporary elegance and tradition

Fresh seafood and premium sakes are always present

An open kitchen style allows all diners to see their meals prepared and lends a more energetic mood to the entire restaurant.

Winter Menu: Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki

Kyoto Gatten's latest menu additions are perfect for winter. Let's begin with their healthy and delicious shabu shabu courses:

• Kuroge Wagyu Shabu Shabu Course (14 items)
• Price: 6,000 JPY + tax / person
• Content: Kuroge Wagyu shabu shabu, three types of meat tempura, six types of sashimi, Caesar salad, edamame, Inaniwa udon noodles, Ponto kinakomochi (rice cake with sweet roasted soy powder)
• Includes 120 mins. all-you-can-drink plan. Requires a minimum of two people.

• Wagyu and Chamiton Pork Mixed Shabu Shabu Course (12 items)
• Price: 4,800 JPY + tax / person
• Featuring wagyu together with flavorful Chamiton pork from Kagoshima
• Includes 120 mins. all-you-can-drink plan. Requires a minimum of two people.

• Kagoshima Bred Chamiton Pork Shabu Shabu Course (11 items)
• Price: 4,000 JPY + tax / person
• Includes 120 mins. all-you-can-drink plan. Requires a minimum of two people.

For a limited time during the winter season, you can also enjoy Wagyu Beef Sukiyaki for the low price of 2,980 JPY + tax.

To begin, the fresh vegetables, tofu and mushrooms are boiled in the pot.

Then, mouth-watering slices of premium Kuroge Wagyu are layered over the surface, adding incredible flavor to the broth.

Finally, you can add Inaniwa udon to the pot for a satisfying finale.

You can enjoy the ingredients as they are, or follow the recommended method and dip them in raw egg, lowering the temperature and adding extra flavor as well.

With its new winter menu, there are even more reasons to stop by Kyoto Gatten on your next visit to Kyoto. You'll be glad you did!

Restaurant Information

• Tempura Pub Kyoto Gatten
• Address: 1st Fl, 170 Katsuya Bldg., Kashiyacho, Chukyo-ku, Kyoto
  (京都市中京区柏屋町170かつやビル1F)
• Tel: 075-746-2002
• Hours:
  Mon-Thur 11:30-15:00 / 17:00-23:00 (Last order / Food: 22:30, Drink: 22:45)
  Fridays and days before national holidays: 11:30-15:00 / 17:00-24:00 (Last order / Food: 23:30, Drink: 23:45)
  Saturdays: 11:30-24:00 (Last order / Food: 23:30, Drink: 23:45)
  Sundays and national holidays: 11:30-23:00 (Last order / Food: 22:30, Drink: 22:45)
• Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/kyotogatten
• Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/kyotogatten