Oudon Hajime - Feel the atmosphere of Old Kyoto with the best udon in the city!

Hajime udon restaurant is a HIDDEN PATHS gem for food lovers in Kyoto. By my own recommendation it is the best udon in Kyoto, and located in an old Kyoto machiya townhouse you can certainly feel the atmosphere of old Japan. Situated in the Gojo Dori area of Kyoto it is in the centre of city making it convenient, but it is also just far enough away from the busier Shijo and Sanjo areas to make it a very comfortable experience. And being on a side street and not the main wide Gojo Dori, if you don't know where it is you might never find it. Follow HIDDEN PATHS - Walking Historical Kyoto to 'OUDON HAJIME'.

Hajime udon restaurant is a short 5 minute walk from Gojo Subway station, it opened in June of this year and you won't find any of the much talked about (and mostly reserved for a small number of locations) Kyoto over-tourism here, even though the place is tourist friendly.

On themselves they say "With the concept of "challenging the world through udon," please enjoy the dishes created by the owner, who has around 15 years of experience. The restaurant's design makes use of a Kyoto machiya townhouse, making it a space where you can experience the Kyoto atmosphere while enjoying your meal, especially when sightseeing in Kyoto!"

We arrived at around 8:00pm, it wasn't busy, and we ordered our food by scanning a QR code taking us to a menu webpage which was easy to navigate. We chose a selection of both hot and cold udon along with tempura. The soup was very tasty, the meat tender, and the tempura was nice and crispy (chicken, gobo, egg). The prices were reasonable, for what you see on the table in the picture above we paid just over 6,000 yen (to feed four, and we were all absolutely full by the end of it (and nothing was left!)). There are also more expensive meal sets that are also worth a try.

There is both table and counter seating, and the atmosphere of being in an old Kyoto machiya townhouse that has been renovated really added to the experience (almost like an extra ingredient in the dish). By the time we left it was beginning to become a little busier but still there was no waiting for anyone, and the atmosphere was relaxed.

Hajime Udon restaurant is definitely a top recommendation for your evening meal either as a resident of Kyoto but especially if you're just passing through or on holiday, great food, and a touch of historical Kyoto. Enjoy.