Review excerpt: Chef Taka Nishimura’s lively, homey and cozy tachinomiya (standing bar), Yanagi Koji Taka, in central Kyoto is crowded into an alleyway that’s only as wide as a vending machine.

Review excerpt: Takumi Shiraishi owns three lively craft beer pubs across Kyoto, including Beer Pub Takumiya, where he encourages customers to commune over a good pint and plates of locally grown food.

Review excerpt: Chef Akihiro Seto makes the most fragrant and punchy Japanese curry at Kyoto's Taiyo, dressed with a soaring combination of vegetables and delivering a symphony of taste.

Review excerpt: Kyoto's Shokudo Marushin has "teishoku" meals that are a classic combination of rice, miso soup, vegetables, and a main dish of meat or fish.

Review excerpt: This pair of long-time friends traveled the country, tested out ramen from all over Japan, and now, at age 22, own their own noodle shop, Ramen no Bonbo, in Kyoto.

Review excerpt: Breakfast at Lorimer is the best Japanese-style breakfast in Kyoto. Then, in the afternoon after Lorimer empties out, the spaces doubles as a cooking school.

Review excerpt: Although there are a handful of good burrito joints in the Kansai region, Kyoto's Que Pasa ranks near the top of any list of restaurants serving up good Mexican food.

Review excerpt: Kyoto's Pop! Pizza has awesome pizza, beer, movies and music.