IL TOBANCHI

What a find! A small (five to six seats at a bar) and a room upstairs bar/restaurant with flavor and character. Owner Toba, with wife and pet in hand, create an evening of delicious food, wine and conversation. There is a Malbec wine that is the perfect compliment to Toba's creative cooking. Situat...ed down a small street in Kyoto, Toba is happy to speak of the fact that is the place where he was born—in-fact, his parents still live on the property. Go for the conversation (in English) and stay for the food, which was some of the best to be experience in Kyoto.

Visited November 2025

123 Shojo is enough address. Forget all that other confusing stuff. Phone Toba if you need directions. His English is perfect. Take the subway about 3 stops north of the station and walk east. Delicious food. Different. Not a typical red-sauce Italian restaurant. We suggest sitting at the ba...r and watching the cooking going on. And chatting with Toba who is the woner and bartender and host. Lunch and dinner till 1 a.m. Upstairs dining room. Good house wine.

Visited November 2017

Very creative food, very reasonable, modern Japanese-Italian. Proprietor creates an excellent experience for everyone. English menu.

Small restaurant, but really cute. His style is simple, elegant and refined,Tasty dishes with a really low price. I appreciate the kindness and simplicity of the owner and the cook. I suggest TO try risotto alla pescatora. Molto Buono!

Visited October 2014

I definitely recommend you to visit this restaurant when you come to Kyoto! The owner was grown up at this traditional town house and he renovated and made it to an Italian bar. He has a license of Barista and you can have a fine espresso and cappuccino from afternoon to late night.

Visited October 2014