When you think of Kyoto cuisine, what comes to mind? Kyoto is a place where you can savor exquisite seasonal delicacies, from obanzai (traditional Japanese dishes) and kaiseki cuisine to senmaizuke (pickled vegetables), yuba (tofu skin), and tofu dishes. In this city of gourmet food, Nishitomiya Croquette Shop is loved by tourists and locals alike. Located a five-minute walk from Keihan Kiyomizu-Gojo Station, this shop has around ten seats, including at the counter, and offers both takeout and eat-in croquettes. It is renowned for its "unique croquettes" made by the young owner, Nishitomi Manabu.



When you open the glass door and step inside the store, the first thing that catches your eye is the croquettes lined up in the display case! They always have more than six types of handmade fresh croquettes for sale, ranging from classic flavors like "Plain" (1 piece/170 yen) and "Basil" (1 piece/210 yen) to "unusual" flavors like "Galician-style Octopus" (1 piece/220 yen) and "Green Curry & Coriander" (1 piece/240 yen), and they serve them fresh to order.



"My love of croquettes since I was a child led me to open this shop six years ago after working for a company for several years. At first, we mainly did takeout, and gradually expanded our business hours to include dine-in, lunch, and a bar," says owner Nishitomi-san.

"Our staff all make new croquettes every season, and we've created hits like "Nara pickles and lemon peel" and "green curry and coriander." We also have sweet croquettes with flavors like "kinako (roasted soybean flour) and amanatto (sweetened azuki beans)" and "dried figs."

Owner Nishitomi-san

The lunch set of two freshly fried croquettes with bread and salad is great for lunch, and in the evening, you can enjoy croquettes as a snack with wine. Be sure to check out the "Blue Cheese" (220 yen per croquette), which has rich, melting cheese, and the "Nara Pickles & Lemon Peel" (240 yen per croquette), which has an exquisite match of the texture of Nara pickles and the tartness of lemon peel. On the side menu, the colorful "Niçoise Salad" (1,050 yen) and salads made with seasonal fruits seem to be popular. The drinks menu is also extensive, with three types of red and three types of white wine available by the glass.

From the evening menu, I chose "Blue Cheese Croquettes" (1 pc/220 yen) & "Nara Pickles & Lemon Peel" (1 pc/240 yen),
"Niçoise Salad" (1,050 yen) and white wine.
"Blue Cheese Croquettes" (1 pc/220 yen)

What's more, a new croquette factory will be opened nearby in September, and online sales will also begin. Nishitomi-ya's croquettes will be available nationwide! For those who have been wishing they had a shop like this in their neighborhood, this is a development they've been waiting for.

The stylish store design and warm atmosphere are also appealing, so be sure to stop by and try some freshly fried croquettes.



【Store Information】
Nishitomiya Croquette Shop
Address: 735 Uematsucho, Kawaramachi Matsubara-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Hours: 11:30-24:00 (Lunch is from 12:00-15:00 *Last orders 14:30, bar hours are from 18:00)
Telephone: 075-202-9837
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nishitomiya