Inoda Coffee Hachijoguchi Branch

Inoda Coffee, perhaps the most famous coffee shop in Kyoto, was established in 1947 and has a branch in JR Kyoto Station, the gateway to Kyoto. The store is open from 8:00 a.m. and offers the famous “Kyo-no-chosyoku” morning menu, which is always popular with a long line of customers. When I visited the restaurant at around 11:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, there were naturally several people waiting in line to enter the store.

This time I visited Inoda Coffee Hachijoguchi Branch to make time for my errand near the station, and decided to order Hayashi Rice (Rice with Hashed Beef) for lunch. Hayashi rice has a high-class image as a Showa-era coffee shop menu, but how does Kyoto’s long-established coffee shop, Inoda Coffee, serve it? I’m really curious…

Don’t be intimidated by the long line because it is a surprisingly spacious cafe… Inoda Coffee Hachijo-guchi Branch is a restaurant like this…

Now, before I introduce you to Hayashi Rice, let me briefly explain about Inoda Coffee Hachijoguchi Branch. The store is located on the south side of JR Kyoto Station (Hachijo Exit), in the restaurant area named “Kyoto Omotenashi Koji” under the Shinkansen ticket gate. On the same floor, there are other famous Kyoto restaurants such as “Gohan Doi,” which is operated by Doi Shibazuke Honpo, founded in 1901, and ” Hararyokaku, ” which is famous for its black shichimi (a spice made from seven spices).

Depending on the time of day, the line can be quite long, but the customer turnover is actually quite fast. This is because the store is a surprisingly spacious place, with a total of 62 seats, according to official information. If there are less than 10 people in line, you can probably enter the restaurant after waiting for about 15 minutes. If you have some time to spare for waiting, I suggest you try to get in line even if it looks quite crowded at first glance. Once you get in, you can then enjoy an elegant café time in the classic, retro atmosphere of the restaurant.

I had Hayashi Rice, a high-class menu of Showa-era coffee shop that even kids love, at Inoda Coffee, one of the oldest coffee shops in Kyoto.

Let me introduce the hashed rice I ordered at the Hachijoguchi branch of Inoda Coffee (price: 1,000 yen including tax). After about 5 minutes of waiting, the rice with hashed meat arrived in front of me…

The dark brown hashed rice sauce contains onions, mushrooms, green peas, and beef… Unlike the hashed rice I had at the Indian Curry Sanbangai branch, this is closer to the general image of hashed rice.

Let’s start eating it right away… What I felt the moment I put it in my mouth was the flavor of butter. From there came the rich flavor of beef and the moderate acidity of tomatoes. As expected, it is a bit like a high-class, royal-style hashed rice. The crispy onions are also a nice touch. The large amount of vegetables in this dish may not be acceptable for children who do not like vegetables, but the adult generation who enjoys a retro sensibility will enjoy this dish without complaint.

For after-meal coffee, I chose “Colombian Emerald” (price: 690 yen including tax). In contrast to the “Pearl of Arabia” I ordered at the previous Inoda Coffee Head Shop, it was quite light and had a fruity acidity. I think it is very suitable for those who like lighter coffee. By the way, the Hachijoguchi branch does not add sugar or milk by default. Since it is located at JR Kyoto Station, a major transportation hub, I wonder if it means that they have abandoned the style of the store to cater to the general tourist crowd…

Examples of other lunch menu items at Inoda Coffee Hachijoguchi Branch (prices include tax)

• Hamburger steak sandwich: 1,230 yen
• Pork fillet cutlet sandwich: 1,210 yen
• Beef cutlet sandwich 2030 yen
• Italian 1000 yen
• Bonasera 1000 yen

Inoda Coffee Hachijo-guchi Branch sells coffee beans for souvenirs at the store… Inoda Coffee Hachijo-guchi Branch is located in “Kyoto Omotenashi Koji” on the 1st floor of JR Kyoto Station and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Inoda Coffee Hachijoguchi Branch sells coffee beans for souvenirs at the store…

Starting with Inoda Coffee’s most popular coffee “Pearl of Arabia”, deep roasted “German Blend”, “Emerald of Colombia” with its refreshing acidity, etc… From ground beans to drip packs for instant brewing, there is a product for every purpose. It is recommended that you buy some as a Kyoto souvenir or for yourself. If you are a coffee lover, why not stop by once before you leave Kyoto?

Now, here are the details of the coffee shop…