Restaurant Aki

A retro Western-style restaurant called Restaurant Aki is located a short walk west of the Shijo-Karasuma intersection in Kyoto. This restaurant is quite famous among Western food lovers in Kyoto, and I have been wanting to visit for a long time, but the timing was never quite right because the restaurant is only open for two hours during lunch time, which was a hurdle for me.

I had been putting off my visit to this restaurant for a long time, but just the other day I finally got my wish and went to Shijo-Karasuma on a Saturday before the restaurant opened. I had heard many rumors about this restaurant, but it was still quite atmospheric…

A small retro Western-style restaurant surrounded by modern buildings… this is what Restaurant Aki is like.

I arrived at Restaurant Aki 10 minutes before opening time, and at that time, there were 6 customers in front of me in a short line. I was the seventh from the front, so it was almost certain that I would be the first in line to enter the restaurant. To be honest, the line was shorter than I had imagined. I was surprised because this restaurant is very popular as a lunch place for businessmen because of its location. Maybe it was a good thing that it was a Saturday. The wait may be a little longer on weekday lunch days.

By the way, this restaurant is very atmospheric from the outside. The red tent signboard in front of the store has the name ” Restaurant Aki ” almost faded away, and the menu samples next to the entrance look very old… I don’t think it’s a “Kitanashran (dirty but delicious)” restaurant, but it had a retro atmosphere that made me wonder if they have been in business here since before I was born. In Shijo-Karasuma, where many modern buildings stand in a row around the shop, the fact that the shop stands alone in the middle of the street gives me a sense of nostalgia.

The interior is laid out like an old-fashioned small coffee shop, with four counter seats and three tables for four people. The store is run by the elderly owner and his wife, and I guess they are running the business as a couple. Both of them work quietly, giving the restaurant an old-fashioned feel. It would be better for us to eat quietly and leave the restaurant quickly for the sake of the customers waiting in line.

“Unbelievably soft!” I tried Restaurant Aki’s hamburger steak at the daily lunch!

This time I visited the restaurant to try a hamburger steak that had a reputation by word of mouth for being “super tender!” The daily lunch special of the day was “hamburger steak and fried fish,” so I decided to order it immediately. Here is the daily lunch I ordered at Restaurant Aki…

I don’t know if you can tell from the picture above, but the hamburger steak is quite large. It comes with fried fish, rice, and a cup of soup for 1100 yen (tax included). It is quite attractive from a cosmetic point of view, and I think it is popular among businessmen.

Now, let’s try putting chopsticks into the hamburger steak… I’m sorry I can’t show you what it looks like in the picture, but it is indeed very soft. It would be an exaggeration to say that it would be difficult with disposable chopsticks, but with a metal knife or fork, you could probably cut it just by its own weight. Either way, I wonder how they can cook a hamburger steak this tender while keeping its shape…. When you put the hamburger in your mouth, you can feel the minced meat and chopped onions, and lightly smell the pepper in the airy, gentle, fluffy texture.

On the other hand, the demi-glace sauce that generously coats the hamburger steak has a mellow richness, a sourness from the tomatoes, and a slightly bitter adult flavor. This permeates the space between the ground meat and onions, and adds a rich flavor and moistness to the hamburger steak.

The hamburger steak at Restaurant Aki was so easy to eat that it was gone from my plate without a trace in just a couple of minutes. After finishing the hamburger, I was once again reminded of the restaurant’s reputation. I wonder when I can come back for the next meal? I want to try not only hamburgers but also other dishes. But it is hard for me that they are only open for 2 hours during lunch time… They used to be open at night, and I would be happy if they could bring back their night business…

Other menu items at Restaurant Aki (as of January 2024, prices include tax)

• A set meal (beef cutlet, ham, 2 fried shrimp) 1,590 yen
• B set meal (hamburger steak, sauteed pork, cream croquette) 1,430 yen
• Thick pork cutlet set meal: 1,590 yen
• Fried oyster set meal: 1,480 yen
• Hamburger steak set meal (with fried egg): 1,330 yen
• Ground meat cutlet and pork sautee set meal: 1,300 yen
• Fried shrimp set meal: 1,260 yen

Restaurant Aki actually has a signature cat… Access to the restaurant is a two-minute walk from the nearest station, Karasuma Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line (Shijo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line).2分

Restaurant Aki actually has a signature cat that sometimes appears at the restaurant. I was not able to meet the cat, but rumor has it that it usually walks across the restaurant. So, if you are a cat lover, you may have a wonderful experience with the food plus more. On the other hand, those who do not like cats, especially those who are allergic to cats, should be careful when visiting the restaurant.

Now, here are the details of the restaurant…