Tako Nyudo

Heading south down Kiyamachi-dori from Sanjo, you’ll find a charming izakaya called Tako Nyudo. Known as a rare spot in Kyoto where you can get akashi-yaki, it’s bustling daily with many customers, mainly local salarymen.

One evening after work, I happened to pass by the shop and noticed something unusual through the window: it was unusually quiet. Seeing that, I immediately went inside. So, what kind of place was it, really…?

Along the Takasegawa River, you can soak in Showa retro vibes at this super cool spot… Tako Nyudo is a restaurant like this.

It was around 6:30 PM on a Friday night—the perfect time—but when I entered Tako Nyudo, only a few customers were sparsely seated at the counter. “So this happens sometimes…” I thought to myself as I sat down at an empty counter seat.

This place has been around for nearly 50 years since opening in Kiyamachi, and the interior really gives off that retro Showa vibe. According to Tabelog, Tako Nyudo has only counter seats, totaling 26 seats. Unlike chain izakayas, it’s not a place for a big group to get rowdy; it’s more for solo diners or small groups of two or three to relax. Still, a place with this kind of Showa retro vibe along the Takasegawa River is seriously cool… It seems perfect for hopping between nearby izakayas or for that “grab a quick drink after work…” kind of use.

Not just their famous Akashi-yaki, but also various izakaya menu items… How did all three dishes I ordered at Tako Nyudo actually turn out?

So, let me introduce everything I ordered at Tako Nyudo that day, one by one. My order that day was Tako Nyudo’s famous Akashi-yaki (price: 660 yen including tax), stir-fried spinach and meat (price: 730 yen including tax), and salted fish chazuke (price: 660 yen including tax). I was hungry, so I was happy the food came out just a few minutes after ordering..

.Salted Fish Chazuke

The salted fish chazuke, which I intended to order as the finale, came out first. Hmm… Well, what can you do? The counter was narrow with limited space for plates, so I decided to just eat whatever came out first.

This salted fish tea rice clearly used a certain brand’s tea rice seasoning mix. The taste was exactly as expected – something you could easily recreate at home. Though, including the salted fish, the portion size was a bit generous.

Stir-fried spinach and meat

Just as I’d finished about half the salted fish tea rice, the stir-fried spinach and meat arrived. It was a truly simple dish: just spinach and beef stir-fried with a light sprinkle of salt and pepper. I liked that the spinach had no bitterness and retained a nice crisp texture…

Tako Nyudo’s Famous Akashi-yaki

And then came the main attraction: Tako Nyudo‘s Famous Akashi-yaki. At 660 yen for 10 pieces, it’s about the same price range as modern takoyaki, I suppose.  

Soak these in a tangy broth with ginger, then pop them in the mouth. Be careful not to burn yourself, as the freshly made ones are piping hot inside. As for the taste… honestly, I think they’d be fine without the broth. Well, my benchmark for Akashi-yaki is now Funamachi‘s version, so I apologize if my expectations are too high. The octopus pieces are only about 4-5mm square, quite small, and honestly, this seems like something you could easily recreate at home with a takoyaki pan. Personally, I was a bit disappointed.

The total for these three items came to just over 2000 yen. Maybe my expectations were a bit high this time, thinking “I can eat Akashi-yaki in Kyoto.” That said, it has that backstreet izakaya vibe with a certain charm, and I think it’s a good spot when you want to soak up that kind of atmosphere. If you’re looking for a place with red lanterns in Shijo Kawaramachi, remember this place, Tako Nyudo.

Other menu items at Tako Nyudo (prices include tax)

• Grated Yam Rice (with red miso soup and pickles)　¥990
• Sliced Octopus Sashimi　¥660
• Pork Kimchi　¥600
• Beef Tendon and Konjac　¥550
• Steamed Clams in Sake　¥550
• Whole Dried Fish　¥490
• Chilled Tofu　¥440

If you keep coming back, it might get even more fun… Access to Tako Nyudo is a 3-minute walk from the nearest station, Hankyu Kyoto Line’s Kyoto Kawaramachi Station.

Now, about Tako Nyudo—to be honest, it’s not a place known for great customer service. But that’s simply because the staff tend to be quiet by nature. It’s not for any complicated reason like the “no first-time customers” policy common in Kyoto, so rest assured on that point. So, if you keep coming back until they remember your face, it might actually get interesting. The staff might become more talkative, and you might start having even more fun.

Now, here are the shop details…