Local Favorite Izakaya in Kiyamachi Area
Obanzai Comfort Foods
One of my most favorite restaurants in Kyoto is "Tako Nyudo" (= Octopus Monster) located in "Kiyamachi" St. Very casual Izakaya type restaurant offering "Obanzai" dishes which are more like traditional home style comfort foods using local and seasonal ingredients.
Comfort "Obanzai" Dishes & Octopus Featured Foods
Tako Nyudo prepares more than 15 different Obanzai dishes every day, plus execute-to-order menu items including their signature "Akashi Yaki" (Egg Omelette Balls with chopped Octopus in them). I love the fluffiness of Akashi Yaki there. Since Akashi Yaki is served very hot right from the cast-iron molds, with a bowl of warm dipping sauce, it may not be the best choice during hot summer, but in fact there are lots of guests ordering Akashi Yaki even in really hot days.
Signature "Akashi Yaki"
Tako Nyudo offers several regular dishes featuring Octopus - such as soy-braised baby Octopus, regular-size braised Octopus, Octopus Sashimi, etc. Whenever I go there, I order at least one item using Octopus. Why ? I think that is a courtesy to the restaurant. Each menu item is below Yen 1,000, and many of the menu items of the day are around Yen 500. Very affordable.
U-Shaped Community Counter Seating
Always packed...
No reservations taken, and the smoking is allowed anywhere in the space. If you are non-smoker and cannot live with someone smoking right next to you, you may want to skip this place. I do not smoke, but I am all right even though there are some folks smoking nearby. Well, in a sense, the ambiance of this place can be somewhat impaired if smoking is completely banned - presence of smoking patrons may be an important part of the day-to-day scene of this tiny Izakaya. Make sense ?
Beverages
Tako Nyudo offers wide variety of beverages, ranging from Beer on tap, bottled Beers, Shochu (= Japanese Vodka), Japanese Sake, plus Tennessee Whiskey "Jack Daniel's" (my favorite). If you are a regular and frequently come here, you can buy a whole bottle of Shochu or Whiskey and keep it - that is how I do. You pay for the bottle ahead of time, and until the bottle is empty you can come back over again.
