October 2022: Please note Hyakushokuya Sukiyaki Senka has now permanently closed. Please see our Central Kyoto page for other places to eat in the district. Also see our Best Restaurants In Kyoto and Best Sukiyaki in Kyoto page for other recommendations.
Hyakushokuya Sukiyaki Senka is unusual in that they sell just 100 portions of their delicious sukiyaki set lunches per day. You’ll have to go early to pick up a ticket. Otherwise, the cost-performance is unbeatable, especially for good wagyu!
Hyakushokuya Sukiyaki Senka – image © Chris Rowthorn
You’ve probably heard of restaurants in Japan where you’ll have to arrive early to snag a ticket that allows you to return at a specific time of the day so that you can queue again for the pleasure of having a meal. Few people bat an eyelid at such practices here, which is why restaurants like Hyakushokuya Sukiyaki Senka continue to do excellent business.
Of course, that only works if your food is actually worth eating. Luckily, Hyakushokuya Sukiyaki Senka’s sukiyaki set is the real deal. Shelling out a shade over JPY1000 for 130g of Japanese beef, vegetables, rice, and soup is great value for money.
Once these pink, tender, marbled slices of beef are cooked, you’ll dip them in the raw egg and gobble down with rice. There’s something incredible about fat-laced beef cooked in a sweet and salty soy-based sauce – it just has to be eaten to be experienced.
Hyakushokuya Sukiyaki Senka’s sukiyaki sets limited to 100 portions per day, and they’ll close the restaurant when they run out. While the restaurant itself opens at 11am, we recommend turning up earlier in the morning to pick up a ticket for lunch. Or, you can write your name on the waiting list outside the restaurant. You should decide for yourself if the hassle is worth it. But, what’s clear is that at least 100 people a day definitely think it’s worth the fuss!
For more Kyoto sukiyaki choices, see our Best Sukiyaki in Kyoto page.
Name in English:
Hyakushokuya Sukiyaki Senka
Name in Japanese:
佰食屋すき焼き専科
English address:
187 Sendo-cho, Nishikiyamachi-dori-Shijo-sagaru, Shimogyo-ku
Japanese address:
下京区西木屋町通四条下ル船頭町187
Opening hours:
11am-3pm
Closed Thursday
Price:
Non-smoking area: Completely Non-Smoking
Nearest Transport:
1min walk from Kawaramachi Station Exit 1B, Hankyu line
Reservations:
Reservation tickets are distributed from 9:30am.
Telephone: 361-2900
Website:
Official site (Japanese and a little English)
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
