The birthplace of Japanese omurice (omelette rice)! A dreamy combination of fluffy egg and savory fried rice

Text and photos byKavanagh

Omurice in Japanese is "オムライス," and its inventor was Mr. Shigeo Kitahashi, the former owner of "Panya no Shokudo" — the predecessor of today's "Omurice no Hokkyokusei." In 1922, Mr. Kitahashi created this dish of chicken fried rice wrapped in an omelet — the "omurice (オムライス)." It quickly became a trend and has since become one of the iconic dishes of Japanese Western-style cuisine. The "Omurice no Hokkyokusei," known as the "ancestor of omurice," is therefore extremely popular and loved by both locals and international tourists.

The flagship store of "Omurice no Hokkyokusei" is located near Shinsaibashi in Osaka, and almost every Taiwanese tourist has visited this famous Western-style eatery (including me). One day, while flipping through a Kyoto food magazine, I discovered that "Omurice no Hokkyokusei" actually has a branch in Kyoto? Since the last time I had Hokkyokusei omurice was several years ago... to compare the original "Omurice no Hokkyokusei" with what I consider the best omurice in Kyoto — "Koban" — I decided to check out the Hokkyokusei Kyoto yGarden branch.

The Hokkyokusei Kyoto yGarden branch is located next to Yasaka Shrine, on the way from Higashioji Street toward the Q... (location description cut off). It’s a modern, stylish space.

Upon entering, I chose a window-side counter seat, where you can see the opposite Q... (location name cut off).

Menu: Hokkyokusei has long been a favorite among both Japanese and foreign tourists, so the menu is also printed in Chinese, Korean, and English.

The beef omurice looks absolutely delicious~

I ordered the restaurant’s signature item ranked “#1 on the popularity menu” — Chicken Omurice (990 yen including tax and service charge).

The portion size of the omurice isn’t very large, but it’s not small either — it’s just the right amount.

Cutting into the omurice wrapped in its omelet reveals the chicken fried rice inside.

The egg layer of the Hokkyokusei omurice is slightly firmer, the omelet is thin, and inside is chicken fried rice sautéed with mushrooms and onions, then seasoned with tomato sauce. The outside is drizzled with a sauce made from beef. The fried rice is fluffy and well-seasoned with tomato and onion flavors that enhance the umami of the chicken. When you put the omelet and rice together in your mouth, you can enjoy the softness of the egg and the flavor of the rice — it’s quite delicious.

Hokkyokusei truly lives up to being the originator of omurice — none of the ingredients or cooking methods are skimped on. It’s an authentic omurice (オムライス), and very tasty. The location of this Hokkyokusei yGarden branch is also excellent, making it a great dining option for those visiting the area around Yasaka Shrine.

However... Hokkyokusei is slightly behind my personal “Kyoto No. 1 omurice,” “Koban,” in both portion size and sauce. Koban’s omurice is still the winner after all.

Omurice no Hokkyokusei Kyoto yGarden Branch
Business hours: 11:00–21:30, no regular holidays
Access: Get off at Kyoto City Bus stop “yGarden,” a one-minute walk.

Kavanagh @ Kyoto — Free Stay
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