The perfect blend of citrus aroma and savory broth—a heartwarming Kyoto yuzu hot pot experience

Text and photos byHappy Cloud

Food is an essential part of travel, but encountering great food requires a bit of serendipity, and having a good dining experience also depends on a bit of fate.

Before coming to Kyoto, a good friend highly recommended this place "Yuzu Gen." She said every time she visits Kyoto and heads to the Kawaramachi area, she always comes here for yuzu hot pot. I Googled the shop online and found quite a few complaints about poor service and staff ignoring customers... Hahaha, but luckily, we had good luck that day and received decent service from a staff member who even spoke Chinese. So, on that rainy Kyoto evening, we had a pretty nice culinary experience.

To be honest, the food here is delicious, but if the ambiance and service don’t match, it can really bring the experience down several notches. This is all about the connection with the restaurant and the city. Maybe it’s because I’ve had so many wonderful experiences in Kyoto that I feel Kansai and Kyoto just suit my taste. This time, even though the weather wasn’t great, I encountered many lovely shops.

That evening, my friend and I went to the Yuzu Gen Pontochō branch. Pontochō is a place I often visit for food. On summer nights, there’s a special "Noryo River Terrace" where you can enjoy the evening by the Kamo River, with the breeze and performances—truly a lovely night. Of course, this option might cost a bit more, but if you don’t want to spend too much, you can also find affordable spots in the alleys along this street. Though they lack the scenic charm of the Kamo River, they’re much easier on the wallet. I think the "Yuzu Gen Pontochō Branch" is one such place.

That day, we were lucky—we didn’t have to wait in line or go upstairs. We sat at the counter, watching the staff prepare the food while we ate and drank. As my friend recommended, the yuzu hot pot was a must-order. The shop also offers a combo hot pot, but we simply went with the "Yuzu Hot Pot." Generally, Japanese hot pots aren’t as spicy as those in Taiwan, so we didn’t hesitate to order the legendary "Yuzu Hot Pot." The menu price is per person, and usually, people order enough portions based on the number of diners. Ordering just one portion might get you some side-eye!! Hahaha, seems like that’s the case everywhere—ordering one portion per person is basic etiquette!!

● 《ET News Cloud》 reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.

With the help of the Chinese-speaking staff, we quickly ordered our meal: yuzu hot pot, one portion of pork, one portion of chicken, and six pan-fried dumplings. We originally wanted to order more dumplings, but the staff said they were quite large and suggested we order fewer, fearing we wouldn’t finish them. Hahaha, so we took her advice. I think even if we’d ordered twelve, we would’ve finished them all!! These pan-fried dumplings are delicious, and highly recommended!! As the sign indicates, this place is known for "steamed buns" and "dumplings"; the hot pot probably became famous later!! After ordering beer and yuzu sake, we started chatting and sipping while eagerly awaiting the delicious food.

First to arrive was the large pot of broth. The pot itself didn’t look particularly special, but it emitted an incredibly rich yuzu aroma. It was so refreshing and comforting!! The scent alone was enough to whet our appetite—we were starving!! Alongside it came the yuzu hot pot dipping sauce, a yuzu mustard mix, which was also delicious. This specially crafted combination blended perfectly.

Before long, our ordered pork and chicken arrived, with all the accompanying vegetables neatly packed in boxes. It looked quite generous. Maybe it’s not as flashy as Taiwan’s à la carte hot pot style, but it was straightforward and satisfying!!

We started by adding the vegetables to the yuzu hot pot and letting them simmer gently. Then we added the chicken, followed by the pork slices. The broth was amazing!! The boiled yuzu stock paired with seasonal vegetables made for an excellent soup base!!

And with the perfectly cooked meat slices, wow!!! So delicious, so satisfying!! Next time, I’ll try adding beef too.

Soon, the dumplings arrived. Just as the staff said, they were larger than your average Japanese pan-fried dumplings. They arrived steaming and fragrant, quite enticing. After pouring on some soy sauce, I picked up a dumpling, took a bite, and—wow!! It was bursting with yuzu flavor!!

The yuzu aroma and the sweet, juicy meat flavor melded in my mouth—wow!!! So delicious!! And I never expected the yuzu to enhance the richness of the meat juice while eliminating any porky aftertaste. It was so good!! I couldn’t stop eating them, so I think even if we’d ordered double the amount, we would’ve finished them all!!

While enjoying the dumplings and yuzu hot pot, more customers kept coming in, including quite a few Westerners. I noticed that the Westerners here ordered dumplings and sake, along with a few side dishes. They were having a great time drinking and eating, and the Westerners even told us the sake here was amazing. Hahaha, neither of the two Western groups touched the hot pot. Dining habits really differ between the East and the West!!

After finishing most of the yuzu hot pot, you can order noodles or okayu (rice porridge). We went with the usual and ordered okayu. They brought out rice, eggs, and green onions—it’s DIY here, with no service. Luckily, I have some experience cooking okayu and have seen how Japanese people make it. I scooped out two bowls of the broth to reduce the liquid, then added the rice and let it cook for a while. After turning off the heat, I added the egg, stirred it clockwise, sprinkled in the green onions, and easily completed the okayu!!

Wow!! This seemingly simple dish is an absolute must-try in Japan. Especially when the broth is good and the Japanese rice is delicious, it’s a must-eat. But today, I miscalculated a bit—the yuzu broth was great, but once it reduced and mixed with the rice, it became a bit too sour. It was a bit heavy to eat unless you really love sour flavors. Maybe next time, I’ll try the noodles instead!!

On a rainy evening, savoring the warm yuzu hot pot, sipping yuzu sake, and enjoying yuzu pan-fried dumplings made for a cozy, citrus-scented night. Friends visiting Kyoto next time, do give it a try!!

....................................... Food, fun, and adventure never end

Yuzu Gen Pontochō Branch
Address: 212, Nabe-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 604-8015, Japan
Website:http://kiwa-group.co.jp/restaurant/311/
Phone: +81 75-254-0806
Business Hours: 17:00 - 23:00 (Last Order 22:30)
How to Get There:
Hankyu Railway Hankyu Kyoto Line—about a 2-minute walk from Kawaramachi
Keihan Electric Railway Keihan Main Line—about a 3-minute walk from Gion-Shijo
Just 198 meters from yG Garden 4th Street
(Credit cards not accepted, please pay in cash!!)

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