Totally unexpected. Need food after a good time in the railway museum. Was attracted by their generous portion of shave ice many kids were having. Decided to add a pizza to enjoy the place for a longer time. So Very pleasantly surprised by the tasty margarita pizza! Good ingredients. Tomatoes and veggy all great. So we Decided to try their corn pizza even though we were good to go. As we do not know when we would come back here again.

5 Stars – A Hidden Gem in Kyoto! Umekoji Park Cafe is an absolute delight! Nestled in the serene surroundings of Umekoji Park, this charming cafe offers a peaceful escape from the city's hustle. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, with large windows that bring in plenty of natural light and offer lovely views of the greenery outside. The coffee is rich and flavorful, and their selection of pastries and light meals is both delicious and beautifully presented. I highly recommend trying their matcha latte and seasonal desserts—they're top-notch! The staff are friendly, attentive, and always make you feel welcome. Whether you're stopping by for a quick coffee or spending a leisurely afternoon, this place is perfect. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Kyoto—don’t miss this hidden gem!

+3

Delicious food, portions aren't huge. A bit stingy with the syrup and a glass that's 3/4th full.

I was exploring this park when I started getting hunger pangs around 3pm, and after seeing the curry rice advertised on the outdoor menu, I knew I wanted to give it a try. Three sides of this building have big windows as walls, so it looked very inviting. It seems like this place should be hopping with customers given its location in the park with many families gathering at the nearby playground, but I suppose I arrived right between lunch and dinner, so the crowd must've thinned out. It mentioned something about "self service" on the sign outside, so I wasn't really sure what I was getting into, but in the end, it was just like any other restaurant where you order at the back and then wait with a little number sign at your table for the food to arrive. I ordered the vegetable curry and a drink, paid, and then found a place to sit. In just a few minutes the waiter brought my order to me. I was actually surprised at the large portion! I was expecting a long, thin plate with a lump of rice at one end and curry filled in the rest of the way, but instead it was a wooden boat of a serving dish with a sea of curry washing ashore the coast of the rice. There was a little broccoli sprig, cauliflower nugget, and two carrot slices added on top. Only the cauliflower was somewhat chilled, but everything else was a nice temperature: not piping hot, but also not lukewarm. I did think the portion of rice was small compared to how much curry there was, but I was able to eat both evenly without leaving a glut of curry behind. After I finished, I went to return the tray and dishes, but I was a little stumped trying to figure out the trash labels. I can only imagine that after years of trial and error, the translations and signage on the garbage area have changed (increased) over time, but I might have gone cross-eyed from the sheer number of instructions. I know that just labeling one "combustible trash" and the other "incombustible trash" might not cut it, but maybe "plastics and paper" and the other as "food waste" could suffice for English speaking foreigners? Then you can still add the sign saying not to throw away personal garbage in the general area so then it doesn't seem like it's specifically for one dust bin or the other. Just a suggestion. I really enjoyed eating here, and I'd love to come back in the future for some shaved ice during the summertime!

A small restaurant inside the Umekoji Park, next to the outdoor playground. A lot of families and kids in this restaurant, thus it’s not so clean with kids dropping food on the floor. But the food itself was nice, especially the kids meal curry rice.

+1