May. 02, 2018 UPDATE
Kyoto's delicious sandwiches & burgers
Part 2
Super Popular Kyoto Sandwiches: Thick, Silky Smooth Egg Sandwiches!
If you visit a coffee shop or teahouse in Kyoto, one dish that will likely be on the menu is the tamago-yaki egg sandwich. Whether it uses toasted or untoasted bread, enclosed will be a super thick slice of tamago-yaki (Japanese omelet). Just looking at the yellow omelet and the generous portion leaves one feeling satisfied! Every establishment’s tamago-yaki is unique, with added dashi-stock or milk to create different taste. Internationally, Kyoto is well known for matcha, but in Japan, Kyoto is also well known for its egg sandwiches, and some of the cafes in Kyoto offering egg sandwiches even have cafes in Tokyo too! When in Kyoto, don’t forget to add a few cafes to your itinerary!
La Madrague
La Madrague is a traditional café located close to Nijo Castle. It’s often featured on many magazines because of its famous egg sandwich. Inside the café is very nostalgic with a nice atmosphere.
How soft the thick-cut toast is! The omelet is so fragrant! The most impressive part is the thin layer of sauce between the toast and grilled egg. The demi-glace sauce, vinegar, and mustard are a perfect sweet-and-sour combo. Don’t underestimate this sandwich – after four slices you’re going to feel very full indeed!
Smart Coffee
Even on a weekday morning, a crowd will line up for “Smart Coffee” in the Teramachi Shopping Arcade. The store is decorated in European style, inside and out. A slow, peaceful dining environment allows travelers to contentedly enjoy a leisurely time.
The sandwiches here are rectangular in shape, and you get six pieces – I’m sure that’s enough! The toast may seem normal, but it’s actually very moist. If you press on the omelet, you will see the delicious dashi broth seep out from it. The flavor of this juicy, delectable sandwich is enhanced with mustard.
knot café
In a quiet alleyway near Kitano Tenmangu Temple is a white building accented with red bricks. The tamago-yaki sandwich here is different from the others, but you can read more of that below. The interior design of the café is simple and modest, and the wooden décor feels warm and welcoming.
Yes! This tamago-yaki is even thicker than the bread. The tamago-yaki, infused with katsuo stock, is fresh and sweet, the center silky and juicy. This incredibly thick egg sandwich, which uses bread from Le Petit Mec, screams Kyoto.
*Although it may look like a hamburger, the Japanese for it is “dashimaki sando” meaning sandwich.
*Although it may look like a hamburger, the Japanese for it is “dashimaki sando” meaning sandwich.
page one
Walking straight out of the South Gate of Yasaka Shrine in Gion, you can see this machiya-style shop, which is Kyoto’s oldest shaved ice store “page one”. There is a long line every summer for the thirst-quenching shaved ice, but in addition to shaved ice, there is another item that makes the crowds gather…
…which is this freshly baked, piping hot egg sandwich! The white toast, imprinted with the grill mesh pattern, sandwiches a richly flavored egg layer. You can feel that this egg was specially selected – the inner layer is especially silky and melts in your mouth. Gazing toward the courtyard while enjoying this sandwich in the machiya townhouse is the perfect short break before continuing on your trip!
The egg sandwich has become a representative delicacy of Kyoto’s cafés. Whether eaten as breakfast or as a snack, it has become inseparable from the culinary scene of Kyoto. A single, unforgettable taste of the richly flavored egg will convert you into a fan for life. Yet, Japan also has “dessert” sandwiches, which takes many people by surprise, especially tourists from Europe and America! Stay tuned for the next article for an introduction to them!
Read Other Parts
- Part 1Fulfilling on so many levels! Kyoto's long-standing and super popular sandwiches!
- Part 2Super Popular Kyoto Sandwiches: Thick, Silky Smooth Egg Sandwiches!
- Part 3Lovely Dessert Sandwiches! Kyoto’s Trendy, Colorful Fruit Sandwiches
- Part 4Go and take a big bite of a hamburger! Kyoto's local supersized burgers
