Kyoto is famous for kaiseki- high-end Japanese-style seasonal high-end cuisine.
But did you know that shojin-ryori, or Zen temple vegetarian cuisine, actually predates kaiseki?
There are several lunch options at Izusen, but the cheapest will set you back just over 3000 JPY. Some dishes change according to the season such as rice lam, bamboo shoot soup with bamboo shoots; in the fall, mushrooms or ginkgo seeds. You'll see asparagus in the spring and chestnuts in the fall.
However, most of the ingredients remain the same. Their fragrant, sticky, sesame tofu is excellent, as is the juicy fried tofu with ginkgo seeds inside. Their shiitake tempura is always delicious, and the tofu and sesame vegetable salad is a diners favourite. You'll get to taste a variety of familiar and unfamiliar vegetables in your meal and you'll love them all