April 14, 2008
by Hiroki Koizumi; Mika Onishi; Aya Kataoka
Gion is a famous and popular area in Kyoto because it has many high-class, Japanese-style restaurants and bars. So you might see a geisha or maiko walking along Gion’s streets and alleyways. Hanamikoji is an especially tasteful street.
OBANZAI SHOP

This shop is not so big and is very traditional in many ways.
Natto (fermented soybeans)
Green soybeans
- Japanese pilaf with egg —- 530 yen
- Fried spring roll (shrimp & vegetables) - 630 yen
- Grilled tofu - 530 yen
- Namafu - 630 yen
- Fried chicken - 630 yen
- Obanzai - 300 yen each
- Beer - 420 yen
- Wine(red or white/glass of wine) - 420 yen
- Cocktail - 530 yen each
Address:
265 Sikibe-cho, Takoyakusi agaru, Teramachi, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Telephone number: 075-221-5955
Open: Tuesday through Friday from 6 pm to 11pm (last order at 10:30 pm)
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 5pm to 11pm (last order at 10:30pm)
Closed Mondays
Capacity: 18 seats
Major credit cards are accepted.
By Hiroki Koizumi
In Kyoto city, there are a lot of cafés for foreign people, and among them is a new place, CAFÉ PROVERBS 1517. However, this café is little different from other shops. The reason is their menu. Nearly everything on it is made from plant-based ingredients. They use as few chemical additives, food colorings, flavorings, and preservatives as possible. They also use natural seasonings that are non-GMO (genetically modified foods and organisms), so customers don’t need to be concerned about the safety of their food here. So this restaurant is ideal for people who are vegetarians.
There are more than twenty items on the menu and they are divided into seven categories: salads, sandwiches, curries, plates, bowls, a la carte dishes, and noodles. Salads use fresh vegetables such as leafy greens. They also make their own original salad dressings. Sandwiches have lots of originality, like one that is stuffed with generous slices of avocado. Curries also use many kinds of homegrown vegetables. Plates all have rice, salad, soup, and an organic meat or vegetable, so plates are for people who want to eat several kinds of food. Bowls feature organic vegetables with rice, and the a la carte menu has a great variety of items: fried spring rolls, mabo dofu (a Chinese-style hot tofu dish), and so on. Finally, bowls of noodles use soymilk or Asian-flavored soup, so the taste is a bit plain. Their prices range from 750 yen to 1500 yen, so it’s on par with other cafe’s. Of course, many kinds of beverages are served: coffee, tea, juice. For desert, there are homemade sweets, cheesecake, chocolate cake, and strawberry cake.
Customers, especially women, can relax on the café’s sofa seats after lunch or dinner. The atmosphere at lunchtime is very pleasant. Moreover, candlelight lights the space peacefully during dinnertime. Most customers enjoy eating foods that use organic vegetables and they also enjoy their time in this café. If you are vegetarian and are looking for a place to eat, I recommend this café.