My Must-Eats in Kyoto, Japan with… GirlEatWorld’s Melissa Hie
- 1. What Japanese snack reminds you of your childhood — and where did you get it?
- 2. What are your top three go-to eateries in Kyoto, Japan? Why?
- 3. When you go to Japan, what's your number one go-to dish? Which eatery do you typically go to for this dish?
- 4. Which restaurant in Japan do you want to try but have not, and why?
- 5. What's the last thing you ate in Japan that impressed you — and where did you have it?
My Must-Eats is a HungryGoWhere series featuring Singapore’s public figures and their favourite food haunts. This week, we speak to Melissa Hie, the person behind popular food and travel Instagram account @girleatworld, on her must-eats in Japan.
The name Melissa Hie might not ring a bell, but you’ve probably seen her shots from her Instagram account if you’re an avid traveller and foodie.
You know, it’s the one with mouthwatering snacks and drinks held against scenic travel spots around the world.
Yes, Melissa Hie is the ‘girl’ behind Girl Eat World.
I chanced upon Hie’s Instagram account years back when I was looking for travel inspiration, specifically for Japan.
While it was clear that Hie is quite the globetrotter with posts from all over the world, I couldn’t help but notice that her content seemed to gravitate towards the land of the rising sun.
I later learnt that the 38-year-old designer, born in Indonesia and now based in Singapore for the past decade, is no stranger to Japan.
She grew up on a diet of anime and manga, and also learnt the language in university.
She visits Japan almost every year since her first visit in 2014. Hie also started going to the country more as her husband grew up in Japan and has family there.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan soon, read on for some insider recommendations from this seasoned Japan traveller on what to eat in Kyoto and Tokyo.
1. What Japanese snack reminds you of your childhood — and where did you get it?
It’s called zarame senbei. Senbei is a crispy cracker made from roasted rice, and it reminds me of my favourite childhood snack — kerupuk from Indonesia!
Unlike kerupuk, senbei comes in both sweet and savoury flavours. Zarame senbei is the sweet version — it’s covered with coarse sugar crystals. It’s sweet, but still retains a hint of soy saltiness similar to other senbeis, so it’s a nice balance.
There is a stall along Ninenzaka in Higashiyama district in Kyoto that sells it for 120 yen (S$1.20).
2. What are your top three go-to eateries in Kyoto, Japan? Why?
a. Yudofu Sagano
45 Saga Tenryuji Susukinobaba-cho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto, 616-8385, Japan
Yudofu is one of the specialties in Kyoto, and a must-try if you’re a tofu lover like me.
Conveniently located near Arashiyama bamboo forest, Yudofu Sagano is one of the best places to have it! It only serves a 10-course kaiseki (multi-course Japanese meal) for 4,000 yen, and almost all of the courses have tofu in them.
b. Nishiki Market
Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8055, Japan
This is perhaps a bit touristy, but Nishiki Market never fails to impress me. It is a food market that has been around for 400 years, spans over 400m long and contains 100 stalls.
You can find almost every Japanese dish and snack you can think of here — sushi, sakura mochi, ichigo daifuku (filled mochi), just to name a few!
c. Kanoko
59 Fukakusa Inari Nakanocho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, 612-0807, Japan
I accidentally found this place when visiting Fushimi Inari in Kyoto. Kanoko is located close to the entrance of the shrine.
From the outside, it looked just like a regular restaurant, but inside, there was a Japanese zen garden that you could admire as you ate.
3. When you go to Japan, what’s your number one go-to dish? Which eatery do you typically go to for this dish?
This is extremely simple of me, but the first thing I always go for when I land in Japan is onigiri from a nearby konbini (convenience store).
Onigiri is a very basic Japanese snack — it’s a rice ball wrapped in nori (dried seaweed paper) and stuffed with various fillings, from meats to pickled plums. I know there are plenty of other good foods in Japan, but onigiri is my first love and I’ll never get over it.
It is also really easy to get because konbinis are everywhere in Japan. My favourite convenience store in Japan is Family Mart or Famima for short. My usual go-to onigiri there is the shake (salted salmon) onigiri.
4. Which restaurant in Japan do you want to try but have not, and why?
Ever since I watched Jiro Dreams of Sushi (released in 2012), I have always wanted to experience an omakase meal at his restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo. Alas I never did, and now it seems unattainable since the restaurant has become so exclusive.
Another restaurant I have been wanting to try is Tomita Ramen, for its tsukemen (dipping ramen). However, it is located a little far out of Tokyo and you’ll need to spend time queuing due to its popularity. I don’t like wasting my time in Japan queueing, so I haven’t been there yet.
5. What’s the last thing you ate in Japan that impressed you — and where did you have it?
A friend of mine took us to the coastal part of Chiba on my last visit to Tokyo, and introduced me to the restaurant Ramen Bonobono. Its ramen was probably the best ramen I’ve ever had.
Ramen Bonobono’s specialty is tonkotsu ramen, which comes in two versions: Shio (salt) or Shoyu (soy) broth. Its shoyu broth has an umami smoky charred flavour that makes it extremely addictive.
Looking for more inspiration for your Japan trip planning? Read our articles on what to eat in Tokyo and Osaka food spots for more ideas.
Sarah Chua
Author
Sarah is constantly seeking out new coffee spots and cocktail bars around the world, and should probably drink more water while at it.
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