[Kyoto Egg Sandwich Crawl]
An egg sandwich is usually made by sandwiching chopped boiled eggs with mayonnaise, but an egg sandwich in Kyoto is a little different.
What surprised me when I came to the Kansai region is that the standard egg sandwich is an egg sandwich with an egg cooked in a frying pan. The soft texture and gentle flavor of the bread match each other, making it a delicious “this is good.” And since each shop has its own unique flavor, you will want to visit them all the time. In Kyoto, there are many coffee shops that have long been familiar to the local people, just like a craft that has been passed down from generation to generation. Here are three recommended places for egg sandwiches in Kyoto.
First is “La Madrague” in Karasuma-Oike. The current owner took over and reopened the shop after the town's coffee shop “Kissa Seven,” which had been in operation for about 50 years since 1963, had gone dormant. The signature item on the menu is the “Corona Egg Sandwich.” Once you see it, you will never forget the thick, fluffy egg sandwich, which is a must-try when you visit Kyoto. Don't forget to make a reservation. If you can't finish it, you can take it home in a triangular box for your sandwich. Corona” was once a famous Western-style restaurant in Kiyamachi, and the taste of their egg sandwiches is still alive today.
The second restaurant is “Smart Coffee Uzumasa,” located in Uzumasa. “Smart Coffee,” a coffee shop near the Sanjo Showroom always has a long line of customers, but not many people know that it also has another shop in Uzumasa. Not far from the Uzumasa Movie Village and Shochiku Studios, you can enjoy a “toasted egg sandwich” in the spacious and sunny interior. The combination of a little mustard, a dark, thick egg omelet, and crispy bread makes for an exemplary egg sandwich. I ordered the toasted sandwich without thinking about it, but they also have a regular egg sandwich that is not grilled, so I would like to return to try that one next time.
Lastly, there is “Kissa Kano” in Kiyomizu Gojo. Located in a Western-style building along the Takase River, Kano was established in 1971. The “Tamago Sando” here is a slightly marbled egg omelet, accented with the flavors of ketchup and mayonnaise and the texture of sliced cucumber. The restaurant offers a clean and elegant atmosphere, but the egg sandwiches are hearty. The large glass windows offer a view of cherry blossom trees, so you may want to take a break while watching the cherry blossoms in the coming season.
Egg sandwiches are a part of the food culture that has been nurtured and loved in Kyoto. There are still many stores that we have not been able to visit yet. Please try to find your favorite one.
Sanjo Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/sanjo.html
Imadegawa Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/imadegawa.html
La Madrague
https://maps.app.goo.gl/19Enu7QhFUTjCMzx9
Smart Coffee Uzumasa
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4VMZTRtozCo1myMt7
Kissa Kano
https://maps.app.goo.gl/jjzdci96WZwYTGRr8
References
http://madrague.info/bunka.html
https://www.smartcoffee.jp/about
https://www.kano-sono.com/
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZZO11294470U7A100C1000000/
https://www.fujingaho.jp/gourmet/restaurant/g72175/tamagosando-2016-0405/
