Downtown/Central - Kawaramachi (河原), Karasuma (烏丸)

Karasuma-Oike 烏丸御池 area: Tenyu (tempura), La Bouchon (budget French), Red Rubber Ball Cafe.
Karasuma-Kawaramachi: Kinmata (kaiseki), Yaoya no Nikai (vegetarian), Ippudou ramen is here too.

Nishiki Market: This narrow, mostly covered pedestrian shopping street is parallel to and one block north of Shijo-dori, the main street in the center of town, and runs for blocks and blocks. Open from early morning until late afternoon, it's a great place to browse and graze among the fishmongers, fruit and vegetable grocers, pickle purveyors, and endless stalls of prepared food, from grilled eel to pounded-rice cakes. Eat on the run or take it back to your hotel with you—or just fill up on the free samples. Kyoto Uni introduces some of the more interesting shops.

Musashi Sushi
One of Kyoto's foremost kaiten sushi shops. Cheap and cheerful (they even round down the bill to lower ten yen). Just don't expect superior quality but it will be fun enough. Two locations - Kyoto Station basement (yay!) and on the north-west corner of Sanjo Kawaramachi, more on the Kawaramachi side than Sanjo.


Chifaja Yakiniku

All you can eat in 90 mins for ¥2,200! BBQ meats, vegetables, etc in a casual dining environment. Several outlets. Main restaurant here. Near Kawaramachi. Just below the Kyoto City Hall. 4 min walk from subway Tozai Line Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae station No.3 Exit

Gyuzen
at Gion and Karasuma.
Fantastic all you can eat (for 2hrs) shabu-shabu and sukiyaki sets from ¥1,980!
But open only for dinner from 5-11pm.

Other yakiniku chains include Gyukaku Tendan, Shabuzen and Fufutei (one at Shijo-Karasuma, same row as Daimaru). Another joint with tabehodai BBQ, shabu shabu and sukiyaki is Aji Building Kashin.

Mr Young Men
Okonomiyaki FTW! Wikitravel says, "a pleasantly grubby okonomiyaki restaurant downtown, at the corner of Shijo and the covered shopping street of Teramachi. Basic English menus are available. A basic dish of Osaka-style okonomiyaki will run about ¥800, although a few variations (including a bizarre cheese and potato version) are available for about the same price."

Café Independants - bohemian epicentre of Kyoto. Lunches cheap from ¥500-800! Mostly western-style fare - sandwiches.
Open 11:45am-midnight daily.
Tel: 075-255-4312
Kyoto City Hall
Gokomachi Sanjo, 1928 Bldg B1F