Michelin published its restaurant guide for Kansai region (Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe) 2011 version on the last friday. Surprisingly 12 restaurants are awarded three stars. The number of 3 star restaurants on the guide is the biggest in the world and even more than one for Tokyo and Paris. Out of 239 restaurants on the guide, 80% are Japanese restaurants in a variety of categories from Izakaya (居酒屋, casual dining bar), Kushiage (串揚, skewered and fried food) to Kaiseki (懐石料理, upscale sophisticated course).
Kansai region’s capital Osaka is considered more vital Asian-like city contrary to Tokyo cosmopolitan and it is called "the merchant city ". At the same time, it is known for casual dining as an example of Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き, salty pancake). In Kyoto, the ancient city, upscale traditional Japanese restaurants attract dinners for more than a hundred year with the most sophisticated anc delicate ways of cooking skills. Kobe may be known for the Kobe beef by non-Japanese people. The city, just next to Osaka, is a hometown base of wealthy in Kansai. It is natural easily to find fine restaurants there.
Here the list of 3stars restaurant on the Michelin Guide Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe 2011
<Kyoto 京都>
Kikunoi Honten (菊乃井 本店) - Japanese Kaiseki http://kikunoi.jp/store/
Kitcho Arashiyama (吉兆 嵐山本店) - Japanese
http://www.kitcho.com/kyoto/shoplist_en/arashiyama/index.html
Chihana (千花) - Japanese Itamae cappo (chef's cuisine) http://kyotochihana.com/e/
Tsuruya (つる家) - Japanese http://www.kyoto-tsuruya.co.jp/kyoto.html
Nakamura (なかむら) - Japanese Kyoryori (京料理, Kyoto local cuisine)
http://www.kyoryori-nakamura.com
Hyotei (瓢亭) - Japanese Kaiseki http://hyotei.co.jp/
Mizai (未在) - Japanese http://www.mizai.net/
<Osaka 大阪>
Kashiwaya (柏屋) - Japanese Kaiseki No official own website http://r.gnavi.co.jp/c158900/
Taian (太庵) - Japanese Kappo No official website
Hajime (ハジメ) - French http://www.hajime-artistes.com/
<Kobe 神戸>
Ca cento (カ・セント) Spanish http://casento.jp/
Komago (子孫) Japanese No official website
Those Japanese restaurants offers limited number of tables and advanced reservation is strongly recommended. Especially after the publishing of Michelin guide, they might be fully booked for a few months. Please be ready well advance to visit them. Japanese upscale restaurants in general offer only one or a few courses by price range and no a-la-carte menu. All food provided there are served at the best condition as per the chef's recommandation and well-prepared with fresh, high quality ingredients.
Related stories in this blog
Koju (小十) - Japanese upscale restaurant, Michelin ***
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/04/koju-小十-japanese-upscale-restaurant-michelin-.html
Kaiseki Tsujitome(懐石 辻留）
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2008/08/kaiseki-tsujito.html
LA TABLE de Joel Robuchon - French (Michelin Guide 2010 **)
RESTAURANT SANT PAU - Spanish
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/03/restaurant-sant-pau-spanish.html
Chinese- Momonoki (桃の木) Michelin 1* (2009)
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2009/11/chinese-momonoki-桃の木-michelin-1-2009.html
French - Les Creations de NARISAWA (Michelin *)
http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2009/08/french---les-cr.html
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