Every single dish was so carefully made that it felt like art on the table. A solo dinner at Coppie, a tiny restaurant just south of Hankyu Omiya in Kyoto. The pork, slow-roasted in a kiln, was so tender and sweet it left me quietly, deeply happy.
More from this place → A Tabletop Journey: Coppie (March 2026)
More from this place → A Tabletop Journey: Coppie (April 2026)
What kind of place is Coppie?
About a ten-minute walk south from Hankyu Omiya Station. A small, very popular spot; reservation only.
What is lovely is that it is run by three married couples plus one more person. Everyone clearly has their own role, and you can feel the respect and trust between them just by watching. One of them is married to a taxi driver, who apparently drops in to help out now and then. Even that sense of closeness feels nice.
The wine pairings are decided once the day’s menu is set. I do not drink, so I had the house-made ginger ale: crisp, refreshing, with a real kick of spice. Properly delicious. There is a wide, beautiful counter, so even on your own you will not feel out of place. Plenty of guests come from overseas, too, and even solo I blended right in.
A Tabletop Journey: Coppie
From amuse-bouche to medicinal-herb curry. A photo-by-photo dinner record at Coppie, just south of Hankyu Omiya in Kyoto.
8 dishes
Amuse-bouche
We start with a green, soup-like little dish. What was this again…? It was incredibly good; I just cannot remember what it was.
Meat on toast
I have forgotten what kind of meat this was (haha). All I clearly remember is that it was delicious.
Lake Biwa fish
Arrived on a blue plate. The pairing with the herbs moved me a little, and yet I never asked what the herb actually was. There it is, my shyness again. So far I have not managed to remember a single thing about any of the food. What is wrong with me (haha).
Chicken wing
A spicy sausage tucked inside; Coppie's signature take on the classic chicken wing.
Spring roll
It looks like an ordinary spring roll. But one bite and you will want to say, "this is no ordinary spring roll."
Kiln-roasted pork★Star of the Day
The best of the night. It is slow-roasted in a kiln, so order it early, alongside your appetizers or honestly even before them. Tender, gently sweet, and the grainy mustard on the side is a perfect match.
French fries
Absolutely not to be underestimated. These might be the best fries I have ever had.
Medicinal-herb curry★The Finale
A curry, of all things, to finish. So full of medicinal herbs that with every bite you feel yourself getting healthier. Ending on something this kind to the body somehow made me happy.
Wrapping up
Every dish was thoughtful, and the whole place stayed with me. The fact that I have forgotten half the dishes’ names is entirely down to my memory; sorry about that. But “it was delicious” is the part that sticks. And maybe that is enough.
A place in which you can take your time at the counter. If you are looking for somewhere to eat alone in Kyoto, this is one to keep on your list. The kind of place that makes you want to come back.
