[Updated August 2008: Little Bamboo changed hands in July 2008 and with the new management the menu changed completely too. It now no longer serves whole grain rice or organic food. The menu has more choice but seems a little pricey for what you get. They do however have a nice range of teas (including an intriguing Irish whisky flavored tea – fancy that!). I think it is now better visited as a cafe than an eatery. Incidentally on Sundays it becomes a Dog Cafe which means you are welcome to stop by if you are taking Rover for a stretch of the legs.
All the menu information below this update can now be consigned (rather sadly, as I did like those Bamboo Gohan sets 泣） to history. ]
Little Bamboo on Shirakawa Dori serves nice healthy organic foodage with whole grain brown rice cooked in yoghurt. The yoghurt gives the rice extra nutritional value; lots of those all important B vitamins, good for your skin, stomach… and lots of other bits I can’t remember. Everything is home-made and boasts all natural ingredients from across Japan; whole grain rice from Hiroshima, organic miso soup from Fukushima, super healthy vegetable side dishes…
The owner of the establishment, Kotake-san, (a very friendly chap) previously worked on Travelling Café Little Bamboo a mobile healthy-fast-food van serving lunches in Osaka, but having married he settled in Kyoto and opened his new establishment last year. And just look at how happy he is about it.
Here are some pictures of my own favorite dishes.
Here are some of the main dishes from the menu (Bamboo Gohan is especially recommended:
Bamboo Gohan: A main dish (changes weekly) served with whole grain rice, miso soup, side dishes and a nice crispy salad. All for ￥900
Whole Grain Shrimp Curry: ￥900
Soymilk White Sauce Seafood Doria: ￥900
Lotus Root & Hijiki Seaweed Fried Rice: ￥1000
Penne Meat Gratin: ￥900
Pork on Rice: ￥１０００
All main dishes come with a nice crunchy crispy salad. There is also a selection of cakes, deserts, soft drinks, herb teas, coffees, and delicious frosty fruit numbers…
Little Bamboo is situated on Shirakawa Dori just past Mikage Dori. If you get as far as the bookshop you’ve gone too far. Opening Hours: 11:45a.m. ~ 10 p.m. Last Orders at 9.30 p.m. Wednesday is the regular holiday.
Google Map here: Little Bamboo Location
*UPDATE 1st May 2008: Currently closed for renovations.