Chieriya

Banh mi and New York style cheesecake in Kyoto, Japan? You heard it here first, folks, and I can attest to the definite deliciousness of both!
I arrived post-​yoga with two of my colleagues on a very cold day so we immediately nestled under the warm kotatsu table (I need to get one of these for my house!). Chieriya has all sorts of dishes including a Thai green curry that my dining companion scarfed in a hurry! Still, I decided to take the risk and order the fish banh mi. From my seat I was able to watch the entire banh mi assembly process. With a simple toaster oven and very fresh ingredients, Chieriya makes magic. This was a laudable banh mi on a beautifully crisp and chewy baguette and she gave me the cutest little bottle of sriracha when I asked for heat.
I’m not a major fan of Japanese cheesecake as I find it too fluffy but since the menu boasted «NY style» I took a chance. Chieriya’s was easily the best cheesecake I’ve had in recent memory. And it’s definitely true to the New York style.
This tiny, cozy café is definitely worth a drop in if you’re in the area!