The cozy and well-maintained interior near Yasaka Pagoda, Waku is a traditional Japanese restaurant. Despite its age, even the exhaust hood looks brand new. The cheerful head chef is efficient and keeps you entertained with delicious food and conversation throughout your visit. I was once again thoroughly satisfied!

Hello. This is the president. There are many wonderful shops in Kyoto. Among them, I will introduce one of my favorite shops, Wakusama, located at the foot of Yasaka Tower. The owner insists that it is not in a back alley, but it is. This is the recommended points: ・All ingredients are used to the maximum to make the most of what is available ・Except for time-consuming dashi preparation, all cooking is done in front of you from the ingredients ・Surprise production of vague requests ・The owner talks a lot despite being a one-man operation ・The dishes served are excellent. I will omit the detailed explanation of the dishes as they are left to the chef, but the appetizer includes pickled bamboo shoots and plump prawns, sashimi includes sea bream, tuna, raw wheat gluten, raw yuba, and a large "congratulatory sea bream" for a friend with a birthday soon, which is sliced and served as sashimi and steamed sea bream, in the middle of the course, thinly sliced early-season Shibukawa chestnuts and steamed sea bream topped with red rice, and a dish of too many matsutake mushrooms and conger eel steamed in a pot, as if to say, "It's the season now," tempura includes fluffy baby pumpkin, shrimp, and a dashimaki made with 10 eggs, with a "longevity" burnt into it, which goes perfectly with rice, and finally a fig dessert. The live cooking show with the chef's talk is the ultimate gourmet entertainment. The next reservation is as early as February next year. The owner says he will fill up for the next 30 years, but I'm sure he will. He has the power to captivate those who come. It was really delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I was invited by a friend's family to enjoy a generous serving of Japanese cuisine at a traditional restaurant in Kyoto. The head chef was very friendly and cheerful. The seating area had about 10 seats, but since there were only 6 of us dining, we had the place to ourselves. Each dish was carefully prepared right in front of us, so we enjoyed them piping hot. The flavors were delicate and the ingredients were well showcased, especially the fresh wheat gluten, conger eel tempura, and rolled omelette, which were all incredibly delicious.

I love this restaurant. This is my third time visiting this year, and every time I come, I have a great and delicious time. The 3-hour course feels too short because the food is so enjoyable. I get excited when the winter melon dish is served. The mini okra is cute, and the shrimp dish is beautifully presented and enjoyable to look at. The grilled conger eel is really delicious! The taste matches its appearance perfectly. The chef's bone-cutting technique really enhances the flavor, and the grilled texture is fun to eat. This time, having the last conger eel of the year and the first matsutake mushroom of the year is so wonderful! The steamed dish is of such high quality at this price, I have never experienced anything like it elsewhere! The tempura with mushrooms and chestnuts is a surprising combination, but it tastes delicious! When prepared by the chef, the ingredients really shine. I tried making it at home right away, but it was not as good. The combination of inaniwa udon noodles, eel, and mozuku seaweed is a match made in heaven, thanks to the delicious broth. The signature dashimaki tamago is always a delight, with the broth enhancing the fluffy texture of the egg. Even the dessert was perfect, leaving me completely satisfied. Thank you for the wonderful meal. The atmosphere is always great, and the clientele is pleasant. It's truly a lovely restaurant to be in.

Always entertained by the delicious Kyoto cuisine at Wakus, this time we had a private reservation and were thoroughly entertained! The head chef's enjoyable conversation and delightful dishes had everyone in awe and smiling as we savored each dish over a quick 3.5 hours. The finale of the rolled omelette was truly amazing! Looking forward to what surprises await us next time!

At Kikudaimasao, a fun Japanese restaurant in Shimizusaka, the head chef is always bright and high-energy! While many chefs tend to stop moving their hands when talking, Chef Wakaku is always active with his hands! Everyone dining together is sure to have a good time, and before you know it, three hours have flown by. This popular restaurant is always fully booked, making it hard to secure a reservation!

This is a restaurant where it's hard to get a reservation, but once you go, you'll definitely want to visit again. The chef's personality creates a comfortable atmosphere, with regular customers who are not pretentious but make it a welcoming space. The food is simple yet innovative, showcasing the ingredients in a way that surprises and delights. For example, the carrot tempura is sweet and tender, almost like it's not a carrot at all. The chef's homemade chocolate, with a mochi-like appearance, has a unique and delicious texture that I, a chocolate enthusiast, wanted to take home. The side dish of rapeseed blossoms is not only visually appealing but also delicious. The sashimi is fresh and the tuna and raw wheat gluten are all incredibly delicious. The white miso soup with chewy mochi and plump shrimp is a perfect combination. The hot pot with tender turnips and crab is a gentle and comforting dish. The hot pot broth is delicious and comforting, with a rich flavor that is truly satisfying. The rolled omelette has a strong dashi flavor and is undeniably delicious. Everything was delicious and I felt incredibly happy. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Located between Gion Shijo and Kiyomizu Gojo, this restaurant has a bright and clean interior with a counter seating for 9. The owner manages the place alone, chatting with customers while skillfully preparing dishes right in front of you. The course menu changes depending on the season and daily ingredients, and on this day, we enjoyed dishes such as matsutake mushroom and conger eel steamed in a pot, and grilled white fish marinated in soy sauce and koji. Each dish was meticulously prepared and absolutely delicious! Despite the high quality of the traditional Japanese course, the fact that it comes with all-you-can-drink for 7000 yen is quite reasonable. It seems to be quite difficult to make a reservation, but I definitely want to go back again! Thank you for the wonderful meal.

We had a great time at Kazuhisa's restaurant, which is always fully booked up to six months in advance. This time, we had the place all to ourselves and enjoyed every moment. The chef's lively conversation and cooking, along with the flowing drinks, made for a satisfying and enjoyable experience for everyone. Looking forward to the next visit, but reservations are only available for next year...

This is a restaurant worth making a reservation far in advance to visit. The owner is very personable and the customers are also enjoyable to be around, making for a pleasant dining experience in a clean environment. The dishes are all elegantly delicious, highlighting the flavors of the ingredients. The okura surimi udon noodles are vibrant and perfect for summer. The sashimi and nama-fu are exquisite. The white miso dengaku is a must-try, both the red and white versions are delicious. The price is usually around 5,000 yen, which is well worth it for the quality of the food. I recently found out that they also offer the same menu for dinner at the same price, which is a very thoughtful gesture. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Near Shimizusaka, there is a hidden gem of a traditional Japanese restaurant called Wakumae. After making a reservation and waiting for about half a year, we were able to enjoy a private dining experience. It was truly a Wakumae theater, where we were entertained by the chef's delightful conversation and amazing dishes from start to finish. Everyone was extremely satisfied with the delicious and enjoyable three-hour experience. In a different sense, this dining experience is truly worth three Michelin stars! We are already looking forward to our next visit.

I was taken to a new restaurant by my favorite senior, and I was excited by the clean appearance of the place. The dishes were like watching a show, each one meticulously and beautifully presented. I also fell in love with the chef's personality! Every seasonal dish was delicious, and I even worried if they were making a profit with such high quality. I was so impressed that I ended up making a reservation for my next visit before leaving. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Near the five-story pagoda of Yasaka Shrine, the popular Japanese restaurant Wakuya Cuisine turns into a lively theater once the meal begins! The master's skill in creating a fun atmosphere not only makes the food delicious but also transforms the place into an enjoyable experience. Despite being reasonably priced, it is always fully booked for reservations far in advance...

Mr. Wakusama (the owner) is a very friendly person who not only serves delicious food but also provides a fun dining experience! You'll definitely want to go back again! It's about a 15-minute walk from the bus stop at Shimizu Michi, through a small alley lined with quiet Kyoto townhouses, where you'll be welcomed by a red curtain! Today, we had the 3-hour omakase course starting at 6:30 PM! We tried several types of sake and were served a variety of dishes, all for around 6000 yen per person, which we found to be very reasonable. The exterior is a calm, Kyoto-style facade that suddenly appears in the townhouse, and the interior is bright and clean, making it a very comfortable space. There are only counter seats, with a maximum capacity of 10 people. Today's menu included: Appetizers (black beans, karasumi daikon, tarako, kombu roll, tazukuri, kikurage) Ozoni (white miso soup with sea bream, mochi, and karashi) Sashimi (seared sea bream, yellowtail, yuba, nama-fu, nori) Crab hot pot (turnip, mitsuba, yuzu) Tempura (carrot, onion, burdock) Dashimaki tamago White rice Red miso soup Dessert (apple kinton) The dishes are tailored to each customer using seasonal ingredients! Not only can you enjoy the food, but they also make sure you enjoy the meal! This is a place you'll want to visit again and again!

Kyoto Higashiyama. Starting all at once & leaving it up to the chef for a single course. Visiting a counter-style traditional Japanese restaurant run by a single chef whom I have praised before. It was the fifth time in December 2018. I informed the chef to pay attention to all seats as there was a lot of noise during my last visit, but he said that the lively and sometimes noisy atmosphere is a characteristic of "Waku". I felt exhausted in the three hours spent in a noisy and unpleasant environment. Regarding the course dishes, I was satisfied with the appetizer of shrimp, taro, and shimeji mushrooms, sashimi, and rolled omelette as always. However, overall, I felt the course was underwhelming for the price of 4845 yen including tax. For example, the second dish of mochi and matsuba crab with kudzu sauce, and the fifth dish of tempura felt more like izakaya dishes rather than exceptional flavors. The fourth dish of turnip, sea bream, and mitsuba in white miso was disappointing as the turnip's natural flavor was lost in the cooking process, and the slight fishy smell of the sea bream was off-putting. There was not a single standout dish throughout the course. Seeking the initial excitement and amazement of my first visit, this fifth visit left me disappointed. Last time, I encountered a rowdy group, so I endured it with goodwill, but encountering the same situation twice prompted me to ask the chef, who mentioned that there are days with a high percentage of lively groups, and the noisiness is also welcomed at "Waku". Despite the bright and courteous service from the hardworking chef at this affordable counter-style traditional Japanese restaurant, and the skilled chefs, I was disappointed by the noise and the dishes during my visit in December 2018. The excessive noise was attributed to a group of regulars, and with no consideration for all seats, the three-hour course left me feeling extremely tired as I made my way home. Just a reference for such occurrences.

I visited this restaurant at the end of November. Eleven years ago, it was normal to have the whole place to myself, but now there is a wait of four months! They are currently taking reservations for March next year. On this night, I managed to snag the last available seat. The dinner course consisted of 7 dishes for 4500 yen. The menu included dishes such as persimmon and chrysanthemum salad, sea bream and shrimp potato in white miso, and a hot pot with black pork, mushrooms, and rice cakes. The meal was satisfying and the sake was of good quality. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience. The restaurant is planning to increase their prices starting from February 2019. I would recommend this place. Rating: ★★★★

On this day, we went to "Waku" near Yasaka Tower for lunch to enjoy the familiar dashimaki. Here is the exciting menu at Waku on this day: - Octopus and winter melon with yuzu - Sashimi (sea bream, scallop, grilled saury, yuba, nama-fu) - Steamed anglerfish (from Awaji) and matsutake mushrooms in a pot - Kamasu soy sauce koji grilled dish with pumpkin chips, grilled mochi, and Tanba black beans - Tempura of anglerfish and two types of pumpkin - Rice, dashimaki, red miso soup, pickled cucumbers - Tanba black soybean flour ice cream with tapioca and black sugar - Kyoto green tea The meal lasted about 3 hours as usual, allowing us to relax and enjoy. The course menu costs 4500 yen for both lunch and dinner (prices will increase from February). While there were no surprising ingredients, the reasonable pricing and enjoyable atmosphere make it popular, with reservations filling up well in advance. Let's look forward to the next visit!

One of the top tourist spots in Kyoto, near Kiyomizu Temple. The owner, in his mid-30s, celebrated the 10th anniversary last year (2017) and offers a course meal for 4500 yen for both lunch and dinner. As a solo operation, the owner runs a counter-style traditional Japanese restaurant that impressed me on my first visit, prompting occasional return visits. This time, as I arrived with Yasaka Pagoda in sight, I was treated to a variety of dishes that exceeded my expectations for the price of 4500 yen. While it didn't quite reach the level of amazement from my first visit, I was truly satisfied with the 3-hour experience of conversation and skilled cooking. The course I had in mid-September included: [Appetizer] Winter melon, enoki mushrooms, and conger eel with kudzu sauce; [Sashimi] Sea bream, scallop, grilled salmon, nama-fu (from "Kyoto Namafu Ono"), and yuba; [Sushi] Conger eel simmered with minced meat, topped with chestnut chips; [Soup] Matsutake mushroom and conger eel steamed in a pot; [Tempura] Sweet potato and eggplant; [Main Dish] Rolled omelette, white rice, clear soup, pickles; [Dessert] Fig with sesame paste and cream sauce. The sashimi was well-aged, the pot-steamed dish was satisfying for the season, and the conger eel sushi was memorable with its minced meat topping. The tightly rolled omelette had a rich umami flavor, showcasing the owner's skill. The atmosphere in front of the counter was like a live kitchen, and even though there was a noisy group this time, the bright and fun atmosphere remained impressive. The owner, Kazuhisa, honed his skills at various traditional Japanese restaurants and ryotei, and I learned that he had worked as a support chef at the long-established restaurant "Harisei" and alongside the owner of "Yasashisa Oshima." From explaining the dishes to cooking, he provides attentive service with occasional cooking class-like talks and laughter. While it may not be suitable for those who prefer luxurious ingredients or light flavors, the restaurant offers fantastic dishes and heartwarming service that surpass the price. Located in the Higashiyama area near the famous Kiyomizu Temple, this live counter-style traditional Japanese restaurant run by a solo owner is a must-visit for those looking to enjoy an authentic dining experience. Starting from February next year, the course will be increased to 5000 yen, and the required time is approximately 3 hours. Although fully booked for the rest of the year, any available seats will be updated on the website's operating schedule.

¥6000 including alcohol, ¥5000 + tax for food only (planned to be ¥5400 + tax from April 1st next year), private reservations available for 6 people or more, reservations are full up to one year in advance. This counter-style restaurant run by an entertaining owner offers a hilarious 3-hour experience from start to finish.

The chef is dedicated. He has been working hard for 10 years to perfect seasonal dishes. The flavors are still developing and improving.