Kikunoi Main Branch - Kyoto

We went to Kaiseki lunch. the presentation and quality of eating are top notch. the ambiente is excellent. the service is wonderful and the timing for each curs is at place. we have our own suite with a bathroom and garden view. we were filled at the end of the meal. highly recommended.

Absolutely amazing experience. The attention to detail is next level. I've waited a while before posting this so they'll probably have a different seasonal menu by now. Service was also very good, with each dish coming out with enough time in between to enjoy the tranquillity and calm. Would highly recommend any travellers to give it a go. Goes without saying that it's Japanese Kaiseki Cuisine, which is the height of Japanese food. Expect high quality food especially vegetables and raw seafood. Marvellous.

Japanese haute cuisine among the Michelin stars N35°0.099' E135°46.925' Kyō-ryōri (Kyoto kitchen) is a style of cooking that originated from the landlocked location of Kyoto and the ancient customs of the imperial court. The dishes are prepared using fresh seasonal vegetables in an ingenious way, emphasising subtle flavours that reveal the natural taste of the ingredients. Kyō-ryōri is selected according to the mood and shades of the ever-changing seasons, and the preparation, presentation and atmosphere in which it is enjoyed are as important as the taste. Kaiseki-ryōri (Japanese haute cuisine) is the epitome of refined dining, where ingredients, preparation, setting and presentation come together to create a multi-course banquet of seasonal delicacies that is unparalleled. Restaurant Kikunoi was extremely difficult to book in April 2018. They only accept bookings from well-known hotel reception managers. Because we did not stay in a hotel, our only option was to drive to the restaurant and request a reservation. The receptionist spoke English, accepted our request and we made a reservation in 3 days. We had to pay 49.680¥ for a multi-course dinner (yes, kaiseki-ryri is expensive) and in advance (very unusual for a restaurant). In Kikunoi, the atmosphere of the room, where the meal is served, is just as important as the food. In April 2018, we sat on tatami, a roll decorated with calligraphy hung in the tokonoma (alcove). Before dinner the owner welcomed us with a gracious bow. She showed us a book with pictures of all the dishes on the printed menu. The server in kimono served each course with beautiful porcelain and lacquer work. Look at the menu. The food was great, as you can expect. Beautiful textures and flavours. Delicious in every way. Perfect personal service. We smiled discreetly and were impressed by the whole experience. For a kaiseki-ryori experience where interior design, food and service are at three-star Michelin level (and the bill of course), Kikunoi offers a unique opportunity. Highly recommended.

Definitely will come here again next time. Every single dish is very well designed and delicious for sure. It's the only fine dining Japanese restaurant I booked by myself from overseas and didn't have any issues in terms of communication. Excellent!!

We’ve tried a variety of Michelin restaurants in the US(Manhattan especially) and Kikunoi easily topped the list. Top notch dining environment, service and food. It’s really to be picky about anything unless you are super conservative about trying out new types of food(roe, raw dishes, etc). The 44k Yen set we tried involves tons of seasonal delicacies such as the pufferfish, and the main dishes were crabs and duck breast. Our take is that they’ve already modified their food to suit non-Japanese people more while preserving the great Japanese style of cooking. You can find qualities everywhere: the room setting, friendly staff and mind-blowing food. This restaurant alone worths a round trip from the US and we will definitely try to secure a seat before booking our flight next time. Thank you for the great dining experience!