Ichihana — Restaurant in Kyoto

Our family had just arrived in Kyoto and we were looking for an authentic restaurant near our hotel for dinner. After searching online, my husband found Ichihana. Reservations are essential for any restaurant, but we were fortunate to have arrived on a night when space was available and the owner welcomed us in just as he was opening. It seats 7, which was perfect for our party of five and two local guests (who spoke English and were lovely).

It was extremely hot and humid outside, so the fresh iced tea was most welcome. We were able to communicate with hand gestures and a translator app, so ordering went smoothly. An English version of the menu was available. We each chose the multi-course dinner and watched as the courses were prepared and served by the chef and his assistant. I especially enjoyed the pickled vegetables course.

Overall, I’m very happy we had this experience. The owner really made an effort to make us feel welcome and prepared beautiful, delicious dishes. The restaurant was clean and comfortable. The only things that were not ideal were mostly out of the owners control. We were all jet-lagged and were not expecting the meal to take over four hours. We were all extremely full and exhausted before dessert was served, so we had to leave early, which we felt terrible about. The owner was very gracious and apologized for the long wait times between courses. Also, the restaurant had a fan but it still got very warm while the chef was cooking. It was already hot outside, so the heat was a bit overwhelming at times.

I would return to Ichihana, but next time I will plan to visit in a milder season and acclimate to the time...

We booked far in advance. Although the place wasn't full, they seemed to care if you had booking, so I'm not sure about their walk in policy. There is only one menu set and different rice pot variations to choose from.

After numerous visits to Japan and being on the final leg on this trip, this was a little of a disappointment. You get better tempura at an average izakaya next to any train station, get higher quality sashimi and just better rice pots elsewhere for at least half of the price. Yes, Kyoto has higher prices, but then at least be at paar with an average restaurant. The intimate setting was the only plus.

Still, the chef and help are very friendly and focused. Will I come back? No. You will find better walk in places at that price point in Kyoto. Michelin, what were...

We had an excellent omakase experience here. The value for money is outstanding – every course felt thoughtfully prepared and more than worth the price. The chef was incredibly polite and welcoming, which made the atmosphere warm and enjoyable. The dishes were rooted in traditional Japanese cuisine but carried the chef’s own creative interpretation, adding originality without losing authenticity. A memorable dining experience that I would...