ikariya 523 Kyoto-style French Bistro — Restaurant in Kyoto

Visited with my mum and sister. We walked in and discovered they only had a lunch set menu. We decided to share three different appetisers among us. Mum and I opted for the chicken confit with cabbage, while my sister chose the pork with pumpkin puree. I also treated myself to a passion fruit sangria, which was a delightful finish.

In Singapore, we usually see duck confit more often than chicken confit, so this was a refreshing change. The pork was intriguing with the pumpkin puree, giving it a healthy twist—a characteristic often found in Japanese interpretations of French cuisine.

The chicken confit was deliciously moist inside with a perfectly crispy exterior. The pork was well-cooked, not too fatty, which I appreciated. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience with interesting flavors and a healthy touch.

It’s around SGD25 per pax for the lunch set menu which comes with a soup, bread, choice of appetiser, one main and one beverage (coffee/tea).

There’s a separate lunchtime alcohol special menu (that’s where I ordered the sangria) - its more refreshing style (If you’re the kind that likes a strong alcohol taste to your cocktails, then this menu is...

The first night I went there, everything was excellent. The onion soup was rich and perfect, probably the best onion soup I have ever had in my life, amd that Beef Bourgogne is a dish to die for! Soft as butter and rich with red wine and melted fat and muscle... The dish was just a burst of Umemi. This restaurant is a masterclass in French cuisine... The inventive, traditional and heartwarming style of French cooking mixed with Japanese discipline, calculation and understanding of food creates an amazing eating experience mathematically engineered to make your mouth water. This restaurant is simply stunning. A few criticisms would be the amateurish staff who understood little English and are prone to making catastrophic mistakes with order taking and the lack of napkins... Which seemed completely strange given the degrees this establishment goes to remain authentic to French cuisine. Aside from those hiccubs of varying levels of severity, Ikariya 523 is an establishment that is incredibly worth anyone's time that serves the finest of French cuisine which I would happily visit again and...

We found ourselves walking the streets of Kyoto looking for somewhere to eat, when it started raining. We looked to the nearest restaurant and decided to take a chance - and aren't we glad we did! We were greeted by very polite, smiling and attentive waiters that spoke enough English to make everything run smoothly and effortlessly. We decided to drink some sake while waiting for the food and the waiter gave an excellent piece of advice regarding which one to choose. The food was served without any unreasonable waiting and everything tasted very delicious. The atmosphere of the restaurant is cozy and relaxed and the vibe is very European. The decor looks great. The menu is French and prices are very reasonable. For that quality and service you would often be paying way more. You'll not be regretting a visit to this pearl of Kyoto's...