ISSUNBOUSHI Hotel Emion Kyoto — Restaurant in Kyoto

While we were staying at the Hotel Emion in Kyoto, my wife saw this place and was immediately interested. We tried to go the night before, but 1 hour before the posted closing time, there was no staff to be found. Come to find out, this is somewhat common for restaurants in Kyoto when they are not busy. We tried again the following day and were able to get in around 21:45.

The atmosphere of the private booth area was very cozy and romantic. The food was absolutely phenomenal and high quality. What is even crazier is the price ended up being about half as much as I thought it would be. The bill was only ¥20,000 ($145 USD) - I even checked it line-by-line to be sure nothing was missed. I think the person at the register thought I was upset when I looked at the receipt in disbelief, but I really just felt it was too good to be true.

Seriously, the food here is incredible. Don't miss it - see pictures attached.

The rest of my review is a culturally subjective perspective on our interactions with the staff

Here's the thing. We did not have a reservation, but it was a Tuesday night and they did not appear busy. We showed up dressed in very nice cocktail attire in hopes of a table. My wife and I were in Japan for our 1-year anniversary and belated honeymoon. Obviously, the staff did not know this, but they told us at 21:30 that no tables were available and that they could only give us "counter" service (a sort of bar area). After being seated at the counter area, I was disappointed by the nearby uncleared dirty dishes, as well as a lack of space and privacy. I went back to the host stand and asked if we could wait for a proper table. The guy at the register hesitated a bit, saying it would be a 20-minute wait. I told him we were fine with waiting and sat in the waiting area. We did not see any other customers leave the restaurant, but about 2 minutes later, we were seated at a private table.

I removed one star for service because I felt I had to be a bit pushy, which I hate doing, just to get a proper table that appeared to be available the whole time. I appreciate that they eventually accommodated us, as it greatly elevated the atmosphere and overall experience.

Aside from this hurdle, the experience was a 5/5 all the way. I definitely recommend it! I would just suggest making a reservation to avoid any...

I ordered the course and was honestly very disappointed. The meat was extremely fatty and greasy — if you’re someone who doesn’t like fatty cuts, I would strongly advise against this place.

The meat pieces weren’t thin slices like you’d expect at a proper yakiniku restaurant. Instead, they came in awkward triangle chunks with visible knife marks that hadn’t even been fully cut through. It really looked like leftover trimmings or scraps rather than premium cuts.

As for the rice at the end, it was just plain white rice served with some very basic, forgettable pickles. Nothing special at all.

At this price point, it simply wasn’t worth it. Other than the staff being polite, there’s nothing that would make me want...

We came in with a group of 10 and were pleasantly surprised to be seated right away with no hassle—a rare find for a restaurant this size. The staff was warm, attentive, and efficient throughout our meal, making sure we had everything we needed without ever feeling rushed.

The quality of the food stood out. The meat was exceptionally tender and clearly a high-grade cut—juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared and well-balanced in taste.

The atmosphere was minimalist yet modern, with clean lines and a relaxed vibe. It’s not overly flashy, but it has a contemporary charm that makes it great for both casual dinners and slightly more...