Mishima-Tei (Original) — Restaurant in Kyoto

I visited Kyoto around this time last year and was lucky enough to try this century-old restaurant’s Kansai-style sukiyaki, even without a reservation. The senior hostess personally cooked at the table and explained everything so warmly — it really left an impression on me.

This year, I even asked my hotel concierge to book ahead, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a letdown. It really showed me that even with the exact same ingredients and cooking style, you can taste whether or not the person preparing it truly cares.

This time, a cheerful middle-aged lady served me, but she didn’t talk to me at all — no explanation, no warm greetings like the senior hostess at the next table. I also remembered that their lunch sukiyaki set came with two raw eggs, but I was only given one. I wondered if I had misremembered or if they had changed the set over the past year.

It wasn’t until I overheard the senior hostess ask the table next to me if they wanted their second egg that I realized it wasn’t just me — so I had to ask another staff member to bring one.

Such a shame — this is definitely one of those “better as a memory” kind of places for me now. That said, if a friend wanted to try sukiyaki in Kyoto, I’d still bring them here — but I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to plan another...

This wonderful place was recommended by the local guide from our hotel and was praised as the best Sukiyaki in Kyoto. It has a long history, and the quality and service were highly recommended by locals.

We popped in early and were able to get a table. Both the service and the food were amazing. To be able to experience the most traditional way of having Sukiyaki was unforgettable. I am a big fan of Sukiyaki and now even a bigger one after this experience.

The Sukiyaki set includes a lot of things and is definitely fulfilling. It is a bit much for kids, so it is better to come with grown-ups. The price is high, but it is worthy. It will be great for special occasions and celebrate important days.

I can only say it was tastier than tasty, absolutely delicious and delightful. You can taste the high quality of the ingredients on the tip of your tongue, from basic condiments to the beef itself.

Also, I love their beautiful tablewares. Every piece is like an artwork from a museum.

I hope I can visit...

This place is a disgrace to the nice Japanese well mannered culture. They really don’t welcome tourist and we happened to be there around 5pm without reservation. The old reception guy which all negative reviews had mentioned told us to look at the menu outside before bringing us in and he kept mentioning the price on menu is per person. Once you’re inside the restaurant you can feel the difference when the server is serving a foreigner and when she is serving a local Japanese guest. No smile, no explaination, rude manner bringing us the bill and simply just tell us “Now” while we are still eating. Even though the beef is great and the sukiyaki was authentic, it’s still my worst Japanese experience so far and the good quality of the beef can’t justify their manner. I could have spent the $300 USD on some better food...