Satoshi — Restaurant in Kyoto

We had the chance to experience omakase at Satoshi during our honeymoon trip to Kyoto. Chef Satoshi himself hosts this small, intimate restaurant, which we were fortunate to find just 3 minutes from our hotel. With its high 4.9 rating, we were eager to try it, even though we hadn't managed to book a reservation online (it appeared fully booked two days in advance). To our surprise, when we arrived, only one other Japanese couple was there, and after a bit of awkward communication in English, Chef Satoshi agreed to let us in.

While the food was delicious and beautifully prepared, there were a couple of things that could have been improved for a more memorable omakase experience. First, instead of seating us at the bar counter (which was mostly empty), we were seated at a separate table. This took away the immersive element of watching the chef prepare each dish in front of us, which is something we love about omakase.

Second, there was no menu or explanation of pricing upfront. Each dish was served with minimal interaction, as Chef Satoshi used a book with fish images to show us the ingredients. While we appreciated his effort to communicate, non-Japanese-speaking travelers might find this lack of explanation challenging. The price came to 38,700¥ (19,350¥ per person), which felt a bit steep compared to other places, especially given that the ingredients, while fresh and tasty, didn’t feel particularly sophisticated or unique.

That said, we thoroughly enjoyed the chef's incredible collection of pottery, which added a beautiful touch to the presentation of each dish. The atmosphere of the restaurant was calm and intimate, making it a nice escape from the busy streets of Kyoto.

Overall, while the food and ambiance were excellent, the seating arrangement and lack of communication about the dishes and pricing made this experience fall short of our expectations. It's a good choice if you're in the area, but non-Japanese speakers might want to be aware of the...

This restaurant has a convenient location. On the one hand, it is located in the central part of Kyoto and is easy to get to by public transport. On the other hand, it is farther away from the crowds and noise. I would highly recommend this place to fans of fish and seafood. Here, these dishes are very tasty and unique! A variety of dishes of raw, marinated, stewed fish and seafood were offered by the owner of the restaurant. The menu also includes dishes typical of Kyoto, such as dishes with salted mackerel. I was surprised that each dish was arranged as an artistic composition and served in special dishes. I would also recommend this restaurant to fans of fine tableware. I admired the floral ornaments or Japanese landscapes depicted on the dishes. I felt like I was in a museum at an exhibition of exquisite Japanese ceramics. It is fascinating! I am particularly impressed by the warm and welcoming atmosphere at the restaurant. On the one hand, there is enough space to enjoy dishes according to your taste. On the other hand, there is a feeling like you are with friends and acquaintances, and everyone is enjoying food, communication, and art. I am very grateful for...

Satoshi-san is an amazing chef with very individual approach. All positions in our dinner set were delicious and unique in taste - after a year in Japan I have never had anything like that. Portions are small, but their amount is really generous: me and my friends were so full by the end but really happy that we were able to taste every dish because of wisely chosen portions sizes. Also, you can watch every dish being prepared in front of you and choose any nihonshu they have. Sake was outstanding. This dinner was the highlight of our Kyoto trip, so if you’re looking for something special to remember from Japan, better save this place. (If you book it in advance, there will be helpers who would kindly translate for you to English and back, which would make your experience even more relaxed...