Sumibi Steak Sakai KyotoSanjo — Restaurant in Kyoto

Most amazing dining experience! We walked in without a reservation and were seated immediately at a bar were you could watch them prepare your meal. The bar was beautiful and had a grill behind the bar. The seats were dining seats and quite comfortable.

The chef was very friendly and you could watch him assemble each course of the meal. All the details were perfectly applied. Blowtorch to warm the bowls and char the bread. Thin tongs to arrange the pieces.

Our waiter was also behind the bar and super friendly and attentive. He explained each dish and what was included. He was very prompt when filling water and wine glasses.

We ordered the set menu for sirloin/tenderloin for ¥8800 ($88). It included your choice of Waygu beef and appetizer, salad, soup, vegetables, and dessert.

The first course was ahi tuna chunks with a pesto like sauce and a whole shrimp. There was grated Parmesan cheese and toasted bread with what they called cream cheese but was actually mayo. The tuna was delicious. I loved the bread. Didn't really eat the mayo.

The second course was a beautifully prepared soup....Cream of green onion and potato soup. It came in the cutest clay pot and was delicious!

The third course was the beef. It came rare but they brought a little charcoal grill to the table so that you could warm it and the accompanying vegetables to your preference. The beef was delicious! It was perfectly marbled and full or flavor. They brought out soy sauce, miso sauce, wasabi, horseradish, and salt to season the meat and veggies. The veggies included broccoli, peppers, green onions and tomatoes...All mini. The char from the grill and the seasoning condiments were perfect for the vegetables!

The four course was a crispy rice cake with beef strips arranged on top in a bowl. You added condiments like seaweed salad or strips, and Japanese pickles and then covered everything with a boiling broth that cooked the beef. It was a delicious soup to finish up the savory section of the meal.

The final course was a medley of desserts...Sesame mousse/pudding, chocolate cake strips with strawberries and cream, and caramel ice cream. Fresh tea was served with this course. All we're delicious but I love pudding so my favorite was the sesame pudding.

The entire experience was delightful and well worth the price. It wasn't cheap but sometimes the extra money is worth the experience and this was definitely worth it! Every detail was well...

Dined here for a birthday lunch – it certainly felt very special!

Staff were polite and attentive – the waitress noticed we were struggling with our menus and promptly provided us with one in English.

While we're not wagyu connoisseurs by any means, we found the beef to be tender and lovely – in both the more affordable hot plate lunch set and the premium-priced charcoal-grilled course.

One thing I found not quite suited to my palate was the complimentary tea. It was extremely smoky – I guess it was probably iribancha, which controversially has strong notes of tobacco.

I appreciated that they were photo-friendly – they even brought out a beautifully-presented wagyu slab and encouraged us to take some snaps, waiting patiently until we were done.

Pricing-wise it is definitely for special occasions, but we thoroughly enjoyed our meals and would recommend Sumibi for anyone who would pay a little extra for a quality beef experience.

Lunch sets are more affordable, so choose lunch over dinner if you're trying to...

Last night, my husband and I ate at this wonderful restaurant. We did not have a reservation and the staff accommodated us after checking with the chef. The chef was a charming man who cooked amazing dishes before our eyes. The staff spoke English was very courteous and kind and described each course. The Wagyu beef was tender, juicy and outstanding. We had charcoal grill brought to the table where we grilled pieces of Wagyu Beef that was cut into perfect pieces for us. There was a fresh salad with homemade dressing and warm yummy miso. The entree was perfectly sized tenderloin with veggies also to grill. Do not skip the dessert of the day a delicious grilled apple with berries and a small scoop of ice cream. Don't miss it. Delicious and...