Sushi Imai — Restaurant in Kyoto

We were on the lookout for an amazing omakase experience similar to the incredible experience we had in Tokyo. Sadly, Sushi Imai did not meet the mark by a long shot.

First of all, we walk in and the lady assisting the chef gives us the “oh crap” look as we walk in and reluctantly allows us to take our seats after showing us a card “for tourists” explaining the price of the menu.

The chef does not greet us or even look up to acknowledge us in any way as we have become accustomed to in Japan. The atmosphere is very quiet and awkward as the chef is busy preparing the dishes.

As we awkwardly sit there we are eventually tossed a couple pieces of nigiri with zero explanation and when we ask, we just get “tuna” from the chef without even looking up.

After a few lackluster bites of nigiri, we finally are provided some ginger in which for some reason is not allowed to be refilled. They are so stingy with the ginger it is bizarre.

The cherry on top is that the Japanese party next to us received about a 20x better experience with uni, grilled fish, and maki. This place is elitist and greatly dislikes foreigners.

Oh and the final two nigiri’s were spring onion and egg… seriously? For a meal that costs around $250 USD that is ridiculous.

Highly recommend finding another...

Stopped here for lunch after some sightseeing. The tourist greeting is a little abrupt as they ask you to wait at the door before bringing a piece of paper to explain the two dining options in English (sushi platter or omakase). After reading the other other reviews I can understand this might be a little off-putting at first but I think the intentions are good: they just want to clarify the price (it's not as cheap as other places) and limited menu, without having an awkward conversation inside that might disturb other diners. The serene atmosphere and minimalist design also made a strong impression. We really enjoyed this moment of calm against the backdrop of busy Kyoto. Our sushi platters were delicious, expertly prepared and varied. The price is fair for the quality and quantity. The chef works quietly but his exchange with another Japanese customer was warm and friendly. I think tourists should accept there is a language barrier that means the reception might not 'feel' as warm; however, we still felt welcome and had a wonderful...

The first thing you are greeted by is the quiet serene atmosphere of the restaurant and the smooth wooden countertop. The intensity behind the chef may be intimidating but his serious nature goes hand in hand with the quality of the sushi. Truly had an amazing experience. Do not expect an explanation behind every piece of sushi omakase is an experience to fully trust the chef. The mystery behind what you are being served adds to the experience to truly make it unforgettable almost like a dream. Ignore the bad reviews here they are from customers used to American style eatery and don’t understand the concept and culture of omakase. The price is very reasonable for the quality and experience here. Be quiet during the experience and always say thank you. We were thanked by the chef with a smile of satisfaction that we were satisfied and left with our bellies full and beyond satisfied. Truly a privilege and a treat.

P.S. the chef turned away rude customers that came in dressed very casual and were loud and obnoxious, which we very much...