TAKASEGAWA — Restaurant in Kyoto

A wonderful little spot in Kyoto with a truly unique blend of customized food dishes and regular staples.

We opted for the chef’s creation for appetizers which was absolutely fabulous.

The chicken karrage was a bit of a surprise compared to what we were used to as it was a mix of breast, thigh, skin and organ meat. We tried both the salty and saucy versions and both were delightful.

The chicken and rice in earthen pot was spectacular!

The atmosphere of the building itself is wonderful. There is bar seating on the first floor for about 5-6 people and two tables on the second level that our family of four sat at. Due to the limited size it is recommended to make a reservation.

The owners were wonderful and the chef took the time to explain all the components of the creation he made for us. The 1 and only reason I am giving them a 4 out of 5 for service is that we were a bit disappointed that a small glass of water costs 300 yen, when on the Japanese side of the menu it looks as though there is no listed water charge. That is one small blemish, but even asking for a refill of water brings a whole additional 300 yen charge which in the middle of July during the heat wave was a bit disappointing when all other establishments we enjoyed on our trip the water was included.

Overall it was one small disappointment on an otherwise amazing meal and experience and I would recommend to visit if you...

We made a same-day reservation after realizing that many mid-priced restaurants (around ¥5000) didn’t offer the quality we were looking for. We wanted high-quality food in a nice atmosphere without going the full fine-dining route—and this place was the perfect find!

We had the 7-course set menu, and it was absolutely delicious. The counter seats only six people, creating an intimate setting, and the owner/chef—though he spoke only a little English—was incredibly friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere was ideal for our date night, and every dish was thoughtfully prepared with high-quality ingredients.

We also received a discount through our Visa credit card and paid only ¥9000 for the full 7-course experience—an incredible value.

Highly recommend this spot!

There was even another couple who walked in without a reservation, so it’s good to know you might still get a seat without booking in advance—though we may have just been lucky since it was...

What a rockstar chef. If you can't decide between steak, sashimi, tempura, yakitori, etc. this one man powerhouse does it all. The chef was very friendly and made the entire meal in front of us. There are two options, an appetizer box + a la carte additions or straight omakase. Both are excellent. I would recommend making a reservation as it's a small six seater. The ambiance is excellent, like having dinner in a friend's kitchen. Soft jazz is complemented by demi glace bubbling in the mauviel pans, skewered fish sizzling against the charcoal flames, and the soft hums of the sous vide tucked away in the back corner. The little grilled fish in the obanzai and the chazuke were particularly good.

Operationally, the restaurant is very tourist friendly. There is an English menu and ordering is very straightforward. While it's a one man team and the chef speaks Japanese almost exclusively, he does not hesitate using Google translate on his phone...