Teppan Tavern Tenamonya — Restaurant in Kyoto

This hidden gem is in the basement of the street front and so it’s easy to miss. It’s run by a husband and wife team that speaks English. They are friendly and give good recommendations. We started with delicious stir fried vegetables with pork. It was a simple stir fry but had a tasty sauce. That was followed by the traditional okonomiyaki that was unbelievably fluffy and delicious. It’s something I would try again. Then we had 2 orders of A5 Wagyu. For $18 per order and 1/3 of the price of other expensive restaurants, it was worth it. It’s served with a wasabi and soy dipping sauce. Biting into this meat and tasting the fat melting in your mouth is wonderful. All the flavor going down your throat you wish it would last a little longer. After that was gone we followed up with a salty and moist tempura soft shell crab that was delicious. Everything we ate was good. This is a place to return to.

Update 1: I came back here a 2nd time because I liked it so much. We came at opening time and secured seats without issue. Being the 1st and only people we were able to converse privately with the husband and wife team for about an hour. We got to know about them and their history. They have had that restaurant for about 20 years. The husband started cooking when he was about 7 years old. His wife showed us how to write our names in Japanese calligraphy. We had about an hour together before other people started showing up. I started with the Kirin draft and my wife the plum wine. We started with the traditional okonomiyaki and followed that with Ashiagi, which is like a tempura but with bread crumbs. We choose the vegetables version. It’s eaten with a dipping sauce the you submerge wholely into before eating. It was delicious. Then came the A5 Wagyu beef at an unbeatable price. That was followed with grilled scallops and a seafood pancake (my least favorite). Then we ended the night with another Wagyu beef. 2 hours later we were full and happy and ready to return to our hotel. This was one of my favorite places to eat for the food, the ambience and the company.

Update 2: I’m in Tokyo now and wanted to compare the A5 Wagyu beef I had with a good Yakiniku restaurant in Tokyo. I ordered their top end beef that had the same marbling. After eating that I can definitely say the A5 Wagyu beef here is better than what I ate in Tokyo. Not only is it richer and more umami in flavor but cost at least half the price. The A5 Wagyu beef here is the real thing.

2023 update: After a 5 year hiatus due to Covid my family and I were able to return to Kyoto to visit our friends at Teppan Tavern Tenamonya. I wasn’t sure they would remember me when I made the booking by email but fortunately Naoko did and made room to book us in a little later in the evening even though it was past their reservation time. We were greeted warmly when we arrived as if time had not passed. We ordered the tempura set menu (comes with gyoza, prawns, okonomiyaki) for two with 200g of wagyu beef, and the following a la carte: another 200g wagyu, another soft shell, seasonal mushrooms and spring onions, scallops and prawns. Hideki is a master at his art because he keeps an eye on his food as well as his customers. The amount of food I ordered we would normally consume with no issues but I arrived a little under the weather. I was struggling to keep up especially the wagyu because it was so rich and I wasn’t able to shake off my queasiness. He was observing me and came to say he thought we had ordered too much and offered to remove the okonomiyaki. I was so grateful and agreed immediately because I wasn’t sure we could finish everything and would have felt bad to waste good food. This was truly how a chef should be: caring about his art but also his customers. Everything was delicious. I recommend to always order any daily specials because it’s what’s seasonal at that moment. Make sure you make a reservation ahead of time. And come hungry and willing to interact with the owners. You will have...

We recently dined here during our holidays in June, and we are thrilled to share what an amazing experience it was! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm smiles from the owners, who went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed. Their friendliness created a fantastic atmosphere that set the tone for the entire meal.

The food was nothing short of outstanding. Every dish we tried was amazing. The attention to detail in presentation, as well as the exquisite flavors, showcased the skill of the chef.

What truly stood out, beyond the delicious food, was the owner's willingness to engage with customers. She took the time to explain the origins of the ingredients, the cooking techniques used, and even shared some insights into Japanese traditions. It was like having a personal guide to the cuisine, making the meal feel not only satisfying but also educational.

One thing I would recommend to anyone interested in dining at this exceptional restaurant is to make a reservation in advance. Given the incredible dining experience they offer, the popularity of the place is well-deserved. Making a reservation ensures that you secure a spot and can fully enjoy the fantastic food and hospitality without any worries.

Moreover, the owners' patience truly shone when we encountered a small hiccup with our payment. Our card wasn't working initially, and they were super patient and understanding as we sorted out the issue. This level of customer service added another layer of positivity to our dining experience.

The combination of exceptional food, warm hospitality from the owners and their patience made our experience truly unforgettable. We left the restaurant with a happy heart and a belly full of incredible flavors, and we can't recommend this place enough to anyone who's looking for not only top-notch cuisine but also an enriching and delightful...

Amazing family run restaurant that shows the epitome of Japanese hospitality and culture-

The owners- Hideki san and Naoko san care deeply about the quality of food, service, and all within a very private intimate setting- which feels like you’re invited to their home to have a home cooked meal with top class ingredients (A5 wagyu, fresh seafood, fresh wasabi etc) It was 10/10 in terms of food quality, price and value, service- you could not find a better place. We had the sharing platter which includes the wagyu beef steak, grilled prawns and scallops, grilled fish, okonomiyaki. We also ordered gyoza and grilled eggplant. All the dishes were DIVINE, and I was blown away even in the simplest dish like grilled eggplant which was non greasy but tasted like butter in freshly grilled eggplant! Home made umeshu was also soo delicious we got extras.

You have to make reservations 2 weeks before you get there, it’s easy, just go to their website- and the owners will email you on the very same day about your reservation after their workday. Amazing work ethics and customer centric.

For those that gave bad reviews- they mostly didn’t go with the reservation policies and never stepped foot to the restaurant so it’s biased. Some reviews have also commented on how it’s “touristy”- that’s also untrue. The owners merely made it easy for tourists to make reservations on their website, and they don’t make you feel that it’s exclusive to just people who can understand Japanese, they share their culture so openly by teaching about Japanese culture and the language while serving with so much love for their work which is totally Japanese.. don’t be misled by those comments!

You won’t regret this place if you get a chance, it’s my favourite dining place in the world and I wish I could...