Tokura Kyoto Sanjo — Restaurant in Kyoto

I came here at 6:30PM on a Thursday with a Japanese friend. She told me how much she loved this place and how popular it was amongst locals. Some of my coworkers suggested this place too, so I had high expectations.

First, I want to touch on the positives because my experience wasn’t all negative. We were really lucky to get seated immediately. It is a small restaurant and there’s usually a wait but there was one empty table. The menu prices were pretty affordable. The hamburger itself was incredible. It was so juicy and flavorful. Probably the best hamburger I’ve ever eaten.

Unfortunately, my experience with staff and customers was not so great. The staff member who took our orders gave me the wrong order. I asked for a cheese hamburger but he gave me the Japanese-style hamburger. I live in Japan and speak Japanese, so I’m sure there was no miscommunication. My Japanese friend was treated kindly, but I felt unwelcome.

Also, when we were paying for our food, the same staff member made me feel a bit uncomfortable. He was polite and smiled to my friend, but didn’t treat me the same way. He acted as if he couldn’t understand me, and he seemed to be in a bad mood.

I also didn’t feel comfortable where I was seated because the two young women sitting at the table next to mine were talking about me. Of course, this part has nothing to do with the restaurant so it has no bearing on my review, but it contributed to my discomfort. I didn’t like being stared at and insulted while trying to enjoy my food.

Overall, I was really disappointed with my experience here. I truly enjoyed the food and wish I could give a higher rating. Maybe I was just unlucky as many people have had positive experiences here. Either way, I’m not sure I feel...

We didn’t really know what to eat and we saw some locals queuing up to eat here so we gave it a try.

The staff seems to be really nice because when we asked the to sit at the bar to watch the kitchen they didn’t seem to mind and were actually quite happy that we were so interested in their food.

We both ordered the 300g patty with cheese and some kind of red wine sauce. (1290Y) We also got the rice and soup as sides which cost a bit but I forgot how much.

Now to the rating. The beef paddy was really delicious. Very juicy and definitely the highlight of the plate. However I wasn’t really happy with the other sides. I got 4 pieces of wedges which could have been fried crispier and maybe salted a bit better however if u ate them with the sauce then it was ok. And then we got 2-3 pieces of cooked carrots which taste of course like normal carrots but they were nothing special.

Overall the plate looked a bit empty and I think if they work a bit on maybe presenting it better and improving their sides then it would be a good lunch/dinner option.

So for me I wouldn’t come back if they don’t change anything because I need more then just the patty, in my option I also need to be happy with the sides and a good...

The absolute best steak I have ever had in my entire life. The best steak, the best hamburger, and probably one of the overall best meals I have ever had in all of my travels across Europe, Japan and on cruises. I am from the U.S. and my friends are picky eaters (I am not picky), so I’ve had many burgers, but I don’t think I could ever have another American hamburger again. A steak so good that using ground meat for anything else now feels like a crime. Do not skip this place- even if it seems strange to get a hamburger in Japan, this one is worth it. So juicy, so flavorful and all around extraordinary. This may be the best meal I’ve had during my three weeks in Kyoto. I never go to a restaurant alone twice, but I am making an exception. Seriously this food was a religious experience. I waited 30 min but I would have waited triple and paid double and it still would have been worth it. Broad selection, reasonable prices, super efficient management and very very friendly staff. Great atmosphere, perfect food and an impeccable experience. Wish I could give more...