Yakiniku Steak Iwai — Restaurant in Kyoto

Unbelievable! Happiness on a plate! Chef Iwai knows EXACTLY what he's doing, as does his wife, Kimi, our hostess. From their kind, welcoming demeanor, to incredible flavors. This place is exactly what people seek to find when visiting new cities around the world. We happen to be staying within 200m of their front door so we dropped in, and we're welcomed to the bar style seats. They do have tables as well, but we suggest a reservation if needed.

We started with garlic shrimp, wonderful! Then, roasted pork, which was so good I forgot to take a picture until it was half gone! We could have ordered three or four more plates each! For drinks we had a sake flight (x4) and Iwai Whiskey on the rocks, then an Asahi Black mug.

My dinner was the Momo wagyu with onions, broccoli, and carrots, served on a hot stone (think similar to a flatiron) with I believe was a ginger sauce. I didn't even remember to take a picture, I couldn't help it, the aroma, it was time to eat! Perfection! My wife had the Saicolo wagyu steak with vegetables and salad, again it was just melt in the mouth perfect.

We finished with ice cream including coffee drizzle, and walked home smiling after taking a photo together. Between talking a little baseball, genuine hospitality, unbeatable food, and cozy space, this is the best experience! If they open a restaurant in America, we'd...

This izakaya (居酒屋) is located the other side of Nijo-jo castle, so you need to know where you are going. We were staying in Marutamachi so were after somewhere decent nearby for dinner - it was only a 5min (1km) walk on a warm Sunday evening.

Like most izakaya it's not a large restaurant/bar and whilst we were able to secure a table for two if you are a larger group or it's a busier night, I'd suggest making a reservation. It is not much to see from the street but inside it cosy and so friendly. Run by a husband-and-wife team (Masayuki & Kimi). You know you're in the right place when they both proudly wear t-shirts declaring 'I Love Steak", particularly if you are a carnivore like me.

You can see the love that chef Masayuki Iwai puts into preparing each individual dish, the way that the food is displayed on the plate and how each ingredient perfectly balances against the others. We enjoyed every morsel served up (recommend the sizzling scallops, mizore wagyu and the saicolo steak - in fact any of the meat dishes on the menu). They also have a good range of Japanese whiskeys and sake, with some great tasty cocktails.

This was one of those hidden gems, that made one of our highlights of our recent trip to Kyoto. We are so glad that we found it - we had such an enjoyable experience and would encourage others to seek this restaurant/bar out...

I went out with my mother for her birthday, looking for somewhere nice to have dinner near Nijo Castle as we were staying in the area. We had heard about the ramen shop next door but the line was long so we had a look around and stumbled upon this cozy restaurant.

It was 30 minutes before their opening time, but after enquiring, the lovely owner Iwai was nice enough to accept us early. He provided us with an English menu, and because of the occasion, we decided to go all out and chose the premium A5 wagyu 250g ribeye and sirloin. After asking about the plum wines on offer, the owner recommended us a delicious Umeshu.

The steaks were incredible. They were perfectly cooked and served on a hotplate, with the steaks sitting on a bed of onions, caramelising them in the A5 wagyu fat. Each bite from start to finish was so juicy and tender. This was further enhanced by the condiments provided, primarily the wasabi and the homemade steak sauce.

The service Iwai provided was excellent, and the food was immaculate. What an incredible surprise to stumble upon this restaurant. My mother was delighted with her birthday dinner, and we will definitely be back next time we...