mukū — Restaurant in Takayama

This review is long overdue. I dined here last summer. It was actually an accidental discovery as my husband and I were on our way to another destination and upon passing by the restaurant, we were intrigued enough to make a reservation for the following day.

Well, I’m so happy we did because in my 35+ years of existence, Mukū is hands down the best dining experience of my life, which spans across Asia to NYC, LA, etc. The atmosphere of Muku is cozy, with homey yet modern vibe. The food… I don’t even have the words to describe how amazing the food is. The flavors are so expertly crafted and multi-dimensional— it’s on a level that serenades your soul! I’m sorry, any words I have just don’t adequately capture the sheer ingenuity of the chef and his ability to create such culinary masterpieces. While we chatted briefly, the chef told us he still thinks he’s not good enough (umm, I just want him to know I completely disagree with him).

If you’re in any part of this area, you cannot leave without having at least one dining experience here. I loved my trip in Takayama and Muku was one of my favorite moments of my trip. I also departed on my last day with great sadness that there’s no Muku in Tokyo. Another reviewer here predicts that Muku will likely get Michelin star recognition soon, and I fully concur!

Oh and to the other reviewer who said they’d come here every week if they lived in Takayama—girl,...

To be honest, that was the most amazing fried potato I've ever had! I truly appreciate the incredible culinary journey that the chef took us on. I thoroughly enjoyed the exceptional food and outstanding selection of wines. The restaurant's decor reflects a remarkable sense of style, and the attention to detail, from the music to the ambience, is simply incredible. The flavors of the food are truly special and delightful. The chef's expertise even inspired me to download the cookbooks available in the restroom, motivating me to cook more on my own. Despite not having a reservation, my boyfriend and I decided to visit the restaurant for some wine, and we were pleasantly surprised by the great selection of natural wines with deep flavors. After enjoying our wines, we decided to have dinner there to cap off our trip and made a reservation through Instagram. The chef is incredibly friendly and clearly cares about his customers. It was truly an incredible experience that I loved, especially after the sun comes down in Takayama and the town turns into a charming ghost town.😀 The restaurant's warmth and welcoming atmosphere made it even...

We wanted to come for dinner and tried to reserve a table four weeks in advance. But unfortunately the small restaurant was fully booked already. But we came there for drinks nonetheless at we had the honour and joy to see the chef performing his art in the kitchen.

It is amazing what a single skilled person can do in a kitchen - and whilst he was serving us angreat variety of nature wine, he managed to still cook for a table of three and had a chat with us as well. Highly recommend place - even if it is only for a glass of wine. The atmosphere is very casual and open minded and you can sense the dedication to detail in every small detail. So it is absolutely understandable why it is hard to get a table here, as the last thing you want to compromise in is service and quality. Looking forward to be lucky enough next time...