Having experienced the culinary delights of Kisoji Shinjuku in both 2018 and 2019, my recent visit left me with mixed feelings. The restaurant, once a standout for its exceptional shabu-shabu and excellent service, seemed to have undergone changes that affected the overall dining experience.
In the past, Kisoji Shinjuku was synonymous with outstanding shabu-shabu. The quality of the ingredients and the immersive dining experience were memorable. However, during my recent visit, while the shabu-shabu was still good, it didn't quite reach the heights I had experienced in previous years.
Service, a key aspect of the overall experience, was a saving grace. The staff remained attentive and courteous, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable meal. However, the shift in the culinary experience left me uncertain about the likelihood of a return visit.
It's essential to acknowledge that the quality of a dining establishment can fluctuate over time, and my recent experience may not be indicative of every visit. While Kisoji Shinjuku still offers good shabu-shabu and attentive service, the question of whether I would return lingers, given the noticeable contrast from my previous outstanding experiences.
In conclusion, Kisoji Shinjuku remains a contender for those seeking a shabu-shabu dining experience, and the service continues to be commendable. However, the recent changes in the overall culinary experience raise uncertainties about its standing compared to the exceptional visits I enjoyed in...
Read moreWe went to this restaurant for dinner and were greeted by an older lady wearing a kimono. Despite knowing that we were foreigners, she still handed us Japanese menus. When we asked if they had an English menu, she impatiently replied no. We had no choice but to use Google Translate to understand the menu. Later, we sought assistance from another staff who informed us that the restaurant did have an English menu. She warmly introduced us to the dishes, allowing us to order what we wanted smoothly. However, when the sukiyaki arrived, we had added too little water, leading a lot of smoke coming out of the cooking stove. This older lady immediately came in and blamed us for not adding water, even though she had never mentioned when or how much water to add before. The entire dining experience was ruined by this woman. The service attitude of the other staff members was good, but this lady's attitude was extremely poor. We originally intended to order more meat, but we no longer had the mood to stay in this restaurant. As for the food, the taste of their sukiyaki was just average, nothing remarkable. I believe there are many better sukiyaki...
Read moreMy preferred Kisoji store to visit for Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu. This particular Kisoji has great ambience and a warm welcoming decor for your dining experience.
I have visited countless times for both lunch and dinner, both are just as good. Lunch is great value for money while dinner is excellent for hosting family and friends. For business meetings, I recommend Kisoji Yoga store instead as they have private enclosed rooms.
Reservations are an absolute must especially for dinner, they are always busy with long wait times without reservations. Staff does understand a limited amount of English (speak slowly and clearly). Menu is heavily visualized making orders relatively simple.
Restaurant has non smoking and smoking sections which are not contained, certain areas of the non smoking section unfortunately does mean you will potentially breathe...
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