Kichisen
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What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Kichisen
Review
About
MICHELIN
View more on MICHELIN Guide
2 MICHELIN Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour!
Next to Shimogamo Shrine, surrounded by the Tadasu-no-Mori forest, lies Kyokaiseki Kichisen. The chef, a devotee of Japanese cuisine and the performing arts, built a ryotei on this spot. Respectful of Kyoto traditions, menu items are accompanied by charming details. Lids of soup dishes are emblazoned with dew, expressing freshness. Tuna sashimi is arrayed like a sea of clouds, creating a fairytale-like scene. Serving dishes of Kyoyaki ceramics, garnished with fresh-cut flowers, beguile the eyes. A unique interpretation of Kyoto kaiseki, accompanied by the spirit of graceful service.
Read more on MICHELIN Guide
Features
CUISINES
Japanese, Asian, Japanese - Traditional Cuisine, Kaiseki, Kyoto cuisine
Meal types
Dinner
PRICE
$$$$
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Private Dining
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Location
Does this restaurant have parking?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 12:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Monday
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM6:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Contribute
3.9
106 reviews
Excellent
55
Very good
24
Average
5
Poor
6
Terrible
16
Jin Z
Washington DC2 contributions
Sep 2018 • family
I've visited many Michelin stared restaurants in Japan, and I would say Kichisen is most disappointed. We booked this restaurant with high expectation, but left with huge disappointment. Food is average, although some of them are fancy. Service by female servants is great but one of the young male servant was terrible. At the end of our rushed meal, I went to the bathroom but he knocked the door so hard several times to kick me out. What are you doing? Are you out of your mind? I understand you want to finish work early but would you please show some patience? After all, we paid over 600 dollars for the meal and deserved some respect.
Written June 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cmnico
9 contributions
May 2019 • friends
We visited Kichisen for lunch and had a great experience. The food was traditional Japanese presented beautifully and creatively. We had a set tasting menu and left feeling full and satisfied. The staff were fabulous, very friendly and professional.
Written May 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SkyTeamer
112 contributions
Apr 2019 • none
It is definitely a very high standard Kaiseki meal, both excellent in taste and presentation. You will change your shoes upon entry but they have heated foot rest while you eat.
Some not so good Kaiseki restaurant may also have fabulous presentation, rich in color and shapes. But what is missing behind those dazzling presentation is the scent and taste from the ingredients, which is the true essence of Kaiseki. Kichisen is particularly good at blending the favors from various fresh ingredients and create a perfect combination for a course. That's why the staff will tell you within a course, in what sequence you should take, and in this way, your palate can comprehend the creative transition of flavors the chef tries to deliver.
What I found missing in this restaurant is the personal touch. It is not a language or communication barrier. The waiters serve the 14-course lunch one course after another, rigorously and emotionlessly. The patrons eat quietly and only dare to whisper. Perhaps people are just so respectful to the array of framed Michelin 3 star plaques displayed on the counter.
Written April 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Boris D
Zurich6 contributions
Aug 2023 • family
Very disappointing. Lots of well decorated, but tasteless dishes, way too much raw fish, raw eggs (including turtle eggs). I wouldn’t mind that, but apart from lack of taste, the quality of the products was not amazing: for example the sea bass had lots of nerves and was hard to bite. Definitely not recommandable for Europeans who may not appreciate not so fresh raw fish with no seasoning… . On top, the atmosphere is not great - table and room decoration lack any taste. It’s a miracle to me who has been in many restaurants around the world how this place could get two Michelin stars…. . I still fear I may have to throw up.
Written August 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jacob W
49 contributions
Sep 2024 • couples
Excellent experience.
Fantastic food and presentation
Knowledgable and good English’s speaking chef - our Japanese is limited
Ingredients all complemented each other and the 5 sake tasting was delicious
Tasted 1988 aged sake
We did not experience any of the negative mentions below
Went here and Roan Kikunoi, preferred Kichisen
Written September 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
harridan
London104 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
My wife and I booked for lunch on Jan 17th.
We had the room to our self. The staf were cordial and we were attended to by a young man,who spoke quite good english. He was very helpful through out the whole meal.
The presentation of each course was probably the best we experienced on our trip. The sushi course very generous and of the highest quality.
The whole meal was a pleasure!!! The service, crockery immaculate.
After the lunch the chef Mr Tanigiwa introduced himself.
All in all the meal was not expensive and I would return,for sure.
Unlike other reviews I disagree ,Kichisen is a 3 michelin star restaurant!
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KittyChan
Baltimore120 contributions
Oct 2022 • none
I greatly enjoyed my 16-course lunch (35,000 yen, second-most expensive option), and I’m so glad I’d visited the nearby Kawai Shrine before lunch and the restaurant-adjacent Shimogamo Shrine just afterward - they enhanced the whole Kyoto nature experience. I have to say that while a few of the dishes were underwhelming - mostly the root and other vegetables - that may have been just my own subjective palate - and overexposure to the the hyperstylized molecular/fusion Western (including in Japan) Michelin-star dining blowouts I’ve enjoyed over the years. All of the seafood courses were outstanding - especially the two large squares of toro. Wow. I dined at the counter, along with two elegant women from Tokyo. (Covid measures limit the usual five-seat bar to just three diners; I was great with that.). Chef-Owner Tanigawa spent quite a bit of time with us - I think he likes the direct attention and intimacy of the counter, and almost all of the conversations with him and his sous-chef/barman (a handsome young man) were in Japanese - perhaps because, when asked in Japanese whether I’d prefer English or Japanese, I responded, both are OK. My single-favorite Kaiseki moment - and one many reviews have noted - was when Tanigawa-san served me the soup and directed me to intro-sip and taste each ingredient once before he moved the julienned citrus to the other side of my bowl, and then directed me to sip again. Yup; different taste experience. I loved the theater of it, and I could tell he enjoyed it as well.) I had the Chef susume (recommended) sake paring - six glasses of amazing sake - for 110,000 yen. The meal concluded with two of the best teas I've ever tasted - a matcha and a smoky roasted - and lasted a little over 2-1/2 hours. I was perfectly (and not overly) full.
I found the old-school Kyoto design, decor, and layout of Kichisen to be authentic and very soothing. All of the focus was on the amazing fresh food, presentation, and sake.
I'll be back - kairimasu! Thanks to Chef Tanigawa-sama and his team for a truly memorable kaiseki experience.
Written October 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luca 1
Soleure121 contributions
Apr 2019 • none
I do really apologize, but probably I did not understand the concept of this restaurant.
We asked for two Omakase menus and we were both enthusiastic to try the traditional Japanese cooking in such a 3 starred restaurant.
I recognize that the quality of all the ingredients was superior.
All the dishes were presented in a very professional way.
The vegetables were very rare and perfectly marinated and perfectly cut. The Chef's technique is really impressive. For all the courses. No single one excluded.
So I really do apologize if I am rating this restaurant so low.
But almost all the courses seemed to me just an assembly of multiple ingredients with different flavors, different vegetable sliced very thin and put in the plate very elegantly. I did not find my beloved concept of combining ingredients and tasting the "ensamble". I really did not understand why all those ingredients were together..
In regard to the tuna, unfortunately, the fat one is not my favorite. Also in this case, probably that's a limit of mine.
Anyhow, I would not come back, especially after spending so much money (with no wine) - something like 750 euros in 2 people..
I do not complain about the quick and apparently cold service, as I learnt that the way of "sitting" around and eating in a very long time while talking and enjoying the company does generally not belong to Japanese culture (I am saying that with all respect).
That was a pretty unfortunate experience.
Written August 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
adikwatra
Chicago5 contributions
Aug 2019 • solo
Michelin Star restaurant should atleast maintain basic cleanliness. Street food stalls don’t serve bugs in the food. Multiple bugs in the dining area. One bug found in one of the courses. Not worth paying ridiculous amount of money to have bugs in the food.
Even after reporting the bug to the server, just an apology and was still charged the full amount. Michelin needs to step up its game while awarding stars.
Written August 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CeeMach Travels
Los Angeles24 contributions
Apr 2019 • none
We were greeted at the door from our taxi, ushered into the restaurant where you were asked to remove your shoes. next we were escorted to a private room. Room was simple but had a feel of a traditional dining rooms sans tatami style seating with a garden view. A three Michelin Star restaurant...however not worth it for the price. We got the chefs omakase menu, with very fresh high quality ingredients. Beautiful artsy presentation, however we found the taste of the menu to be lacking. I completely agree with some of the other reviews of this restaurant, seems like a very traditional kaiseki dining experience. Few of the courses that stood out to me were the toro and fugu. Also hardly any explanation was offered for the food besides a simple one, for example Japanese beans or tuna. We got two pieces of fatty tuna which were excellent but which part of the tuna or what made it special was never explained or what made it different. Which I think would of enhanced the dining experience.
Written April 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ZYX
Little India4 contributions
Mar 2019 • none
The most stressful meal in Japan .
Service:- The service is so hurried. Before you finish each course, the server very hurriedly serves the next course. To add to your stress, they keep asking us if we have finished. Then, 2-3 minutes later, the server enters the room to ask : “Have you finish?”
This is Certainly not Japanese hospitality and can even be classified as RUDE !
Food quality :way below standard.
Value: Not worth the money. Please be fair to your customer
Ambience and Presentation: Poor
Rating: Does not deserve to be called “Kaiseki”
Written March 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wtraveler
Shaker Heights139 contributions
Mar 2019 • none
From the time the staff welcomed me at the door till they waved good bye, I felt I was treated like royal. I recommend and so does the staff to arrive in taxi to have the full experience. A staff was specifically waiting for me outside specifically for me. The taxi driver who brought me there sighed with relief when he saw him waiting there. If you are late, the dinner won’t be served. It is showing respect for the chef who is creating for you. Somehow the driver knew that and did a lot of detours and maneuvers to get me there on time. Much appreciated! As for the meal itself, I had the omakaze and the chef did not disappoint. I kept receiving plates after plates of exquisite food beautifully displayed in beautiful dishes and creations. I was served by the soups chef who spoke English, explained the good and its provenance. The piece of tuna might be still a piece of tuna but where it was caught, how it was preserved and how it displayed makes all the difference. The tuna I ate in sushi all my life was lean; now I now there is a high fat, intermediate fat tuna,.. how can a simple piece of daikon in season can be so exquisite.
Next to me was a Japanese man who equally appreciated the feast. I requested to meet the chef at the end. We communicated via the translator app and I told him he was an artist and a genius. We parted with him giving me a folder and a gift that I will cherish forever. You need to reserve via voyagin or your hotel concierge if they have one. Highly recommended!
Written March 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MinYHS
Singapore72 contributions
Feb 2019 • couples
Iron Chef Tanigawa’s lidded creations of gochiso left a deep imprint of how exquisite each of the courses presented to us. Coupled with undivided attention and service, this Kaiseki experience has been one of the best we had in Japan.
Written February 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jade3388
Diamond Bar8 contributions
Jan 2019 • friends
This restaurant displayed framed Michelin posters to fool tourist. No wonder it’s very easy to book at any minute to get space on the same day. Only 5 seats at counter and still have empty space. None of Japanese go there. Their food quality is not to the standard and chef don’t really have cooking skill. Just some outdated fake presentation by using some grass flowers and dry ice. Some low quality sashimi not well prepared. Over cooked dry salty fish too hard to chew like it’s been sitting for long time and microwaved. serving pace is too fast like they try to get over with it and get you out so they can get off work asap. Never had omakase brings out the next course while you still eating the previous course. Just one guy serving at counter and you don’t see actual chef. It’s the worst restaurant so called Michelin we ever have in Japan. $310/pp the food maybe just worth less than 10% of the it on cheap ingredients. Any local restaurants all better than this crap commercial full of bs.
Written January 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erick Tseng
San Francisco946 contributions
May 2018 • couples
For a great traditional kaiseki experience, I'd highly recommend Kichisen. The staff is super friendly, including to foreigners, which I heard wasn't necessarily the case with other top tier kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto.
We dined at the counter, and the chef gave us a ton of attention, taking time to explain each dish to us. This really added to the whole dining experience.
When you arrive at the restaurant, a restaurant staff member is there to greet you as you get out of your car. You're then welcomed in, and invited to take off your shoes. You're then led to your room, and that's when your dining adventure begins.
The meal is expensive (we went for the 23,000 yen/person kaiseki menu), but worth it if you want a once-in-a-lifetime true kaiseki experience.
Our menu consisted of:
1) Sweet rice wine sorbet served on a Japanese rose petal
2) Welcome sake
3) Yamogi (seasonal Japanese vegetables) and sesame tofu dumpling with fresh uni. This dish was delicious. The uni was incredibly creamy, and dumpling was savory and refreshing.
4) Green peas and micro tomatoes. I've never seen tomatoes the size of a single green pea before. It was really sweet.
5) Hammo sea eel and Japanese plum with yuzu flower in dashi broth
6) Sashimi course: Sea bream, shrimp, squid, toro belly, and pickled clam with tobigo. Served with a shot of sour seaweed and ginger
7) Toro cheek with daikon radish
8) Red bean mochi rice with black bean
9) Tofu with river vegetables
10) Seasonal vegetables with sea bream eggs, and fish cake
11) Baby potato with Shitake mushroom in beef soup and yuzu
12) Grilled waygu beef and pineapple on hot stone
13) Japanese pickles with baby anchovy rice
14) Dessert #1: Orange panna cotta with jelly bubbles and flower petals, served with coffee-scented fog
15) Dessert #2: Red bean mochi
16) Dessert #3: Fresh strawberries, gooseberries, and cherries
17) Matcha tea
18) Roasted smokey barley tea
Written May 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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