Tousuiro Gion

Unclaimed

The food and service were great. The staff members can communicate well in English. I ordered the vegetarian menu which was very tasty. The main theme of each course was tofu but with different variations, which I find it very creative. The chef working at the charcoal grill counter was so attentive and nice. I tried to drink water from my thermos flask (in order to take my supplement vitamins) but found that the water was too hot; prior to me saying a word, he immediately handed me a glass of water! I am so impressed by his attentiveness and hospitality. Will definitely visit this restaurant again next time I go to Kyoto.

We had an incredible authentic Japanese dining experience, it‘s not cheap but definitely worth it. 8 course meal with vegan / vegetarian options was fantastic. The chef and the waitress have taken their time to explain everything when needed. Must do! We were lucky to get in without an reservation, a reservation is therefore recommended, as we were the only walk-ins possible that night.

Best meal so far I've had in Kyoto! We walked-in for lunch and had 5,000yen course + drinks. (Think we got lucky for going there around noon.) Absolutely awesome! The tofu had really nice flavor and the appetizer in particular was awesome!

You need to speak Japanese in order to get reservations here as they don't seem to accept reservations in English. But if you are able to cross that hurdle, I think you will like quiet ambience and understated elegance of the place. There's a pretty little tsubo garden in the middle, a sprigs or two of fresh flowers, tall ceilings with dark wood beams. The restaurant serves seasonal food and I'll have to admit that I much prefer their summer offerings but the cold wintry clime suits me much better. It's a lovely little place to get away from the crowd in Gion. You could try your luck as a walk in but do note that the place is small. Two levels of dining are available.

Good vegan food, intricately made and served. I just felt it was lacking on flavour and texture for some courses, which I'd have expected for the price tag (tofu was of a slimy consistency). Great attention to detail though and good experience of traditional Japanese dining.