Ajiro

Unclaimed

This is a Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant specializing in shojin ryori cooking commonly practiced by monks. The chef worked in a temple prior to opening Ajiro. Tofu is Kyoto's specialty and you will see numerous interesting variations of it here. We made reservations through our concierge and were seated in a private room (not requested, maybe because we were a larger group). The service was efficient and friendly.

Outstanding lunch! The host started serving our meal in small courses right when we sat down in our private little dining room. A wide variety of soups and small dishes, all with truly excellent flavor; the eggplant dish and the milky tofu soup stood out as particular favorites. We called at 10am the day of and got a reservation for an 11:30 lunch, I think we were lucky that it was a slow day. Absolutely loved the meal and am so glad we found this restaurant.

Reservations required. No English-speaking staff, so you may need your hotel to make the reservation. Food was delicious. Everything is vegan, as it's based on the traditional diet of Buddhist monks. Prix fix only, no menu or beverages (other than green tea at end of meal)

Shojin ryori at its finest. Definitely deserve their Michelin star. Surprisingly quick service, even though we showed up early for our lunch. The sweet lady kept sliding the door open and close, as she set out one plate after another. Would highly recommend this meal to anyone visiting Kyoto. Its Buddhist cuisine, so its vegan, but a real traditional Japanese expeience.

The food is very unique, and beautifully decorated. Might not be to everybody's taste BUT I definitely recommend to try it. The service was amazing. The elderly couple were so sweet, making the experience even more amazing.