I made a reservation for the 7,000 yen Suou course in advance and arrived at the restaurant on Saturday at 11:00. Despite being located inside Isetan, stepping into the restaurant felt like entering a different space. The large windows offered a view of Kyoto's cityscape. There were a total of 7 dishes including dessert, but the pace of serving was quick, fitting for a lunch. It was all done in just over an hour, which I think would be reassuring for travelers. The highlights were the bonito and softshell turtle soup, and the black sushi with sea bream. The beer was poured with care too! They also served different types of tea, and the service was just right - not too intrusive, but not neglectful either. I could really feel the tradition of this long-established restaurant. It was a great start to my journey. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

My family and I went to lunch with my second son. We had requested a counter seat with a view of Kyoto city in advance. It was our first time sitting at this seat, and as a Kyoto native, I was impressed. We could see the Kyoto city in the basin surrounded by Higashiyama, Kitayama, and Nishiyama. It was the best location. We ordered the "Ai" course (15,000 yen) which included shareholder benefits, and the total payment for three people was 40,499 yen. We enjoyed dishes such as sea urchin, Nanjing tofu, Bekkoan early matsutake mushrooms, lotus root cake, maru-shitate (bonito, conger eel), sweet snapper charcoal-grilled, ayu crepe (fig), conger eel, crystal eggplant, plum. We also had options like Tai black sushi, Tai miso tea pickles, mackerel sushi with sansho and shiso curry, conger eel ten umeboshi grated daikon, cold udon with lotus root cake, and rice cakes. Everything was delicious and satisfying. It took a little over 2 hours, but it's understandable. For tourists, it's easy to access and reasonably priced, so it's a good choice, isn't it?

Kyoto Meal ① August 5, 2023 (Saturday) 11:00 am - A visit after a month, with a rating of 3.79 on Tabelog. Today's lunch was here! A visit after a month, ordered the usual chef's choice course. <Menu> 1. Sencha with shiso flavor 2. Purple sea urchin with yuba. Clam and shijimi broth sauce 3. Eel rice steamed 4. Simmered conger eel and matsutake mushrooms with a choice of plum sauce or conger eel bone and head dashi soy sauce 5. Conger eel wonton and evening primrose soup 6. Bonito seared directly with katsuobushi charcoal. Great aroma 7. Sweetfish in Kyoto style. Topped with a mixture of yam and radish, with leeks in the middle. Served with sake sauce 8. Grilled young ayu fish with Biwa Lake tartar sauce mixed with tade vinegar and miso sauce 9. Duck breast and fried fig with red vinegar sauce and raisins 10. Hairy crab with summer vegetables and vegetable broth jelly sauce 11. Black sushi of sea bream 12. Mackerel sushi 13. Miso soup 14. Conger eel tempura and cold udon with plum grated 15. Curry with sansho pepper and perilla. Special made by Nagano-san 16. Mango and Shine Muscat 17. Sweet made using starch from Nishiko lotus root and Japanese sugar. 18. Matcha Everything was delicious from start to finish this time as well. #Kyoto Wakuden #Wakuden #Kyoto Gourmet #Kyoto #kyoto #Tabelog high rating #Hard to reserve restaurant #Kaiseki #Japanese cuisine #Japanese food #Kyoto cuisine #japanesefood #washoku #kaiseki #Gourmet #Gourmet lover #Want to connect with gourmet lovers #Gourmetstagram #Foodstagram #Foodie #Foodiegram #Foodporn #Foodstagram

The station building is very user-friendly and has a great view. The Kurenai course was better than I expected. The service is good, with staff greeting you warmly. It's also suitable for those who prefer a more relaxed atmosphere. Overall, it stands out among the restaurants I have visited in commercial facilities.

My friend made a reservation for 3 people at 17:00. The set menu was ¥10,000 per person. We also ordered drinks, which came to around ¥14,000 per person. We were seated at the counter with a great view. We were impressed from the start with the original blend of sansho and hojicha tea. It was delicious. We were looking forward to the food, starting with the cut-off portion of conger eel, and the horse mackerel sashimi with mustard. We ordered sake to go with it, which paired well with the fried sweetfish liver. The sesame and white vinegar dressed dish was also delicious. The duck with eggplant and the duck simmered together were both tender and made us want more. For the choice between red snapper sushi, red snapper miso tea pickles, and conger eel with plum sauce cold udon, I chose the red snapper sushi. It was delicious. For dessert, we had white bean paste mochi with green peppercorns. It paired well with the green tea. We enjoyed the seasonal ingredients and had a wonderful time. Thank you for the meal.

I visited Wakuden, a place I had always wanted to come to, after hearing about it from my friends in Kyoto. I ordered the safflower course. Despite my unsophisticated palate, I was deeply impressed by each dish. It was clear that they were able to bring out the deliciousness of the ingredients by truly engaging with them. The first dish, featuring conger eel, welcomed me with the best-tasting and smoothest conger eel I have ever had, with a perfect sauce and amazing accompaniments. The plate of sweetfish was like a painting, pleasing both the eyes and the taste buds. I could go on and on about each dish, but I was especially satisfied with the famous black sushi made with sea bream. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I was surprised by the tea sweet at the end! It had real Japanese pepper inside white bean paste, creating a perfect balance that left me entranced. Despite being an inexperienced customer, the staff's thoughtful service in a lovely atmosphere, along with the amazing food and hospitality, truly made me feel relaxed. I look forward to returning and experiencing the different seasonal flavors they offer.

My first visit to Heikyuken was in 2019. I arrived at Kyoto Station and headed straight to the basement of Isetan, hoping to buy a sea bream chirashi bento, but they were already sold out before 11 am. The next batch was due at 3 pm, so I decided to visit the restaurant floor on the 10th floor. Even though I didn't have a reservation at the time, I waited for about 20 minutes and was seated inside. I couldn't get a window seat, but the large window in front offered a view of Kyoto's townscape below, and the restaurant was beautifully decorated with flowers on large tables, creating a lovely atmosphere. Most of the guests were middle-aged ladies dining in pairs, which left a strong impression. Since then, I have been trying to visit every year by taking the Shinkansen arriving in the 10 am range and heading straight to the restaurant, but there is always a long line of people waiting outside. Therefore, I now call a few days before arriving in Kyoto to place a takeout order. The sea bream black sushi (1,800 yen excluding tax) and mackerel sushi (1,800 yen excluding tax) are dishes that truly make me feel like I have arrived in Kyoto.

I arrived at Kyoto Station around noon and decided to try this restaurant, but it was fully booked. I made a reservation for the afternoon and luckily there was a cancellation, so I was able to sit down! Many chefs were working diligently in the open kitchen. The view from the window was refreshing. The tables were made of sturdy wood and looked lovely. In the middle, there was an arrangement of pink lilies. I first enjoyed a welcome drink of Japanese pepper tea to relax. Then, I had a transparent drink made from koji, called Koji Clear, from Akita Prefecture. It had a slightly sweet and sour taste, like amazake. For the meal, I had a pre-meal drink, bonito sashimi, clam and eggplant soup, young ayu fish with watercress, and... udon? In the middle of the course? I was surprised, but it was a cold and elegant small dish. The course also included beef and vegetable white miso dish, sea bream black sushi, red miso soup, Japanese pepper rice cake, and hojicha tea. The dishes allowed the flavors of the ingredients to shine through. It made me reflect on how much I rely on salt and spices in my own cooking. It was also fun to admire the various dishes and bowls. I would like to try a course with more dishes next time. Thank you for the wonderful meal! ♡

The 11th floor of Kyoto Isetan. The atmosphere of the store is very nice and the first staff member who greeted us was very smart and courteous. The food was also excellent, with all dishes having an elegant flavor. It was my first visit, but I definitely want to come back again. However, the younger staff members in the first half before the food was served seemed a bit unsure. It is a high-class restaurant, so the expectations are high, which made this a negative point. I've heard stories about young staff members who come as part-timers being criticized by long-time employees and not being able to develop properly, leading to them quitting one after another. Since the food is delicious and the location is convenient, I hope the restaurant will strive to improve. Even if the staff members have low experience and are inexperienced, if they work energetically without being discouraged, it will definitely show. I hope that when I visit next time, I can give an even higher score.

Today's reservation was at 12:30 at the counter seat in the middle. It was cloudy, possibly due to yellow sand, but the view from the wide window was nice. The clam udon that I couldn't eat yesterday was good, and the amount of pickled mackerel with plum vinegar was more than yesterday. Despite having to wait, I preferred the dishes from yesterday, which cost around 4,000 yen.

It had been a while since I had to line up on the same day, but the light course of only 10 dishes was worth it. I listened carefully to the explanation of the dishes, enjoyed seasonal dishes up to the black sea bream sushi, and finished with the sakura bean paste on grilled wheat gluten, which was generously flavored with white miso. I was very satisfied.

When I come to Kyoto, I always have dinner here, so this time I tried visiting alone for the first time. Since I was alone, I didn't want to stay too long, so I opted for the 7,000 yen course this time. I felt the portion size was a bit small, but each dish was carefully prepared and very delicious. The staff were considerate and engaged in various conversations, making it a pleasant time. The view from the large window was also very nice, and I would like to visit again next time I come to Kyoto.

I was able to make a reservation at this restaurant located inside JR Isetan at the last minute. It was very convenient as it was very close to the hotel. The restaurant, although part of a dining area, had a relaxed atmosphere with an open kitchen. The modern yet traditional Japanese ambiance was very soothing. I was seated at the counter where I could enjoy the night view from the 11th floor and had the March Safflower course. Starting with tea and a sake aperitif poured from a bamboo vessel, it set the mood for the upcoming Japanese meal. The sake was crisp and delicious. The course, starting with steamed rice, was elegant and visually appealing. The dishes had a unique Kyoto flair within the realm of Japanese cuisine, allowing me to leisurely enjoy the view and ambiance. While the black snapper sushi was good, I personally enjoyed the scallop and rape blossom puree the most. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

Omakase Course 20000 yen - Butterbur Tempura, Sesame Tofu, Kuwana Clams - Steamed Sea Bream with Turnips, Asparagus, Sake with Dried Clams - Bamboo Shoots, Wheat Gluten, Softshell Turtle - Densuke Eel, Grated Daikon Radish, Mountain Yam, Okra, Plum Sauce - Bluefin Tuna, Bracken Fern - Grilled Gudgeon with Walnuts, Pine Nuts, Japanese Pepper - Young Sweetfish and New Onions Tempura with Squid Ink - Hokkigai Clams, North Mil Clams, Sea Urchin - Beef Sirloin and Fillet Sukiyaki with Spring Vegetables - Black Sushi with Sea Bream, Mackerel Sushi, White Fish Tempura Bowl, Sea Bream Miso Tea-Soaked Rice, Crab and Seaweed Noodle - Strawberry and Mugwort Rice Cake - Draft Beer - Sake: Matsumoto Morohaku and Hapai Approximately 24000 yen per person *Food Rating: ◎→○→◇→△ in order of deliciousness I revisited after about 4 years. It was my first time trying the omakase course, and it had a good amount of food. Being able to choose rice dishes freely was also nice. The cost performance is quite good.

I made a reservation for lunch at 2:00 pm and visited the restaurant. It is located inside Isetan and has a spacious and scenic view. The window seats overlooking Kyoto city during lunchtime are a must. I ordered the Sōhō set. The sashimi, grilled salmon, white miso salad, and cherry blossom gluten cake were all delicious. The young chefs serving across the counter were very attentive. I want to support young people chasing their dreams after the WBC (World Baseball Classic)! (laughs) Thank you for the wonderful meal! I would like to try the benibana set next time!