Kyoto

I love popping over to Kyoto for lunch or dinner, as I live locally I feel lucky to have a decent Japanese/Korean restaurant nearby . However, it takes certain confidence to order the 'right' kind of food or you will feel rather disappointed on your way out. My tip for the beginners is to SHARE....I recommend ordering a selection from the extensive menu and explore your taste bud, which will come handy for your next visit. My current favourite is prawn tempura.

Try to ignore the slow service and lack of communication with the waiting staff. Just sit back and enjoy Japanese beer or sake, served hot or cold in a very relaxing atmosphere of this small but skilful restaurant.
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Bee Keskin
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, September 01, 2008

We dined at Kyoto for the first time last Thursday with a friend who was visiting London, and we very disappointed. The restuarant was not busy and we were seated straight away. The staff were friendly enough, but the service was awful. It took over 30mins just to take our drink orders, and service continued to be very slow all night. We ordered starters and mains, but then two of the mains (there were 3 of us) were delivered first, then 2 starters and then a main and a starter. The chicken teriyaki was served cold, and looked straight out of the fridge - not appetising at all. Similarly the beef skewers starter was cold. At one point two staff were arguing infront of us at our table about whether to serve the skewers because they we cold. Eventually they took them away to be reheated, along with the chicken teriyaki. The sushi was good, however. The final straw was that our sake was completely forgotten. The beef skewers and miso soup was deducted from our bill, but I will not be returning to Kyoto again.
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Carol Ruehland
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, August 26, 2008

I was a big fan of the old Kyoto, so was very pleased to hear that they re-opened. When I arrived there, I found no Japanese, but all Korean. But the chef or staff must not necessarily be Japanese, so I got in.

Though everybody there was very friendly, their dishes were almost "similar" to the Japanese dishes but not exactly. For instance, Eel Box needed more sauce, Gyudon (a bowl of rice topped with beef and egg) was less flavoured, Sunomono (pickled vegetables) and sushi were less tasty... Ingredients were right, decoration was right, but "Ajitsuke" (seasoning) was not exactly right. They did not have Wakame (seaweed) salad in the menu which was really disappointing ;(

But I would not say that the restaurant was bad. Indeed all dishes were decorated beautifully and economical, and service was good. You can top up green tea without additional charges. There is a relatively large area in the inner part of the restaurant. So the restaurant is still much better than other Chinese-pretended Japanese restaurants or Wagamama. Just their dishes may not taste right for Japanese people or those who already know the Japanese food well.

I think I am just fussy because I am Japanese, and clearly remember the old Kyoto next door where the very good Japanese chef used to work. I was a bit disappointed, but I think the Korean chef worked at current Kyoto seems to have much experience of Japanese food.

This is alnost close to Japanese restaurant, but not exactly, but you may still enjoy there.
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Sanae
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 6
Monday, July 28, 2008

I love this place. It is amazing quality sushi and the staff are so friendly. Kim always treats us so well... he really knows how to look after loyal customers!! I can highly recommend Kyoto... it is totally worth a visit! It beats any other sushi place in town!!!
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Yes, Kyoto has re-openend. I was so excited when we went there last week. I have to say I prefer the old chef, Kim. I have to agree with the comment below, although their sushi is the best but sometimes they do serve unripe advocado. Apart from this, the food is amazing and the staff very pleasant.
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Claudia
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, June 18, 2008

I'm extremely happy that Kyoto has re-opened again!! The new look is great and is quite cosy. The food is top quality and the staff are are as friendly as ever!!

This is one of favourite restaurants at the moment and will definitely be back again next week!!
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John Louis
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Friday, June 06, 2008

To counter my review from a couple of weeks ago, went in tonight with a couple of friends and the experience was completely different

We arrived at 18.50 and were clear that we needed to be in and out within an hour. Unfortunately a different sushi chef was on and they just couldn't cope with the volume

Our two friends got what they ordered but out of two sets of Maki and one sushi selection that we ordered to share - only the soft shell crab maki showed up. Even on that the avocado wasn't ripe.

To be fair they gave us two small free dishes that we hadn't ordered - but I couldn't understand why they made them instead of just making what we asked for. In the end we had to leave just as the platter showed up - an hour after ordering it.

A huge disappointment after last time.
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Gethin - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Thursday, June 05, 2008

So pleased Kyoto has re-opened! Was hugely disappointed when I turned up one evening only to find it had closed. I have eaten at the majority of Japanese and Sushi restaurants in and around the Soho area and this is my favourite by far. Will be paying a visit very soon!
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Emma Edwards
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Believe the hype! We'd never been to Kyoto before but paid a visit on the strength of the reviews on this site. Very glad we did as it was one of the best Sushi meals we've had in London

First up was a selection plate. Sitting near the kitchen we could see the chef preparing it and it was obvious that there was a huge amount of skill and care going into the preparation. We were given a beautifully presented plate of Salmon, tuna, prawn, mackerel, see eel & tamago nigiri and crispy salmon maki. It got demolished very quickly.

We followed this with a Soft Shell Crab and a King Prawn maki. They were huge - almost too big for my mouth (which is an achievement in itself!) - but once again fantastic quality.

This is a world away in quality from what you get at chain restaurants - the price however is very similar. £40 for the above plus 2 large beers and tip.

We were in a bit of a rush this time. I'm looking forward to going back when we can spend a bit of time exploring the menu. My wife is a recent convert to sushi and she raved about it - so they're definitely doing something right. A real gem in central London
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Gethin - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 9
Saturday, May 24, 2008

Kyoto is back and better than ever! I went there tonight as soon as I realised it reopened. The decor is a little more trendy than old Kyoto (I really miss the Ultraman figures!), but I was impressed with the red lit-up bench seats.

Kim, the sushi chef is, as ever, lovely and welcomed us back like old friends, even shaking my partner's hand. I think he noticed my child-like excitement that they are open again...the (new?) staff are very nice, very helpful and fast. The food as usual can't be beaten, I still stand by the fact they have the best sushi in London! And tonight was no exception, the same wonderful quality is there. My only disappointment is that the menu looks changed slightly and I couldn't find that fantastic Kyoto Salad - seared tuna with black pepper on a bed of watercress. But it could have been renamed as something else and in my haste I didn't pay any attention. Kim, if you read this, bring back Kyoto Salad! I'll pay extra for it!

My partner had to keep trying to quieten me down from the sheer excitement that the place is open again. I'm still reeling from it, we go every year for my birthday, I try and drag my friends out to it when ever I had a chance (we're going to have a girly night there soon! Apologies in advance to any customers having to deal with us yammering on like hens), and introduced at least a dozen people from work to Kyoto who were really disappointed that the old place closed, but I'm trying to let them all know it's reopened.

Wishing the very best of luck to Kyoto and future prospects. Blow the competition out of the water! I'm sure you will!
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Mary-Rose Agius
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, May 12, 2008