Waraiya

Great food. Really great food. But I am 55 years old and an experienced international traveler and so I know when something is wrong. Was this really Japan ? Very poor greeting on arrival even though we had booked via our very good quality hotel.. the table staff where excellent but the senior sta...ff had a chip on shoulder and were very rude. Not even a single arigatho on leaving. What the hell happened. Slow but decent service all night from staff but the attitude from owner / cook / manager stank right from when we arrived. was 10k yen not enough to spend for an early evening light dinner? Don't know what his problem was but he is ruining the restaurant. Very poor and ruined a nice last night in Kyoto. First poor experience in country. Excellent food. But he needs to talk to his mother on his manners. Not even a single interaction. Was this really Japan ?

Visited September 2019

Despite the hype of being the top Izakaya in Kyoto - as voted by Travel Magazine - our experience was very underwhelming. On entering, we were relegated to a bar seat despite a table being available, and provided with the limited English menu, that contained none of the sashimi options that were ...mentioned in a review of the Izskaya, which had prompted our visit. Our request to choose our yakitori skewer options was denied, and the chef advised he would choose for us. The food was average at best, food court quality in our country. The chef was churlish, handing the potions to one of our party through the serving window. The wine was appallingly bad, with only one white and red option available. Avoid the wine at all costs unless you have a taste for ethanol. Overall, a disappointing experience that left us feeling aggrieved that we were so badly mislead by this supposed 'Shop Of Laughter'. Avoid

Visited December 2018

We saw this Izakaya on a list of top 10 Izakayas in Kyoto. We took a chance and turned up. Despite being half full, we were directed to very uncomfortable seats at the counter in a corner. We were presented with an English menu despite being able to speak Japanese. To our disappointment we realised ...later we had been only offered very mediocre yakitori and a set menu whereas the Japanese menu contained many dishes including sashimi. The set menu really ordinary - chicken wings, sausages, a kewer (presumably skewer) and an omelette. Wine dreadful. We won’t be going again. There is so much better food in Kyoto.

Visited December 2018

Having been to hundreds and hundreds of izakaya's in my life I have to, unfortunately, say that this izakaya was just okay. The food was good but the portions, even for Japan, were very small. The quality was good but did not make up for the portion size. Even though the restaurant is called the La...ughing place we didn't find the atmosphere that fun. It was an okay place. I wouldn't not recommend it but in a city full of izakaya's it was not, in our experience, worth singling out as a destination.

Visited March 2018

wonderful place to have an inexpensive experience of traditional yakitori. We usually have yakitory in the Kyushu with our japanises friends, so we now very week the highest quality of yakitori. Here it's very good. And, very important, they have english menu!

Visited January 2016