Maya

Ate here on a business trip and had private room to ourselves, almost identical to the home picture on the TA site. Excellent food, couldn't fault the service, and the seat backs really helped, since some don't have these and you get a sore back as a westerner!

Visited April 2016

This restaurant specialists, amongst other things, in shabu-shabu, which was definitely the best I have ever had, cooked in a traditional pot with coals and a chimney. Stunningly good beef. Servers are traditionally dressed. Extremely pleasant and convivial surroundings.

Visited June 2016

2 people went there for 2 shabu shabu. Cost? 20,000 Yen each for food alone. And we were still hungry at the end, as the portions were super-tiny. Terrible value. This is one of those Japanese restaurants that charge atrocious prices because they know people will be on corporate accounts. I was... referred to this place by the concierge at the Imperial Hotel nearby in which we were staying, and I wonder if the hotel gets rebates per referral because this restaurant was total waste of money. The shabu shabu was almost 70% fat. The two types of sauces that came with were the worst I have had in Japan -- extremely salty and not tasty at all. You will be charged for almost everything here; a cup of benign looking Udon noodle will appear in your bill, setting you back by 900 Yen per cup. I would guess 90% of the cost of this restaurant comes from the serving: they hired so many Japanese (not foreign workers) per table. They came all the way out to say bye to us when we were leaving. If you put premium on such greetings, go ahead. But if you want quality food at reasonable prices, this place certainly is not yours. We were the only guests in the prime dinner time weekend evening. We felt absolutely bamboozled by the concierge of the Imperial Hotel. Avoid at all costs and head for Ginza if you are nearby; at least there is some competition there.

Visited November 2015

I was lucky enough to be taken to Restaurant Maya by a Japanese business partner for lunch whilst visiting them in Tokyo. Lucky because Maya offers a very traditional and authentic setting as well as great cuisine. There were 5 of us in our party and we ate in a screened private room traditional t...ables and decoration where you sit on pillows on the floor and put your legs in a sunken floor area under the table. This type of seating is referred to as 'Zashiki' I believe. Removal of your shoes at the entrance to the dining area is required. For lunch I had tea and "Sukiyaki" which is an authentic Japanese dish, of the soup or stew type, prepared and served in the 'nabemono', (Japanese hot pot), style. It consists of meat, (thinly sliced beef), which is slowly cooked alongside vegetables and other ingredients, (in mine was tofu and fine noodles), in a shallow iron pot in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin. Before eating the beef it is customary to dip it in a small bowl of raw, beaten egg. Served with a bowl of sticky rice and a cup of miso soup... It was delicious and great for lunch in a cold Tokyo in February! Highly recommended... The atmosphere, service (by girls in traditional kimono's), and the food was all of an excellent quality and as I said a great Japanese dining experience.

Visited February 2015