Hyoutei Honten

One of a kind experience and first time in a 3 Michelin starred restaurant. The vibe was very peaceful, somehow awkward. Maybe the most expensive meal I’ve had in Japan when it comes to the value of food but as what people say, you pay for experience. We were the only non-Japanese in the restaurant ...and most of the time we didn’t understand each other but on the reservation, it also said depending on the day, English service might be limited. Didn’t get a chance to know what I really ate but it was memorable and good to try once. If they have a new breakfast menu, I would try to go back. My hotel concierge helped me book this reservation and when I arrived, I was already greeted by my name which was a pleasant surprise.

Visited November 2023

It is impressive to eat in restaurant that has been around for 450 years. It is nothing like other traditional 3 star restaurants in the world. This is a once in a lifetime experience. The atmosphere is very Zen. The food is excellent off course and the setting is stunning. You eat in a private roo...m and are unaware of other guests . Just mind your head if you are tall, because it is an ancient building.

Visited October 2019

I have been to Japan many times. Kaiseki has always been my favorite. Hyotei offers Cha kaiseki, which is a little bit different from ordinary Kaiseki, despite some modification. Hyotei offers a very unique dining environment. The place is near the Nanzen-ji Temple and very quiet. In the restaurant,... every group of customer has their own room. The decor of the whole restaurant was also very traditional. The most renown food of this restaurant is the Hyotei tamago, which is essentially a semi-boiled egg. The restaurant was a tea house four hundred years ago, when they offered egg and tea for travelers to Kyoto. They still always add this semi-boiled egg to their menu today. The technique of the chef is very good. The taste of food was light. Full of fish and sea food in the menu. If you are a fan of Japanese cuisine, you will love it.

Visited October 2019

I have done many different Michelin-star restaurants all over the world and I can say that by far this has been the worst experience ever. It is a mediocre restaurant for the normal restaurant standard and an abomination for the Michelin-star reputation. Dishes were tasteless, fish was badly cooked,... the times in between plates were extremely long and nobody was able to explain how we had to eat the different courses presented besides some casual “this with this” while pointing at the different components of the plate. Working with expensive ingredients is one thing every chef can do with a minimum of knowledge, transcending cheap ingredients and deliver a real experience is something only real chefs can do....I am starting to question how they actually got their three-stars. Is this a flagship for Japanese culture or a real 3 Michelin stars restaurant? Who actually did this critic and how much money were they paid for it? All of this is a joke, stay away, stay away, stay away. I will never forget this experience and for a bad reason, unfortunately.

Visited July 2019

Two couples and the 42,000 yen per person dinner. It was a very nice experience, the service was wonderful. The atmosphere was equally good. The variety of the 12 course meal was interesting. Was it worth almost $ 800.00 per couple? I don’t think so. But I’ll add it to my list with the French... Laundry and Per Se. however this restaurant will be in third place.

Visited April 2019