UMENOHANA Kyotokarasumaten

Was here during golden week - making reservation. Lunch is much cheaper but to my disappointment after sitting down and ordering, they came back and said lunch special not applicable during golden week. We had to pay 4100 Yen pp instead of 2800 Yen for lessor. Oh well, couldn't do anything about th...at. Make sure you ask and must be M-F lunch and not holiday time. This is my 3-4th time to this chain. I came 3 times when i lived in Japan many moons ago in Osaka. This time i wanted my kids to experience this. They had a blast and enjoyed the 20 little dishes we got all made of tofu / soya. I was disappointed that the 4100 Yen set didn't come with Chawa Mushi (egg custard) which is my fav. Instead we got Gratin which was good also. The fun part was making your on Yuba (bean curd in front of you). It's basically the layer of film that forms when soya milk is boiled. It's tasteless but fun to make. There is tofu dumpling, gluten rice stick, salad, tofu ice and even tofu cheesecake. I guess it sound better if i say soya rather than tofu. All dishes come one at a time (typical of Kiseki) and the waitress will explain each dish. So this is a nice slow relaxing meal We reserved and sat in a private japanese style room with sunken floor for feet. The restaurant is in the B1 of the building - Starbuck is on the top floor. This is a meal you must do even if you don't like tofu. Very innovated dishes. dinner always more expensive. Lunch time sets are best value and time to go. This chain is avail in many cities and has many location where ever you are in Japan Gochisosama

Visited May 2023

We wanted a quiet place to meet and talk over a meal without being disturbed. This place turned out to be just perfect. Stepped off a busy street into a different world of elegance and discretion. Ushered into a private room, where the three of us sat on the mats at a low table. We had one of the ...set menus. Small quantities of delicious food arriving atdicreetly timed intervals, adding up to a pretty big meal. Wonderful presentation and flavour. The best part, though, was that they let us sit there and chat for a couple of hours after we had finished the meal. No pressure, no hints we should leave. A lovely place.

Visited November 2018

When I tell Canadians that the tofu in Japan was excellent, they kind of roll their eyes. We don't get the world's best tofu in Canada so my expectations about what it is were frankly pretty low. Friends told us about this restaurant and took us there while we are in town. I am SO GLAD we went. DO ...NOT MISS THE CHANCE to have a sit down tofu centred meal in Kyoto! It was like I'd never even eaten tofu before. The tofu was delicious! Which sounds strange to say. I hadn't thought of tofu as having much flavour before - it was all about the texture. They played with the texture masterfully as well, also. One tofu dish was prepared right at the table with the tofu being stirred in a chaffing dish until it was a soft cake like consistency. The tofu was served in soup, grilled, deep fried, as a skin - so many ways. The group of four ordered the seasonal menu. Each of us got individual dishes, other than the large chaffing dish of tofu. Our friends were vegetarian so their dishes centred on tofu and mushrooms. We eat everything, so our had tofu, mushrooms as well as wild boar, barruda, shrimp, lotus root, etc. Every dish was delicious! The courses were brought out one at a time. Some were ready to eat. Others came in small clay pots over flame and we had to wait while they finished cooking. At some point, I lost track of how many courses there were and just enjoyed whatever was brought. One of the best sit down multi-course meals in a restaurant I have ever had. It was our fancy meal for the trip. At about $65 a person (without drinks), I thought it was excellent value (and I'm a value traveler who is usually about finding the inexpensive local fare).

Visited December 2018

I was on a tour of the food markets in Kyoto and our guide took the 4 of us to this restaurant. I would have never found it on my own. It was great--a real Japanese experience. They have an English menu. You choose from several set dinners/lunches--about 5-8 small courses, all excellent. You get ...your own small room--seats on floors, but your feet have a well to be in, so you don't have a problem with your legs.

Visited March 2018

Semi-tofu kaiseki, as I ordered wagyu beef too and has sashimi and oysters. Nonetheless tofu still the main thing here. I was particularly impressed by the tofu dim sim, because it tasted like meat dim sim. Some dishes I didn’t really enjoy. Especially the tofu that tasted like cheese fondu. The res...taurant itself is quiet, with individual dining areas. Excellent atmosphere to enjoy fine dining. Costed me 6500yen per person.

Visited December 2017