Restaurant MOTOI

MOTOÏ is a Michelin starred French restaurant in Kyoto. Online reservation is straightforward; all guests must pre-order the same menu and prepay the full amount in advance. While the façade of the restaurant resembles that of a traditional Kyoto mansion, the interior design shows much influence o...f the western culture. The elegantly chic main dining room is spacious and well ventilated. Servers are polite and professional. Owner chef Maeda Motoi-san is also friendly and accommodating. Food is of great quality and reasonably priced. The 10-course “Gourmand” lunch (JPY 16,500/head) might not be as artistically plated as other fancy restaurants, but each dish has its own subtle uniqueness. For example, the perfectly cooked foie gras is paired with the seasonal pacific saury tartare and mandarin orange sauce, an innovative combination that is surprisingly light yet flavourful. It is apparent from his use of local ingredients that Chef Maeda is inspired by his Kyoto roots. The wagyu main course alone is accompanied with 60 kinds of “Kyo-Yasai” (a term referring to vegetables grown in Kyoto). Another highlight of the meal is the refreshing amuse bouche made out of Manganjitougarashi, the king of Japanese chili pepper originated from Kyoto. The vibrant Manganjitougarashi mousse is sweet but not spicy, and is perfectly balanced with the freshness of the scallop and salmon roes. A lovely lunch on a beautiful Sunday!

Visited October 2023

I took my partner for a special birthday dinner and I could not have chosen a better place. The food is amazing, and the service is impeccable; from the moment they took our coats to the moment they walked us to the door. The staff are attentive and nothing feels too hard. Their English is great a...nd you can feel that they want you to have an exceptional experience. To the staff at Motoi, well done, and thank you.

Visited January 2024

I booked this place 2 months in advance as a surprise for my husband for our anniversary! This place didn’t disappoint us at all. The food was very delicious and the service was top notch. Thanks to all the staff who made our day so special.

Visited October 2023

This was a wonderful experience right from the greeting by the hostess through to the beautiful room, the exquisite food and the wonderful service. A lunch to remember!

Visited May 2023

We had a lovely evening in this charming Japanese house serving French excellent food. The food was very good, the setting charming and calm, they catered from our different dietary requirements. A most enjoyable evening, deserving of your Michelin star. Well done and thank you.

Visited April 2023