Muroi

Muroi was recommended to us by a friend who had been a cook at a kaiseki restaurant in Kyoto as his favorite kaiseki place in Kyoto. It did not disappoint. It was probably our favorite meal in Japan. The dishes were beautiful and delicious. Chef Muroi was friendly and gracious and he and his staff g...ave us explanations in English. It's an expensive meal but the prices were half the price of the Michelin star restaurant we had earlier. It's a little out of the way (though pretty close to Kinkaku-ji Temple.) We would definitely go back next time we were in Kyoto.

Visited November 2023

Extremely creative with a broad and uncommon ingredients and vegetables. All items were prepared with extreme attention and care, flavors were wide ranging and delicious with the matcha chocolate being the best i had! The restaurant was great about adjusting to my dietary restrictions, service was g...reat, including a mini sake tasting so we can easily pick out our favorite bottles.

Visited April 2023

Kaiseki, Japanese haute cuisine, is a Kyoto speciality and an unforgettable celebration of food. I have always believed that food itself is one thing and a meal an entirely different matter. The best meals remain unforgettable because of everything around them and the food, as sensational as it may ...be, is merely one ingredient. Welcome to Muroi. Chef-owner Shigeru Muroi, impeccably trained, a master of his craft, has created something special in this beautifully renovated farmhouse in the picturesque Takagamine neighbourhood in the Northwestern outskirts of Kyoto, far from the crowds, not far from the Golden Temple. Muroi's culinary magic happens six times a week and begins at 6pm for up to eight lucky guests. As you enter the tiny vestibule, you are requested to take off your shoes. Cushions with hot stones await at your seat to keep your feet warm. Diners sit at the chef's table: a dining counter built around the kitchen. The light is warm and dimmed and bright enough to see the food. All is very zen, very comfortable, very light-hearted, very delicious. Muroi's focus is on local specialities. Ingredients are seasonal and local and very fresh. It probably helps to have a farm on the other side of the road. There is a heavy emphasis on vegetables, some fish, some meat, skill and creativity. While he prepares the dishes he happily chats with his guests, effortlessly switching from Japanese to English. The meal is a set course that changes daily and lasts for about 2 1/2 hours. The price is a very reasonable ¥10,000 and the memory of that meal priceless. Booking is essential.

Visited November 2019

One of our most memorable meals in Japan - and definitely world class. One of us is vegetarian, the other eats no mammal; not only were our requests accomodated with grace and a smile (despite the extra effort involved) but the fabulous results speak to the inventiveness of the chef. Setting is a...t a wooden bar facing the small but impeccable kitchen, providing a feast for the eyes as well as the body.

Visited November 2019

Enjoyed a fabulous, creative 10 course dinner. Muroi, the chef prepared and served every course on his own. It was a culinary tour de force. Each course was unique, delicious and beautiful. Far and away the best meal I have had in Kyoto. I highly recommend it.

Visited January 2019