Kyoto, Japan｜Junidan-ya

Wow. What an incredible experience from start to finish. We were lucky to be seated as a walk in at around noon, although they also take reservations. We had the lunch sukiyaki set. Amazing and hospitable service. We had our own relaxing private room, in a traditional Japanese style, with floor seating, beautiful artwork, and pottery decor. The meal was cooked in front of us from start to finish. Our server was incredibly kind and attentive. The meat was so tender and cooked to perfection! The sauce was so delicious. Absolutely our favourite meal so far during our trip to Japan. What a gem!

So here's the deal—we were scrambling for a last-minute spot to accommodate our group, and most nearby restaurants were a no-go. Then we stumbled upon Junidan-ya, and....we're glad we did. The sukiyaki was out-of-this-world good. I'm talking about melt-in-your-mouth meat, a perfectly balanced egg, and veggies and sauces that complemented each other beautifully. We also tried ebi don, shabu shabu, and steak, and they were all solid choices, but the sukiyaki was the star. Now, a heads-up for those passing through: this spot can get busy. We had a 25-minute wait, and after people saw us standing outside, the waiting list ballooned with 10 additional parties. So, maybe swing by early if you can. I can't recommend Junidan-ya enough. One of my fav places while staying in Kyoto. I'll definitely be back, and sukiyaki will be on my mind until then.

Everything was so delicious. We visited on June and already miss the food. Thank you for everything. We hope we could visit again.