Kyoto, Japan｜Wagokoro Izumi

Varied food in Kyoto Kaeseki style. They were all amazing! The August harvest and the miso soup with abalone and roasted eggplants were the highlights of the course meal.

3 hungry and chubby North Americans, who definitely walked into a place with far more culture and class than the three could ever produce themselves, had a very quiet and rejuvenating dinner experience at this 2 Michelin star establishment. It is important, however, to realize that Wagokoro Izumi seems to prioritize the culture of Kyoto and the local ingredients over the tastes of the guests. While that statement can come across as negative, it is meant with extreme respect, and should be a warning that you may have a few dishes that don't specifically taste like you would prefer but you have to at least admit that the presentation and experience of the dish is unlike much of what you'd find anywhere else. At the very least, everything is full of flavor and you'd be hard-pressed to replicate the flavor and texture at home, whether you liked it or not. We got 9 courses, starting simply and delicately and slowly advancing into more artistic, more complexly flavored works of art. Be sure to double check with the serving staff as to which parts are edible and which are not! It's a testament to the artistry of the presentation that sometimes it's kind of hard to tell! The staff that served us had very good command of the English language, and also had a translation available for the more unique ingredients. Amusingly, since the ingredient was unique, the translation did not help much, but that's a different story. The staff themselves were all wonderfully behaved and were just as excited presenting and explaining the food as we were to eat it. Available drinks were also excellent and rounded out the meal nicely. The fact that we three chubby guys were all satisfied by the end of the meal is also a testament to how well they nourish you.

Traditional kaiseki restaurant, currently holding two Michelin stars and a Tabelog Bronze Award. Here is what I can add: We came for lunch just after New Year and had a lovely time. Well selected ingredients reflective of the season and a high level of cooking was apparent throughout the meal. We had pre-selected one of the more economically priced set menus available but could not have wished for anything else. Service was very welcoming, and the atmosphere at the counter was serene and relaxing. By the time of our visit, reservations were available via Pocket Concierge, which is really convenient if you are a traveler just like us. Overall, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a classical kaiseki meal in Kyoto.