Honke Tankuma Honten

Unforgettable experience. The food was absolutely incredible and we were served each of our dishes by the couple that owned the restaurant (that had been passed down generations) with their son in the kitchen. Their family has owned the restaurant for 98 years!! So passionate about their food and you can taste it!! I will never ever forget my experience at this restaurant, it was so special. Unique food I have never tried anywhere else! I highly recommend if you are in Kyoto.

This was an incredible meal. We had an incredible little room with a view overlooking the river. Every dish was delicious and there was a great variety in the food served - we got the classic sashimi and cooked fish, but a lot of dishes we hadn’t tried during our trip to Japan. We did the Japanese Sake pairing which was a great experience. We got to taste different types of Sake and learn about regional differences. The team was absolutely amazing. The owner explained the history of the restaurant and took a photo with us after! Felt like home!

My partner and I (Americans in their mid 30’s) had an amazing and unforgettable meal here. We got standard fish/seafood meal and did the Sake wine pairing. The owners came out and met with us before the meal started and gave us a brief history of the restaurant. The meal took 2 hours from start to finish. We also had a private tea ceremony room. The staff were very friendly and attentive. They were so appreciative and grateful to host us and you could tell they took a lot of pride in their foods history and culture. We have had a lot of fine dining experiences and eaten at several Michelin restaurants- we will always remember this one as one of our best experiences. After the meal, I looked up the Google reviews and was surprised to read some of the lower star ratings. I can only shake my head and wonder why those people even try venturing beyond McDonalds. If you cannot appreciate the subtlety and delicacy of Japanese food, don’t eat at Japanese restaurants. Every dish was superb and unique- I consider them very flavorful in their own way but obviously very different from European or American cuisine. If you are interested in Japanese food which is lighter and more subtle in flavor and appreciate their culture, this is the place for you. After the meal the server showed us the back deck area and took photos of us. Then the owners came back out and showed us one of the paintings they had which is apparently a famous painting. We also took a photo with them. I included all my photos so you should have a good sense of whether this is something you are into or not, especially when considering the price point.

What I recall from my visit to Kyoto is this great restaurant. They have a Halal option (require reservation) ,the owners of this restaurant are really friendly and welcoming, their son the chef greeted us before we leave which was lovely. The dishes were excellent but it requires certain taste that would enjoy the the food as it is, which is the core idea of the Monmo cuisine, I’v never thought I would enjoy a steamed fish dish and this restaurant proved me wrong. Also, the service was spectacular and they have explained each and every dish.

We were momentarily stunned upon arrival, as if we had stumbled upon a hidden, forbidden castle. From the entrance to the very end of our journey, it felt like stepping back into the era of the shogun. Words cannot fully capture the experience—the exquisite cuisine, the impeccable service, and the timeless atmosphere. It is truly a must-visit destination, transporting you through decades of history with every moment spent within its walls.

Halal Michelin Star rated restaurant, I had to try it. Full disclosure, if you’re not into sushi and raw fish, the menu only has ONE item that’s meat/wagyu. Rest are all vegetables and seafood. I loved every single dish but couple of people in our group weren’t really a fan. A must try for sure, the chef and his son are very knowledgeable. Son chef has had traveled all India Bangladesh and few other countries by boat.

Do not understand how this restaurant has a Michelin star. This was the most bland meal both my partner and I have ever eaten. I eat meat so had the normal menu and my partner had the vegan menu. Both were terrible. The flavour was boiled out of the vegetables so they had no taste. The “soup” has zero flavour, it was like drinking hot water. Even the rice dish was plain rice with a few plain beans with zero flavour. Not even salt. Dessert was half a strawberry and two tiny pieces of orange with a little bit of plain jelly. The best part of the meal was the red wine we ordered which was made in Germany - again the most expensive glass of wine we have ever drunk. The room is a cute tea ceremony room but you can pay $20 for the experience and save yourself the hundreds and hundreds of dollars plus be hosted properly. We didn’t even get water with our meal - we had to pay an additional $20 to have a small glass of water each. Disappointed and pissed off at the experience doesn’t touch the surface of this experience. I told the owner and the chef and they just said sorry. Throughout the meal there was no attempt to explain how flavours were put together etc. It is a family business where clearly no love, passion or skill for creating flavour had been passed down. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE!!!

I had a marvelous halal dining experience at Honke Tankuma Honten. From the moment you step inside, you are transported to the world of Kyoto. The staff and the head chef are exceptional, with a deep understanding of halal requirements and the needs of Muslim diners, coupled with outstanding hospitality. The rooms are seasonally designed, allowing us to enjoy the food with the authentic atmosphere of Kyoto and Japan. The halal kaiseki was perfect, offering an amazing taste that captures the essence of authentic Japanese cuisine. I was particularly impressed with the main dish, charcoal-grilled wagyu, which elevated the flavor to its peak, and the first-ever halal branded chicken Awa Odori comes in tempura-style!! I’ve never imagine halal branded Japanese chicken is this tender, juicy, and amazingly delectable! While the price is not cheap, it is entirely reasonable for the quality of food and service you receive. Honke Tankuma Honten is definitely a must-visit halal restaurant in Kyoto.

This was the highlight of my trip to Japan. From the ambiance to the food, everything was absolutely stunning. We were greeted by the owner's wife, who sat down and told us about the history of the restaurant, as well as little tidbits about its location and Kyoto. We learned that her son, who was training under her husband's guidance, would be cooking for us that day. Each group of guest is served in a private room overlooking the river. While we weren't able to sit outdoors given the weather, the view was stunning. The courses came very well paced. There was a server sitting near our door throughout the meal, ensuring that each dish would reach us shortly after the last. The food was beautiful, clean and so gentle. I tried a lot of dishes that I haven't had anywhere else. The standout for me was the bamboo - it was fresh, soft and flavorful. I'd highly recommend treating yourself to a nice meal with friends here if you're in Kyoto. The price is well worth it. Make a reservation in advance on their website - we were able to secure a fairly good deal as a result.

This Kaiseki restaurant is a family run business that is about 90 years old. The owner is the chef and the lady of the restaurant helps to host. She was very gracious and came over to tell us more about the restaurant and to entertain a little. The several courses were all amazing, service was extremely attentive and left feeling comfortable and satisfied. My favourite courses were the consume that was packed with flavour served in a hot stone bowl... After a few minutes the server would re-enter the room to tip the bowl slighlt more so the it would be easier to scoop up. This happened about 3 times - now that is attentive!

On the pricy side. The dishes are reasonably good. I only give 3 stars as the service should really be better as we always need to wait in the room for half an hour after we already finished our dishes to have the next dish served. More explanation of the dishes we have will be helpful. Besides, I did not expect to be charged separately for the ice in my drink. Impressive.