Imoto

Visited on the first day of 2025. Chef has prepared a very detailed menu explaining the food and ingredients and related Japanese traditional culture and stories. Also a special menu because of the new year. Everything is so delicious, light taste, and keeps the natural flavour of the food itself, cannot be more satisfied. Even more, the price includes drinks, sake, plum wine and more.

Imoto is a Kyoto Cuisine restaurant that serves delicious food. Dinner is a combination of both cooked and raw items but where Imoto shines is having able to source for uncommon seasonal vegetables and cooking them to perfection. Be it the vegetable dishes, ayu fish, wagyu beef or kani donburi, their menu will change with the seasons which makes dining here always fresh. Another gem in Fukuoka and will surely be back for more.

Not easily accessible BUT highly recommended for the service, quality and freshness of the food. The charcoal grilled beef was simply superb. Must try 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Today I was completely charmed by the simplicity of Imoto and the culinary skill of the chef and his team. Very easy to find if you use google maps- a simple sliding wooden door opens to the 10 seat counter. The space is relatively unadorned, allowing the antique ceramics used for serving and the delicious food to take center stage. While the other diners add their own ambience to the experience, it is really the calm, smiling, affable chef and the orchestration of his team and the experience that shines. I loved watching the food being constructed and plated. The food preparations were remarkably restrained and respectful of the high quality and unique ingredients. An elegant white miso soup with braised radish, spiky lobster and yuzu citrus literally made my eyes role back in my head with pleasure. A steamed dish of rice, chestnuts, ginkgo wrapped in a magnolia leaf surprised me with how simple and earthy it was- like your Japanese grandma who lives in the countryside has been doing for decades. I accompanied my meal with draft Japanese beer served in an elegant glass so thin it was nearly weightless. Others did sake pairings throughout. This is not a fussy place, it is a lovely place- lovely staff, service, antique ceramics, lovely food and ingredients. I had a wonderful, warm and delicious experience at Imoto. I look forward to returning.

Great for Japnese traditional food. But not good taste for me.

There were a few dishes that I really liked, and they provide a detailed menu with explanations in both Japanese and English for foreigners. I think the explanations definitely helped me appreciate the food more.

For a Michelin 2 star place the food was both underwhelming and bland. Service was cold (probably due to language barrier). It’s also almost impossible to find this place. English menu is extensively descriptive.

One of the best kyoto style omakese experienced. Especially from a young chef Imoto, always keep an eye on customers and never let them unpleasant for the whole night