Kichi Kichi Omurice

We absolutely loved the experience! Staff was super friendly, chef is funny, talented and crazy and the food oh so tasty 🤤 Omurice is fantastic but the Ox tongue stew is absolutely phenomenal and a must. Melts in your mouth. As for the reservation, it is not that bad I got it on my first try. Just read the instructions and be prepared and enjoy 😊

A supreme experience. First of all the food was amazing, the egg is so insanely creamy, the rice very flavorful the sauce is delicious and the chilli powder topping is addictive. On top of that the chef provides the most amazing show of both skill and entertainment. Worth every dollar and every second highly recommend!

Fantastic place that lives up to the "hype". Chef was very friendly to everyone, making sure that he serves each customer personally and takes pictures with them. Food was great but slightly on the expensive side, though it's reasonable given the place's popularity and entertainment provided. Managed to book a good time slot using a mobile phone, you just have to click fast once it's available (Got it on 2 tries). Do respect their instructions and arrive 20-30 mins earlier as they have many walk-in customers trying to get a slot as well (which they would have to give up your slots to if you're late). Do not believe the 1-star reviews complaining about "impossible bookings", those are just from salty people that can't even click fast. Tldr: Great place to experience the chef and his cooking if you're in the area.

You have more of a chance of winning the lottery than getting a booking for this place. If you are looking at having a great meal forget about this pretentious place. The booking system is a nightmare which only gives you an hour window to try and book. If you are able to get into the reservation system (trust me you will not) despite waiting and logging on at the set time, it does not work. There are so many other great places to have a meal instead, try Joy's Table instead great food and atmosphere, and so reasonable priced.

Amazing atmosphere with chef Motokichi and his team putting on a great show!! The cream croquettes were my favourite and of course the omurice was delicious as well. Unfortunately the ox tongue stew was quite dry. If you like the theatrics then it's a must visit. If you don't care for the show, I would eat elsewhere as it is a bit expensive.

The food was good, my favourite were actually the cream croquette. The chef's personality and his show made the evening extraordinary. It was completely different seeing it on video and being there. I loved the show and would recommend a visit. I would definitely coma again when I am in Kyoto again. A muss visit in my book. 5 out of 5 stars for me.

Thankful to be able to experience kichi kichi omurice! Chef was super friendly, he make sure he gave attention to everyone and their cameras and yummy omurice. The ox tongue stew goes well with it (i gt a small omurice so I have space for the stew white rice too) To share my experience, you will ger the error message "503 Service Temporarily Unavailable" if you are trying to access their website outside Japan. I only get a slot on my 3rd try, i clicked for the reservation page at 9am/1pm sharp. Once it was instantly full :( It's a 8 counter seats and 2 side table cosy restaurant, so all the best with ur booking! (During my slot a walk in customer was very lucky to be accepted for the side table -prolly cos someone missed their booking). Like what others said, good to have your auto fill ready and leave the rest is luck.

We got reservations on our 2nd try, totally worth the little bit of effort to get a day of online reservation. Just have everything ready to autofill as it fills up in less than 10 secs. Totally worth the hype, such a fun experience. He is a true entertainer

So hard to reserve! only 16 seats per hour omg! Experience: 100/10 The grandpa is so funny and he cooks everything in front of you! He really made a show out of it! Food: 8/10 It's omurice lol Idk if omurice could be more than an 8/10 for me oops

Kichi Kichi Omurice is the viral omurice restaurant serving yoshoku dishes (western-influenced cooking). We ordered the fresh bread, beef tongue soup, cream croquettes (which somehow tasted exactly like meatloaf) and an obligatory small omurice for our meal. While the food is good (and the beef tongue stew in particular was super tender and rich) the emphasis here is really the experience of seeing the chef in action. As you've probably seen on TikTok, he really puts on a show and makes each diner feel like they're part of the action. While we were not quite sure the 3 hour wait we had is worth it for everyone, it is a really special experience for those willing to do so

The guy who does the cooking at this place is well recognized on youtube and rightfully so as he puts on quite a performance for his customers. Reservations are recommended and if you can't get a reservation in advance, then be prepared to line up and possibly be turned away as they only open at certain times of day and can only take so many customers per day. If you're someone who enjoys a good show and are prepared to sacrifice the quality of your food, then this place might be for you. For us, having experienced it once...once is definitely enough for us. Watching this guy cook was fun, but the food itself was just OK. I ordered a Vegetarian Omurice and felt that it was a bit on the salty side. My husband thinks he could have made a better tasting gravy himself for his regular omurice. No regrets about coming here as we really did enjoy watching our food being cooked. It was a really neat experience, but for good tasting omurice...I'd recommend going elsewhere. Oh, the restaurant is equipped with phone holders for people to put their phones on so they can film the action. This was one of two restaurants we went to in Kyoto where the restaurant was prepared for people to film the cooking. They are clearly used to having customers who like to post on social media. We were quite impressed with this.

Kichi Kichi Omurice is a restaurant that needs very little introduction. It's a restaurant that has gone viral on social media, and has garnered a wide following across the world. I've always loved omurice, and I knew I had to try this place out for myself. This past year, Kichi Kichi Omurice changed their online reservation system. Instead of having all their reservations available online, only a small portion of reservations starting at 7:50 PM dinner time are available to reserve online. Also, they must be reserved 1 month prior to the scheduled date. As such, it has become very difficult to make online reservations. Fortunately, with the change in the system, this means that reservations prior to 7:50 can be made in person. I showed up at 1:15 PM to line up for dinner reservations that start being handed out at 3:00 PM. By 2:00 PM, all the reservations for the day were gone, and I lined up on a week day. It's quite competitive, but I wanted to get a spot regardless. I got a spot for counter seating at 5:45 PM. You have to arrive 20 minutes early or you lose your reservation. It's very strict, but if you meet their rules they will be super polite to you. The staff are mostly Japanese people trying to learn English, plus Motokichi himself. They're all super friendly. Of all the restaurants I went to in Japan, this had the highest concentration of foreigners - 100% of the people that were in the restaurant at 5:45 were tourists. Motokichi has phone stands so you can place your smart phones and record as he cooks. He is super entertaining, like an American teppanyaki chef, but even more fun. My wife and I got a soup of the day and a half portion demi-glace omurice. The chef makes the rice in one large batch and then portions out each plate. The omelette itself, Motokichi performs for each individual in the restaurant. The staff are super fun and entertaining. The food itself was solid. As many will say, it's a bit overpriced, but you go for the experience and not just the food. Given that I spent half the day in a line just for the experience, it's not one I would go to again. However, the food is really good, and the experience is so unique, I would encourage everyone to try it at least once.

Located down a small alleyway is this tiny little place that became Instagram famous (or is it TikTok?) for the show that the chef does in front of 8 counter top seats and a handful of people sitting at tables (that stand behind the counter seats during the "show") to make OMURICE. You order while you're still standing in line outside, which would seem strange, except everyone in that line knows exactly what they want (there are really only 2 items, with variations in size, type etc). Was the omurice worth all the hype? Some say it's not, but I thought it was very good, the egg was amazing, Demi sauce was excellent. I haven't had any omurice like this anywhere else. The oxtail stew was actually tastier, so make sure you get both. Make reservations ahead of time, and don't be late or they will give your spot away...or show up early and wait in line. Every hour they take in walk-ins. I'm glad we were able to experience this place. You can buy his omurice pan from Amazon.jp but I didn't ask if you can buy it from here. That is my only regret, not buying the pan before I came home.

Do I think this place is cheesy? Yes. Do I think this place is overpriced? Yes. But, would I recommend to someone else? MOST DEFINITELY!! So, I was not aware that Kichi Kichi had such a cult following, so when I was in Kyoto, I was going to skip this place because I am actually not a huge fan of omurice. But, I had done a day trip that day and didn't want to think about where to eat. Our travel buddies were going, so we decided to tag along. I will say I would have HUGELY regretted had I had not gone along. First, for the logistics, I would definitely make a reservation. I believe you can make them online. I did not plan ahead and earlier in the day, our travel buddies went to the restaurant to see if they could score a reservation. They happen to run into the chef and he told them that if they came right after the last seating, he will see what he could do. We actually got there around there around 7ish and there were several parties also interested, so the hostess said she will check and the chef agreed to seat us. SCORE! and we really appreciated it. If you do not make a reservation, there is a first come first serve table at the corner of the restaurant. But, I HIGHLY recommend getting seated at the bar to get to full entertainment. We wandered back around 830, right before his last seating ended and they sat us based upon how we arrived. I scored a bar seat. I of course ordered the omurice and the soup. Then, you can see the entertainment happen. He will cook the food right in front you, you will see all of his "tricks" that you see online. Food was pretty decent, the demi glaze he has on his omurice was to die for. Honestly, I actually had super low expectation for the food itself, but it ended up pleasantly surprising me. After you are done eating, the chef will come over and take photos with you. He is definitely super charismatic and charming. Now, would I come back here? No, I think the food is pricey and I assume that his "show" is the same for each session. But, I would definitely recommend anyone who has not gone to give it a try. You will get decent food and an hour of entertainment.

We tried coming here years ago but he was closed when we last visited Japan prior to the pandemic. I guess the chef blew up in popularity since then because he's all over social media nowadays. I was fortunate to be able to secure reservations well in advance because I really don't think I would have had the patience to wait 2+ hours for a possible seat. Even if you manage to snag a walk-in, you're seated at a communal table to the side of the kitchen and you're invited to watch him cook/assemble the first omurice. Then you're ushered back to your seat and served last after those with rezzies (seated at the counter) are served. I think you're really paying for the show as the omurice is pretty standard. The egg was fluffy and I personally enjoyed this place more so than others because he has a vegetarian option (it's hard to find vegetarian options in Japan outside of Tokyo!). The chef is definitely charismatic and hams it up for the camera. He also has cell phone stands ready for you (at least for those seated at the counter), so you can just prop your phone in and film. I was one of the few who didn't really film the whole experience, and it can get quite annoying with people clamoring behind you trying to experience everything through the camera. I'm glad they were only allowed to stand behind you for the first dish. Would I come again? Maybe.. but only if I have a reservation. It's not worth waiting hours for. ALSO...the washroom has the traditional Asian squat toilets. If you don't know how to use them...well, better have another option mapped out in advance. Just thought that might be helpful info :)

This was one of the main eateries I wanted to try while in Japan. Woke up early just to be the first one in line with no reservation. They open at 12PM but people literally start lining up by 11:30AM. It is a small restaurant so they let a few in at a time. It's a whole experience I would recommend others to come and see for themselves. The owner, chef Motokichi Yukimura, is very enthusiastic and takes pride in his work. His happiness is contagious. Very admirable man who loves to put on a show for every single customer. It's amazing seeing him cook the famous Omurice. To be completely honest, the food is alright. Nothing exciting about the taste. It's sort of missing something with I could put my finger on it. This place was to try for the one time and one time only. Thank you Chef Motokichi Yukimura for the wonderful experience!

For those who are interested in dining at Kichikichi Omurice, make sure you make reservation 3 months in advance on their website or to grab a walk-in reservation at 3pm on the day of. They open at 5pm but apparently there are people who line up even before 3pm. Please refer to the picture of what hit us when we tried to arrive at 5pm.

5 stars for the fun experience, 3 stars for the food. Honestly though, you eat for like 15 minutes and its a fun show for the 45 minutes! The chef is honestly such an entertainer. It's better to get the front row seating which is limited to 8 reservations, otherwise you at in a cable for maybe 6 people in the corner of the room. However, he will allow the people at the table to come over and watch the show while standing behind the front row. He does a fun show making the omurice each time for every guest and it's so much fun. He even has his own theme song which he does with the kichi girls and has a dance routine to it too. He welcomes videos and does a great job making it fun. 5 stars for the show and experience. 3 stars for the food.

This is a place that needs no introduction as it's been all over different social media platforms and also on NHK television. I've spoken to people that have been waiting years to get into this place (including my dad). They've changed the reservation to online reservations. We've tried everyday, twice a day to get a timed seating and finally got a seat on our last day in Kyoto. We were only able to get a table seating as the bar fills up super quick. You must be here 20 minutes before your reservation, or they may give your seat away to someone else waiting. We first ordered drinks and appetizers before the main reason why everyone comes here. Their oxtail stew was super flavorful and the meat was tender and soft. Their creamed croquette was also delicious, being crispy on the outside and creamy and soft on the inside. Then we waited for the show of making his famous kichi kichi omurice. He goes through a step by step on how he makes his fried rice and omelette. He is definitely is quite the performer. He knows how to draw your attention! He makes his omelette super soft, watching him cut through the middle and watching that soft egg split into...yum. He also does a "flying" one where he practically throws the omelette onto the fried rice and it splits in half by itself, then covers it with his special demiglaze. Even though his omelette was quite good, you are basically paying for his "show". Something great to see once, I don't think I'd be back again.

5 stars for the entertaining experience, but 3 stars for the food and value, so I'm averaging my rating to 4 stars. I made reservations online a couple weeks before coming. It wasn't too hard to snag reservations as long as you do your research and know when you need to be online (iirc reservations open up every Sunday at 1 pm Japan time, so for me it was 7 pm PST Saturday evening). It took a couple minutes for the reservations to get fully booked out, but I would still recommend being ready a couple minutes earlier. You can reserve for up to 6 people. The restaurant has 8 counter seats which are available by reservation only and a small table off to the side which can seat a larger group (maybe 6-8 people?). The folks sitting off to the side can stand behind the counter seats to see the show for the first customer, but if you can, I recommend making a reservation for the counter seats. They have some other items on the menu as well, but the main thing to get here is the omurice. You can choose whether you want the small (1450 yen) or regular (2700 yen). The regular omurice has beef in it, but they also offer a non-beef omurice and a vegetarian omurice that are both flavored with ketchup for folks with dietary restrictions. If you're sitting at the counter, Chef Motokichi will go through each person and do a special show for you which includes looking straight into your camera and doing some of his signature moves. It's nice that he gives you a heads up when it's your turn so that you can be ready with your camera. He also asks you how you want the eggs served (regular or flying). Like I mentioned earlier, the omurice itself was okay. The portions are small for the price, especially in Japan, and while the egg was really soft and silky, I didn't like the sauce that much. We also took a group photo with Chef Motokichi at the end, and he gave us all hugs before we left. Such a nice guy!

My family of four visited her on our first vacation to Japan. Amazing food and fun atmosphere. The staff was very friendly even with our language barrier.

Been wanting to try this place for a very long time and I finally got the chance to! I'm so glad I was able to get a seat eventually after a few attempts of getting a reservation. Dining is getting competitive now I came for the food but left with an experience. I ordered the ox tongue stew and omurice, both very extremely delicious. The egg was so fluffy and the demiglaze sauce really made the rice stick out. Great food, no debate. The chef and his staff on the other hand were also superb. He made sure everyone could film the dish being made and was super entertaining throughout. the guy had great energy, he would be a top tier hype man. They also have their own theme song which they sing and dance to with the customers. It was really cute and fun to be part of this and it was definitely a satisfying meal. Definitely worth flying across the world to come here lol

GUYS PLEASE GET RESERVATIONS TO THIS PLACE IF YOU HAVE A TRIP TO KYOTO. This was probably one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. I had seen this restaurant and chef countless times and has been on my bucket list ever since seeing the first YouTube video of this famous omurice dish. The food was just as yummy as it looks on camera and the service was top tier, I honestly think it deserves at least one michelin star. I really want to say more but I would rather you experience it yourself with no spoilers!

A bit overhyped, you're pretty much paying for Kichi's energy and show. As we didn't have a reservation, we came 90 minutes before opening and secured a countertop/bar seat. The popularity is real, there is a long line to the road for hours! There are countertop seats where you can watch Kichi cook. Then, there are tables in the back. The people at the tables got to stand behind the countertop people to watch Kichi cook. I think they said the restaurant fits 14 people per one hour shift. Kichi was very friendly, he took pictures with everyone and was singing while cooking. The restaurant has phone holders so that you can take videos of him cooking. He also advertises his merch, from t-shirts to his patented fry pan. The food itself was tasty, but nothing out of this world. We got 1 (non-beef, ketchup) and 1 original Demi glass. Interestingly, we liked the ketchup flavor much better as it was sweeter and more savory. The demi glass flavor has a charred flavor. Overall, Kichi's passion and energy was fun to watch. It was an interesting experience to try just once, but I don't think I'd go back again.

you truly go here just for the experience!! we lined up on the same day (everyone says 2pm but i went at 1:30pm and there were already about 10 people in line... thanks tiktok lol) they start putting down names at around 3pm and they ask you to put your name(s) down for whatever time slot you want that is available on their list. and my friends and i were able to get counter for 5pm slot which we were happy about! there's also tables in another room but tbh.. i would've cried if i got to sit at a table cause you don't really see him cook and interact with you + main show is for the counter people tbh but he still walks over and serves the table people afterwards. i was so in awe at how he's able to serve so many people in an entertaining and natural way for a few hours each day. you can feel his passion just watching him! as for the food, maybe it's because i'm not really an omurice connoisseur, but i thought it was 3/5. nothing extraordinary but also you can't really mess up omurice LOL. overall, if you are able to get counter seats i think it's worth going if you're in kyoto!

If you're looking for a great show and good service this is definitely the place to be! Chef including the staff were so kind and accommodating 10/10. I really enjoyed my hour spent. My expectations for Omurice weren't high to begin with, the texture of the egg was good. I feel like the rice could have more flavor. As for the Ambiance, the seating was good for 14 people I believe, I got to watch the Omurice being made from the counter. Take note make reservations or stand in line early before they open (5pm) to get a spot. It's a first come first serve basis. We stood in line at 3:40 to get a spot at the 6pm hour.

Their reservation system is crap. Got logged in and filled out all my info only for the site to crash when submitting with no response from the phone. We waited in line for hours with nothing in the heat and rain only to tell us to stay out. Not worth it.

lined up at 10:40am w no reservation, got a seat (shared table) for 1pm. experience of a lifetime. the veggie omurice was just amazing. completely omurizzed

We split the half omurice and ox tongue stew. I personally like the ox stew more, but the full show comes with ordering the omurice. Watching the chef cook was the highlight of the meal-- so charismatic and fun. I am not a huge fan of the brown sauce, but the experience was well worth the visit.

You absolutely need a reservation to eat at this place since there are very limited seating. Chef Motokichi explains the process, sings, dance, and does different tricks when he is serving your plate to you. My sister is a big fan of him so at the end, he made sure to come over to talk to us, take pictures, and signed the merch that she bought. Normally I do not like to eat onions cooked or raw but the way Chef Motokichi prepared it was amazing to where I ate everything on the plate. There are reviews on here that the portions are small but you have to keep in mind that in Japan, the portion sizes are significantly smaller than the ones in America. I highly recommend coming here. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is fun, and this is a must thing to do in Japan

One of the highlights of our trip! It was such a fun evening of good food and entertainment. Give yourself AMPLE time to get to pontocho and walk around the area to find the little shop so you don't miss your appointment. They keep to their schedule so if you're late, you won't be accommodated. There are about 8 counter seats and one table on the side that seats about 6 people. We sat at the table but had such a great time meeting others from all over the world and getting personalized table side service from motokichisan. He is so energetic and looks like he thoroughly enjoys cooking for his guests. We all enjoyed our oxtail stew and omurice dishes. Personally, I wasn't expecting much since I thought I knew everything from reading all of the reviews. But my daughter wanted to go and I am glad I went with her because it's an experience that you need to go see for yourself. You will not be disappointed!

BLUF: Don't skip the Ox Tongue Stew. Starting off with the bad. Don't order their bread. It. Was. Hard! Do you know how you microwave a roll and it becomes seized-up and hard? That's their bread. I take part of the blame for not bring in it up to one of the staff, but still... don't have it on the menu as freshly baked. The good. If you visited Kichi Kichi it's a good chance it's because of the Worth It series. The omurice was just okay. The excellent! Yukimura-sensei is a showman at heart! A perfect omelette for each dish. Imagine going through his theatrics night after night, for EACH and EVERY omurice order?? I would personally commit myself to an asylum. I still do the dance movements and sing a bit of his Happy Omurice song. Also excellent. His ox tongue stew. The other guest, I watched all only ordered the omurice. If you will recall, Yukimura-sensei himself said on Worth It that his ox tongue stew is his number one, the omurice is just number one famous. He is not wrong. The stew blew the omurice away.

Chef Yukimura Motokichi is as animated, kind and a great showman in person as he is online. The place lives up to its hype! 1. Vibe Small kitchen with a bar that seats about 8 people, there's also a small room in the back that seats about 1-2 more with no bar view. But don't worry chef Yukimura will still put on a show for you! 2. Service I need to start with the online reservation which takes about a month in advance to get. If you plan ahead getting a seat is really easy, just make sure you wait about 5-10 minutes before the reservations open online to ensure you get one. They run out within the first couple hours. Getting to the restaurant is kindof tricky as it's located in an alley way, but you'll know where it is when you find the line queues. Upon entering you'll be checked in with your name and promptly seated. Chef Yukimura is kind and will answer any questions about the menu. Once you've ordered, the show begins and you get Chef's undivided attention as he cooks, sets things on fire- his focus is all on you! Once you're served he then goes onto the next party, but you'll be able to watch from the bar! 3. Presentation Fire. Rice in the air, mouthwatering egg porn as Chef splits the omelet on your plate? Gah! This is what Benihana wishes it could do! 4. Taste I got the ox tongue stew and the omelet. Unfortunately I wasn't a huge fan of the demiglace sauce. It's was too bitter for my tastes. The rice and omelet would've been fine without. Everything else was cooked to perfection though! Eggs were runny and the rice had a nice mochi mochi texture to it. 5. Value Prices range from ¥2700 for the famous omelet to ¥3250 for the ox tongue stew. Note that rice wasn't included with the ox tongue stew which was another ¥200. In Japan it's considered rude not to finish the dish #cleanplateclub so don't order the larger portions if you can't finish there's half portion orders of the omelet rice for ¥1400. I had an amazing experience here and would recommend with some planning to others looking for good food and showmanship.

So fun and organized! The guy has a lot of energy, the place is loud, but I loved it. The waitress are helpful! The ox tail stew was bomb and of course the omurice!

I've known about this restaurant many years ago when I stumbled upon a Youtube video of Chef Motokichi with his iconic cutting of his omurice. I was probably in high school around that time. After watching the video - that dish, his face, the restaurant were imbedded in mind because I was determined to try Kichi Kichi when I go to Japan! Fast forward to a year after my college graduation, I planned a trip with the BF! I researched a bunch and realized that you must make a reservation a few weeks ahead of time since the restaurant is small and can only fit 8 people, so that's exactly what I did. We stayed in Osaka so we took a train to Kyoto. Like many restaurants, Kichi Kichi is tucked inside a small alleyway; it was almost difficult to find. We were seated immediately because we made reservations. We were given a menu but we already knew we wanted to try the famous omurice. Watching Chef Motokichi cook was like watching a show. He's super entertaining and throws in a lot of sass when he cooks. Obviously my favorite part was watching him cut through the fluffy egg and drenched the dish with beef sauce. At first I thought the sauce was excessive because he poured a lot but the flavor of the sauce wasn't that strong and it contrasted really well with the soft egg and fried rice. We ended our meal having a short conversation with him and we even took a picture with him!! Super friendly guy. :) can't wait to come back!

It was an absolute banger, this place will be forever in my heart, and it is a must-do experience for anyone traveling to Kyoto, no doubt about it. Chef Motokichi Yukimura and his team provide you with not only excellent customer service, but also fantastic food! We had a blast watching how our dish was made and how perfectly his Omurice came out each time. It is a show full of happiness and laughs and cinematic-like moments. Chef Yukimura is a volcano of happiness and joy, incredible entertaining, and a super positive spirit. I have never experienced anything like it in any other place before. You will want to talk about it and share it with your friends. It Is that good and memorable. Loved it. Highly recommend!

It all started when me and my wife saw a video on social media years ago. Then another video popped up, and then YouTube recommendations. Internet algorithms demanded I pay this location a visit before I died, so I booked a trip to Japan to visit Kyoto. It was an epic adventure that required planning, patience, and lucky reservations. We toured down the humid weather of Kyoto at the time which was over 90 degrees through an alley, and we were finally seated after a short wait. First the good: - The owner and chef was very kind and friendly. - Watching him cook is a fun experience, and he makes sure you have fun with him - He is willing to take pictures and takes special requests such as having no meat. - Decent pricing when you consider you're paying for a meal AND a show. The bad: - You're not likely gonna get in without a reservation which opens up about a month in advance - The seating is tight inside and lacks privacy. - When all is said and done, you pay for an experience. The food isn't great enough to come back. I was disappointed with the flavor profiles. You could taste each individual ingredient you see him put in, but for all the hype I was expecting a flavor bang. It's not something I'd ever need to come back for again... but I am definitely glad I went at least once.

Overpriced, overhyped, flavorless. Wanted to see what the big deal was. I only heard of this place whilst browsing a blog about things to do in Kyoto. This came up, people raved, so I went. First of all, people get reservations for this place days ahead of time, which is absolutely ridiculous because it's not special. Yes, there are about 15 seats in the entire place, but it should be walk-in only. I feel like that started this reservation bit to seem more popular, which I'm having a hard time understanding. Here's why. The entire restaurant is tiny, with an open kitchen so you can see what's happening. Whether you sit at the bar or the table, they'll do "the show" for you. This entails the runny omelette balanced on the fried rice, cut open (to flop over the rice), and then pours demi-glacé over it. That's it. Let me elaborate more on the palatability of this place: 1. First off, the "chef" (if you can call him that) microwaved the vegetables for the fried rice. Done, over, negative score. That is bad form. Boil some damn water and drop them in for 30 seconds, it's that easy. Did he do that, no. So already this was off to a bad start. I grinned through it and let him proceed. 2. Fried rice was THE blandest food I'd eaten in Japan. More-so than the actual white rice. No salt, no flavor. Come on, it's fried rice! 3. Demi glacé was scorched. If you know what this means you get my nails-on-a-chalkboard feeling. For those who don't, it's like burning milk or rice. It ruins the entire batch, no matter how much you spoon off. The one thing that he got right was the omelette. Undercooked to serve its flamboyant purpose, but done well nonetheless. For those of you wanting to try omurice just for the YouTube sensation, you deserve to be ripped off. For those who just want to try this fusion dish, there's a perfectly good and cheap one a few blocks from this place. Just search google for "omurice" and it'll come up.

Wow! It was dinner and a show!! Awesome food and Chef!! A cozy space with a warm welcome and wonderful people who enjoy what they create!

Previously watching BuzzFeed's video that included this gem of a restaurant, and also having a Japan trip with friends planned, our group knew we had to try to get a reservation for Kichi Kichi. Kichi Kichi is tucked away in a small alleyway in Kyoto, but from the main street there is a sign that points you into the correct street. I absolutely recommend making a reservation as they only seat up to 8 people - super small and intimate setting, with only bar seating available. They do have coat hangers and bag hooks behind the seating area which helps with the lack of personal space. Their website allows you to book up to 4 weeks in advance - be sure to be on your toes!! A couple minutes after the website opened up the week we were visiting, so many time slots were booked! Staff is extremely friendly, and Chef Motokichi Yukimura is to die for. I can't imagine how many people come in knowing of this restaurant from social media, and having cameras in his face 24/7 - yet he still gives each and every person/group their undivided attention and the show they expected. Cooking and serving with the biggest smile and most positive attitude, Chef Motokichi makes it hard to not enjoy your time here. At the very end of the meal, although he was getting started to cook for another group, he tried his very best to say his goodbyes to our group and reached in the little cubicle to shake our hands on our way out. They do expect every person in your group to order at least one thing! There are half orders available if you're not a huge eater, which is what our group ended up doing. We had 3 half orders of the Omurice, and 2 orders of the Ox Tongue Stew and Rice. Omurice [half order - 1450 yen]: What a show to see in person!! The craziest thing is how he perfectly cooks the egg which cascades in its runny yolk over the fried rice. Taste-wise, its nothing too special, but definitely worth the show in my opinion. Ox Tongue Stew and Rice [3250 yen]: After we gorged ourselves over this dish, Motokichi said it himself - Omurice is the most popular, but the Ox Tongue Stew is Kichi Kichi's signature and most recommended dish. The Ox Tongue was so tender, it melted in my mouth! The sauce paired perfectly with the meat. Absolutely recommend trying to get a reservation here if you know you'll be in Kyoto. What a treat to meet Chef Motokichi and to experience his cooking show.

Reservations can be made online on their website. You have exactly one hour to eat from the time your reservation starts. Mainly tourists who eat here. The chef and employees are super friendly and welcoming. Chef Kichi Kichi is very funny and has a lot of energy when he makes the omurice. It was pure entertainment throughout the dinner. The food is very average and pricey for the small portions. I believe you are paying for the show and not for the food. We ordered two dishes here costing around $45 and we were no where near full when we left.

Truly an unforgettable dining experience here. Chef Motokichi puts on a one of a kind show and his omurice is true perfection! We got super lucky and we're able to walk in without reservations but we happened to get there right before the last seating and a couple had not shown up. Usually this place books out pretty far in advance so would definitely recommend making a reservation. The omurice was quite good but honestly you're paying for the show. It's a one of a kind experience and so much fun. Yes it's pricey but again, don't go for the food, go for the chef!

I'm torn between 3-stars or 4-stars.. The food was pretty good, but the price and portions are not as worth it. **Yelp didn't attach my photos to my review, but hope you can still find them! [ Service ] First of all, you have to get reservations for this place around 2 weeks ahead of time, because they can only seat 8 customers at a time. The place is a bit hard to find if your reception isn't on point, but it's one of the smaller alleys perpendicular to the river. [ Food ] Let's just say you are pretty much paying for the chef's famous show, which you probably have seen on youtube or travel guides. - Fluffy Open Omelette over fried rice (Half size ¥1,450, full size ¥2,700) -- love how enthusiastic the chef was while making this! The omelette tastes pretty good, with a Japanese style gravy than your typical mash potato gravy. The portion is fairly small for the half size, but too expensive for the full size. I mean, by all means, go ahead and get the full size if you're hungry but it's basically just fried rice and egg. The smaller size is just a tease, felt almost like an appetizer. - Beef Stew (¥3,100) -- so...I ordered this thinking it was a bowl of beef stew, but it came out to be 6 bite size pieces of meat on a plate. The beef was super tender and tastes great, but that left me really hungry. Another appetizer basically. To be honest, I wanted to hit up another restaurant right after eating here. I guess if you want the show, then definitely make a reservation. The price just doesn't justify the food for me.

After seeing *that* viral video of Chef Yukimura making his famous omurice, I knew we had to put it on our list of things to try in Kyoto. Prior to our trip, I did a bit of research and noticed that they required reservations 2 weeks before you go. Although I was online literally the MINUTE the system was open for our dates, most of the reservations had already been taken and there were only a few time slots left! As soon as we got there, we understood the need for the reservation system. Every seat in the cozy restaurant was taken. Not that there were many seats. They had only 1 table, with the rest of the space being snug bar seating. This allowed the chef to prepare your meal in front of you in a personalized performance. On that note, I think this is classified more as an experience than a meal. The high price reflects, not the quality of the food, but the show. While the food was decent, that alone would not be worth the hefty price tag (it's just omurice!). The real star of the show was Chef Yukimura (and his sous chefs); he danced, twirled, sang, and did his tricks, all while you got to spectate from the bar. It was spectacular, but the novelty wears off as soon as you've experienced it. After all, would you be as enthused watching a show the second, third, fourth time? Overall, if you haven't seen it already, I'd definitely recommend going (and reserving early!); however, if you're just looking for omurice, you're probably better off trying somewhere else for a better bang for your buck.

Fun performance and presentation with a great English-friendly staff, but sadly just a slightly above average tasting omurice. The chef is a true entertainer, performing small tricks and jokes and absolutely loves posing for the camera. And although he's a major jokester, he's also a perfectionist. For some reason the egg on my omurice didn't burst the way he wanted it to so he decided to throw out the egg and re-do it all over again. I'm sure the egg would've tasted just fine, but I'm impressed with how much care he has for his dishes. Tastewise, the omurice was decently good. The egg is fluffy and a bit runny, the sauce was a tasty dark demi-glace, and the rice was sweet and savory. But, overall, it was unexpectedly pricey given that omurice in Japan is normally an inexpensive dish. Regular size was ¥2700 and the half size was ¥1450. Unlike some others, reservations were okay for me - I couldn't get the online system to work, but I sent an email about a month in advance and received an email back about two days later with available times. I definitely recommend making a reservation because there was a long line of standby diners waiting outside (none of whom made it in during my time slot!). Overall this was a fun experience, but I felt like it was pretty touristy. If you're super curious about the chef, go ahead and check it out; otherwise, Kyoto has so much other amazing food to offer!

Kichi kichi makes dreams come true. To reserve you have to do it on his website a month in advance and make sure to do it on a day in which the hours match japan time. When I arrived for my reservation in Kyoto, I could hardly contain my excitement. Motokichi was just as eccentric as I imagined him and managed to tantalize everyone in the room. We ordered the kichi kichi omurice for I believe 25 dollars. Before starting he cleared the counter to make sure our phones would get perfect videos and then told us how he would start by listing all the ingredients and cooking them! He listed the chicken, butter, peas, rice and so forth and did so while dancing and making hilarious comments. When the finale came he made sure we were ready for the split omelette shot and delivered the most delicious omurice we've ever eaten. The taste was unlike anything I've ever eaten. The bitter savory Japanese bearnaise sauce complimented the velvety eggs perfectly on top of the perfectly domed fried rice. It's what dreams are made of people.

This place is very popular/hyped for a reason!! A MUST TRY if you are visiting Kyoto. While planning your trip, you should be prepared for how it works: you can reserve a table up to 4 weeks in advance, and I'm sure they fill up right away. There is also a non-reservation shared table in the corner that can seat around 6 people. I was not prepared and did not make a reservation, however we had stopped by the restaurant our first night and saw how it worked: there are 2 lines, 1 for reservations and 1 for non-reservations. They only take people from the non reservations to fill up that small corner table and if reservations are cancelled. They may allow people from that line once every hour, but usually it is a long line and only a few actually get in - after waiting 1hr+ in the line. We managed to line up an hour before opening time on a weekday to secure a spot. I would say line up earlier than this during peak tourist months and good weather (it was December, cold, and pouring on our day). We were taken in as soon as it opened and luckily got seated in the reservation seats as someone had cancelled. What makes this place so good is that it is entertainment just as much as it was a restaurant. Which is why you can also justify its price point. Chef motokichie makes sure you enjoy your time, feel special, and smile the entire time. He is infectious. The omurice has amazing flavour thanks to the sauce, and don't underestimate yourself, you can definitely finish the regular size. Just get yourself in and let the chef show you his magic. I promise you won't be disappointed.

I asked my 19 year old daughter where she wanted to go while in Kyoto and she immediately said Kichikichi. I'm not big on trying out new places just because it's on a social media feed but she REALLY REALLY WANTED TO GO and I'm glad we went! The experience was so memorable especially for my daughter! It was worth the wait, the time, and the money! The chef was so animated and you can tell he thoroughly enjoys what he does for a living. He radiates a contagious energy and we left Kichikichi energized and our bellies fully satisfied! Best wishes for continued success and a full life to the chef!

This place is super hyped up after all the videos from Facebook, and honestly I wouldn't have known about this place without that reference. I arrived at 16:52 only to be greeted by about 50 people waiting in line for walk in. This is because it is extremely hard to get reservations online, with spots booked a month or so in advance. I overheard people are turned away and asked to come back a few hours later to walk in, so I decided to test my luck. Luck was in my favor, as the hostess said I was lucky and snatched the last solo spot in the bar. Perks of solo dining indeed. I'd imagine everyone in line was in some party of size greater than 1. I just need to finish in an hour, which is easy since I wasn't really planning to order much anyway. Everyone was so happy when they entered the restaurant as the chef is preparing the ingredients for the show! Like most reviews say, you are paying the price for the show and not for the food, as indeed, the food was mediocre at best. To the left, you could see the chef just microwaving stuff to cook along with the fried rice for the omurice, and the egg lacked significant flavor. I would say the food is 2/5, but the experience is 5/5 for sure. It was so entertaining to watch the food tossed everywhere cleanly, making amusing gestures and explaining what he is doing in English - perfect for tourists! The show is around 10 minutes, and I finished my food in like 10 minutes also haha. Note there are people behind you catching videos of the chef doing the cooking performance so don't be surprised if someone is behind you. They are people trying to snatch the spot for walk in before the reservation people come the next hour. Price is definitely on the higher end, at 2700¥ for the regular sized omurice and 1450¥ for the half size. Seeing the size difference, it wasn't that significant, so I decided to get the half size and was somewhat full. I was in it for the experience, and after all, Kyoto has soooo many good food that it is not worth to spend a meal at a single spot.

Unpopular popular opinion alert To say the least, Kichi Kichi was definitely underwhelming. This is a reservation only restaurant so you had to make reservations three weeks (?) in advance. I kid you not, I made reservations the minute you were able to for the next reservation window and most of the time slots were booked. Not a big deal right? Just means the restaurant has to be good. Fast forward a month or so, we arrived at the infamous Kichi Kichi. We booked a later reservation at 8 pm and were the only ones at the restaurant. We were seated at the bar so we were able to get a good view of the cooking and what not. The theatrics were at best good. The chef did seem a little tired and just wasn't as passionate. We were the last reservation so I assumed he probably had a long day. No big deal. It happens. The food. I was expecting some pretty darn amazing omurice considering it's about $27 for a full size plate. What I got was mediocre and lackluster omurice. Thankfully, I opted for the half size place. I actually didn't even finish it because I just couldn't. I didn't want to subject myself to a depressing meal. The egg was cooked to perfection. Amazing egg. But the flavor profile of the omurice was one dimensional. The demiglaze was too bitter. Everything lacked salt. This was the ONLY bland meal I had in japan. Would I recommend it? Not entirely. I mean if you really want to see him cook in person, then sure. If you don't want unseasoned food that will make you question why you chose to waste a meal here, then pass.

After all that hype on social media, we made a reservation via email to come. The restaurant is very tiny and it's better if you don't bring your luggage or stroller. The food is extremely pricey for the portion and quality. I was fine with paying the high price had the food been delicious. No, it was not. It was a HUGE disappointment. My husband got the oxtail stew and I got the half portion of omurice (I'm glad I didn't get the full). The show the chef put on for you was good, everything else was not. A lot of what they served you was microwaved first. It really bothered me because of the premium I was paying. I had expected them to cook from scratch more. The food was not good at all. The oxtail stew was extremely tiny and the taste really wasn't on par with what they charged. Overall , I think this is a tourist trap. You can get omurice anywhere else at a lesser price and even in a set combo.

We didn't have reservations but tried to wait for a cancellation and got lucky. They only have a handful of items on the menu but they do those well. You can get a half portion of omelette rice. The chef was funny and an expert at cooking and entertaining. The way the omelette opens up blows my mind. The egg had great texture, and the sauce tied together the rice and eggs. Such a simple dish that is complex due to the way the chef presents it. Worth a visit if you're in the area.

This restaurant is very small so you have to make reservations weeks/months in advance. The menu is limited with around 5 items, but prices are steep (approximately 2700 yen for full/1400 yen for half omurice and 3000 for the beef stew). Service is fantastic - staff are friendly, energetic, and attentive. The owner/chef is quite an entertainer and "iconic figure". He is very personable and passionate about creating a fun and enjoyable dining experience for customers. To be honest, the food is mediocre. The dish is cooked well, but we found it lacking flavour. The omurice tasted a little flat and for some reason, slightly bitter. Overall, this restaurant is worth trying for the experience, but we didn't love the omurice. At the same time, perhaps the restaurant caters toward the locals' palate?

The chef is eccentric and makes the trip totally worth it. Food is a bit on the pricier side, but the experience is once in a lifetime and you won't find it anywhere else. It's like a food & show in one. The chef and staff are all very friendly and on the ball. The menu is limited, but you can get all options in either meat or vegetarian. MAKE A RESERVATION. You may get lucky with a walk in, but really, make a reservation because usually that is not a thing.

Came here with no reservations, waited in line and got in. They let people in after 15 minutes on the hour for cancelled reservations. Try to get in the front of the line if you decide to drop by without a rezzy. The chef is so fun to watch and eat by! He was entertaining and thoughtful of the many cameras pointed at him while he cooks. He'll also pose with you at the end of your meal if you decide you want a photo with him. The restaurant's food is average. Maybe it's because it's so hyped up by the long line and exclusivity, but the food was ok. The omurice isn't mind blowing and the small portion is slightly costly. It tasted like store bought jajangmyun sauce mixed with fried rice and omlette. The best dish I ate here was probably the chicken karrage + sauce. Definitely worth going to if you're about that insta life, but if you're in Kyoto for good food- there are other places worth checking out.

Online reservations accepted and probably necessary! They are known for their omurice, which was nicely prepared, but wasn't terribly flavorful to me. It's pretty pricey for fried rice + egg + sauce. Would probably not get again if I went a second time. We also tried the beef stew which was super good! Except it's even more expensive and not huge portion. Service, as with most places around, was great.

Let's start with a pro-ass-tip. Secretly bring Soy Sauce or Salt and secretly put some on your omurice when Chef Kichi's back is turned because omurice definitely needed some salt. Are you paying for food or a show? If we're judging this on Japanese Standards, you might actually be paying for a show. If that's the case, Chef Kichi is definitely an entertainer. Service is great! Pro-Ass-Tip #2 You can book a reservation before the actual reservation time opens (you'll need one 6 weeks in advance) Food 1.5* Show and Service 5* 6.5/2 = 3.25*