Kyoto Garden Japanese Restaurant

Booked dinner reservations for 2 for 19 July 2025 at 6pm. On the outside the restaurant looked closed but the lighting inside was dim. Only one waiter serving everyone. We made mention that we had a reservation for 6pm and were given the option of 2 tables to choose from. The waiter didn't check whether we had a reservation, it felt completely unorganised. To our surprise there was only one table with 3 people in this restaurant. We ordered drinks and were shocked as to the glassware used. I ordered a glass of red wine which wasn't served in a red wine glass but rather a whiskey tumbler. The bonsai was served in a champagne flute and you could only taste the brut classique - no taste of the plum wine. The waiter did offer to add more plum wine, but we declined. Note that the waiter was also the barman. I did however the enjoy the red wine. I had the Kyoto Cosmo later on (which the waiter had requested to add something he forgot). The drink was disappointing as I couldn't taste anything in the drink. Not the raspberry or the alcohol. The waiter referred us to the Ginger Mizuwari which was a nice drink. The waiter brought over some complimentary edamame beans while we waited for our starters. The vibe inside felt tranquil. The decor looked nice. However we could hear the laughter and noise from the next door restaurant (might have been due to us having a window seat). We ordered cerviche and prawn dumplings for starters. Note that they didn't have squid, abalone or clams/scallops available. I enjoyed the prawn dumplings. For the price of the cerviche, you wouldn't expect just three pieces of fish with lemon juice. There was a wait on the mains. We ordered ramen noodles with wagyu and curry chicken. The mains were bland. We waited over 10 minutes for the bill and I even walked up to the bar section requesting to pay. The table with the 3 individuals actually had the manager at their table as their order was messed up. When the waiter finally came with the bill he remembered that he needed to deduct the R400 reservation fee and also he had to check the system. Safe to say, this was a one and done trip. Not sure whether they well known for their other dishes, but the service and dishes we received was not up to the standard that their website promoted. The menu is overpriced for the delivery received. The waiter was nice and apologized and checked up on us. We didn't want to complain as we set ourselves up for failure.

Visited in January 2025. South Africa. Cape Town. As ardent devotees of Japanese cuisine, we were, quite naturally, excited to discover this establishment. The menu featured several of our favourite ingredients, and coupled with the claim of a Japanese chef, we felt compelled to explore this culinary venture (though some negative reviews did give us pause). The restaurant itself is modestly sized, light-filled, and employs a design emphasizing natural wood elements, and notably, an open kitchen offering a clear view of the chef at work. The Food: The menu, while not extensive, offered a familiar repertoire of Japanese staples, including appetizers, rolls, nigiri, soups, and noodles. We decided to begin with fresh oysters and a selection of sashimi – dishes that, in our experience, often provide a reliable indication of both product quality and a chef's technical prowess. The oysters were pleasing, plump, and served simply with a wedge of lemon. Next, our nigiri arrived, featuring scallops, sea urchin roe (a personal delicacy), and yellowtail. The scallop was indeed fresh and exhibited a pleasant texture, though it lacked the distinct sweetness characteristic of deep-sea Japanese scallops. The yellowtail, disappointingly, proved rather flavorless, and the slice was far too thin, almost entirely obscured by the rice. The sea urchin roe, sadly, was of a noticeably inferior quality, and given the prices charged, this was unacceptable. The roe was excessively orange in color, lacking the sweet and creamy character typically associated with fine Japanese sea urchin roe (they source theirs from Portugal). For those with a genuine appreciation for this delicacy, this was an extremely disappointing experience. However, the most grievous failing of this restaurant was the quality of the rice itself. It was excessively sticky, bland, and tasteless – its quantity in the nigiri completely overwhelming the flavor of the other ingredients. This was truly puzzling, given that the chef is purportedly Japanese; having experienced authentic Japanese cuisine first-hand in Japan, this was frankly unacceptable. Service: The service was generally satisfactory. Our waitress was well-informed about the menu options and offered some helpful recommendations. In general, the service was prompt, and we found it to be quite comfortable. Conclusion: This restaurant is ultimately a disappointing imitation of genuine Japanese cuisine. The prices are quite excessive for the quality offered. While sourcing fresh ingredients directly from Japan may indeed present some logistical difficulties, the inability to prepare authentic Japanese rice is, frankly, inexcusable. I cannot help but suspect that the claim of a Japanese chef is merely a superficial marketing ploy. I would not, therefore, recommend this establishment.

Best restaurant ever we had eaten!! Ohh prawn dumplings 🥟!!! And delicious green tea crepe !! Brian, the manager did great job, so friendly. We enjoyed the sake. Love to come back again and again 😂. Highly recommend please note that it’s pricey but just spoil yourself to enjoy. It’s worth.

This is the most perfect place for a gorgeous, authentic taste of Japanese food and culture!! It’s a bit of a splurge, but so worth it to spend with a few loved ones and share the experience🌺✨

My favourite sushi restaurant in Cape Town. So perfect for a romantic date night! The quality of fish is some of the best I’ve had, especially the tuna. They have delicious Japanese Yuzu beer and a nice selections of wines and other hot dishes, obsessed with this place! The vibe here is cozy and relaxing, so zen. The service is also really good and the staff is friendly and efficient

What an awesome food and service experience - tick on the bucket list - from arriving to the time we left we were given exceptional service and made to feel welcome and special - the discrete outside of the venue hides the true beauty of the décor inside, and the food speaks for itself. We had a late lunch of authentic Japanese dishes which was a real rush of flavours and textures we rarely have the privilege to experience in South Africa - the service just built on the already phenomenal food and we were advised on which dishes to experience. On more than one occasion we were brought some samples of other dishes and drinks to try out as well as given some interesting info about the sampled dishes and drinks. Even if it's the last thing you do, visit Kyoto 🤤😘👌🏻

It felt a bit overpriced for what I got. Like a “pretend” Japanese restaurant, which is fine, but then dont charge prices like its a “real” Japanese restaurant. Drinks menu was totally overpriced. Lots of great restaurants in CTN that serves authentic Asian food and doesnt cost this much. The interior is warm and cozy. Wish I liked it, but I didnt.

Just wow. The food was amazing. The miso was the best I have ever had. The sushi was incredibly fresh and had a perfect ratio of rice to fish. The wasabi was also super hot and genuine, as was the ginger. The mussels were flavourful and the noodles perfectly cooked. The warm sake was also divine. Lastly, the cherry blossom and sesame ice cream is a must have and rounded off the meal perfectly. You must visit! But it is quite pricey!