Moritaya - Kiyamachi

DEC 2024 Made a reservation for the teppanyaki sirloin set course which included three small appetizers, seafood consisting of abalone, prawn, scallop and squid, wagyu sirloin, vegetables, pickles, rice, miso soup, and dessert. Dining was in a private room where you can watch the staff cook the fresh seafood, wagyu and vegetables on the teppanyaki grill plate. It was a very tasty meal; the seafood goes well with the ponzu sauce or a bit of lemon and salt; grilled vegetables with some wagyu fat enhances its natural flavor; and the wagyu sirloin was well marbled, rich, tender and flavor pack, perfect with some sweet yakiniku sauce or salt. Also the staffs were friendly and polite.

Would recommend for everyone who wants to try Kansai’s style sukiyaki. As it is one of the most renowned restaurants, it’s better to book online in advance. We ordered the “premium” option, the beef quality is excellent. Despite seeing some bad reviews here about their service and staffs, we didn’t have a problem. The staffs helped us was super friendly and helpful.

Really special sukiyaki lunch! We had a private room and were able to watch the sukiyaki being made for us to enjoy! It was soooo delicious, and the best sukiyaki we have ever had. The service was friendly and kind. Such a great experience! Definitely worth booking in advance!

This is a place where you can get the best service despite the high price. Kansai-style sukiyaki is really delicious. It was great to be able to enjoy a meal quietly in each room. The hospitality attitude of all staff was the best. Even though his English was poor, I was impressed by how he did his best to explain. The atmosphere of the store is also very crowded with a traditional feel. I have traveled to Japan several times, but I can safely say that the sukiyaki and service here are the best. If I go to Kyoto again, I would like to visit this store again.

I had the sukiyaki wagyu set meal, it was absolutely tastyyy! The wagyu was super tender and full of umami, soaking up all the rich, sweet-savory broth. The setting made it even better—dining in a private tatami room inside a traditional Japanese house, with a peaceful river flowing by. 👍🏻✅

it's relaxing to have dinner on riverbed, to feel the breeze and see the view. only that the meal is too saulty to me...... the taste the Kyoto station branch has is more acceptable, somehow it is sweeter

Their lunch sets are quite expensive but they taste really good. You even have a nice view of kamo river. The service is also excellent. You may also help yourself to unlimited serving of rice. Most of all, the wagyu steak was so tender and tasted so good.

Super super super experience. Outstanding service, top quality ingredients. We were served in our own private room. Sukiyaki is a must - no other way to do A5 wagyu.

Came here for some sukiyaki at the recommendation of our airbnb hostess. We definitely had the traditional experience - ended up with a private room! That's all they had available without a reservation. It definitely costs a pretty penny ($80-100/person) but it was cool and worth the experience. From what I understand, the prices are significantly lower in the main dining room. Now let's talk about the quality: The meat was delicious! I'm not going to lie ... I don't have the most adventurous palate, so I still don't know what all of the courses/meal accompaniments were. I was afraid to try a few dishes. They served us some traditional pickled vegetables and tiny fish (?). I was disappointed that there was a good amount of cilantro in the miso soup. Cilantro was also presented in another small plate. Sadly, I am not a cilantro fan ... I made the mistake of thinking it was steamed spinach and took a huge mouthful! My husband found that comical. Aside from that, the beef was excellent and flavorful. Definitely the highlight of the meal, as it is their specialty. The dessert was slices of prepared melons and a pear. We thought that was funny, as a Japanese dessert is quite different from how we view dessert in the U.S. But, hey, we felt healthier eating this dessert. The servers' English was very limited, so there were a lot of questions (we had) that were left unanswered, but hey, I feel like we had an authentic experience! If you're up for an adventure and are willing to try something new, this is a place with quality food and experiences. You may just leave with a few questions as to what all you ate. :-D I also appreciated the presentation of all the food and the beautiful decor and tradition that this place represents. Keep this on the list if you're interested in a Wagyu / Sukiyaki Beef lunch or dinner.

I was looking for a quality sukiyaki restaurant for dinner while in Kyoto and was glad I ended up at Moritaya. I was able to make a reservation on the same day when walking pass the restaurant during the afternoon. But keep in mind this was on a Tuesday and Japan still had semi-restrictions for foreign visitors. I opted for the Kiwami sukiyaki set ¥12,100 ($86 exchange rate at time of visit) which comes with two special appetizers, 150g (0.33lb) wagyu loin, vegetables, rice, and dessert. I also had two 12oz Asahi draft beers. The black wagyu beef is sourced from their own ranch in Tanba northwest of Kyoto. The beef was extremely marbled and so tender. Kansai style sukiyaki uses less sauce which allows more of the beefy flavors to shine. The lady cooked the meat and vegetables for us. The service was superb and friendly. Although foreigner should has some basic Japanese phrases down when visiting, I was able to communicate enough with the staff using English. I requested the private room which had a nice view of the center patio garden. Outside dining by the river is also available.

Man. That was the best beef I've had my entire life no joke. I went for a lunch filet meal which ended up costing about 40 usd. The sides and stuff were included and were all pretty good, even if I don't really like Japanese style pickled side dishes. The filet was actually so tender I could cut it with my chopsticks. The meaty flavor was enhanced by just a bit of salt and pepper which didn't mask the beef. Maybe a life changing experience. Yea, I ate like 3 bowls of rice with it because I was hungry and beef is expensive but for a very rare experience like this I would definitely do again. It is a lot more expensive at dinner. We got a private room on tatami mats which was awesome as well. Staff could speak English.

Wagyu beef was good, but sukiyaki was way too sweet. Service was so so. Seemed very busy, but didnt see many customers.

Thanks to my buddy Rod U, I was able to partake in this lovely and very delicious meal. Words cannot describe the experience we had. We walked down an alley like Rod described. We entered into a small house and had our own private room. We selected the A5 Waygu meat they had on this evening and chose the sukiyaki style preparation like Rod recommended. The preparation was immaculate and the flavors were astounding. The broth was magnificent. The meat melted in our mouths. The vegetables were cooked perfectly. It still had texture and integrity and wasn't over cooked. The portions were nice sized and we were full after the meal. The server was so polite and helpful. This was really one of our great meals!

Best sukiyaki in Kyoto. Tiny place and hard to find but it's worth it to go there. Will come back again for sure. Highly recommended

Amazing wagyu steak restaurant. Highly recommend for the best steak you'll ever have. Incredible service with a private tatami room. We were able to walk in without a reset for dinner around 9pm. We chose the filet cut in the largest size 250g and cooked in the teppan-yaki style. It was enormous (for a filet) and shown to us prior to the chef cooking it (we chose medium based on their recommendation, even though I prefer medium rare - I think medium is likely best to melt the marbled fat throughout). What a special Kyoto experience!

Down a narrow alley, between two office buildings is the secluded Moritaya Kiyamaki. Private tatami rooms facing sculpted gardens or overlooking the Kamo river. A hidden oasis and peaceful setting for one of the city's best sukiyaki eateries where kimono clad servers cook and attend to a diner's every need. The restaurant is owned by a single family working with and serving Kyoto reared kuro wagyu beef since 1869. The beef is excellent. Kansai style sukiyaki preparation does a lot to enhance its inherent sweetness and soft texture. Ordering is simple. Choose between three different grades from F1 - A4. Choose a cooking technique (sukiyaki, shabushabu, oiruyaki) or as a beef steak if you must, and you're set. It is worth opting for the A4, JPY 8,100 and sticking to the sukiyaki preparation. The experience begins with a plate of small, chilled starters. All delicately flavored and excellent. Preparing the palate for the bold flavors to come. A heavy cast iron pan is heated over an open flame. Beef fat is rendered before the addition of crystallized sugar. Then the first pieces of beef are added and rapidly cooked. House made warishita soy and a splash of sake are added then the meat is removed and served with a lightly beaten, uber fresh, orange, raw egg. Dip the beef in the egg and enjoy. Each piece is tender, very rich with silky, melting beef fat. The egg, enhances the silky mouth feel while the soy's inherent earthiness brings forth the umame and sweetness of the beef. The quality of the meat sampled, the second round begins. More beef fat, more crystallized sugar then the addition of the Chinese cabbage, konyaku, Kyoto spring onions, tofu, shitake mushroom, chrysanthemum greens, and more beef. Soy and a generous pour of sake add moisture for the second round of beef that's boiled rather than seared. It's fat released to season and enrich the rest of the dish. Veg is fully cooked yet still possesses the vibrant freshness. The high quality A4, remains tender. Outstanding depth of flavor. Continuing to use the raw egg dip throughout the meal adds a velvety mouth feel. Amazingly sweet, in season fresh fruit rounds out the meal and refreshes the palate. Very well chosen but limited sake, beer, and shochu list. Beautiful service; efficient, practiced and proper. Dinner for two including service JPY 27,000. Very little English spoken. Advance reservations required (little chance for same day reservations). Credit cards accepted. In a word, outstanding.

We were craving sukiyaki one day, did some research, and found Morita-Ya. However, we didn't expect what we got, and that was a good thing! We were expecting to find a quick sukiyaki place, but Morita-Ya ended up being a fancy one. It's a traditional, large honten. You take off your shoes and wear slippers inside. You are seated down on chairs within a tatami-matted room. Your server will be dressed in a kimono and serve you well. Your sukiyaki will be gourmet and delicious. Definitely the best sukiyaki I've had. Price point-wise, it's probably more expensive that you'd think. But either way, it was a good experience. FYI: I think they are also known for their shabu-shabu and another style of cooking.

amazing service and the food is out of this world. Ordered several styles of Wagyu beef and the best one just melts in your mouth (called "selection"). Must try!

Please do not come here. The cost of our meal was $100/person but it was a total waste of money. The beef itself looked really good but when the server started drenching it in too much sugar and way too much sauce, it ruined the meat. It was difficult to eat because it was way too sweet. Also, there was so much sauce that the limited veggies (only one kind) were drowning in the sauce and became overcooked very quickly. Additionally, the appetizers that were brought to us looked old. We actually skipped eating most of it because we did not want to get sick. We barely ate our food and left quickly. My husband and I had stomach pains from the food that night. It's not worth it. Go somewhere else.

Great restaurant for sukiyaki! The meat melted in our mouths. We ordered the kobe beef and it was amazing. It costs about $60 USD for the Wagyu Sukiyaki, Japanese appetizers and fruit/dessert. I have paid $60 USD for steak that was dry and not nearly as tender so I would say this is a good deal. You get your own private room and server. It was a great traditional experience. I will be back here again next time I'm in Kyoto!

Lucky enough to get in before the crowd. We had the restaurant to ourselves for the first half an hour. We ordered a mixed plate of different meats, including the Wagyu. Everything was delicious and the marbling was as visually appeasing as the flavor. Not to be missed the host and waitstaff were as impressive as the food and establishment.

We discovered Morita-ya on our first trip to Kyoto in the spring of 2014. We had been exploring the city and were staying at the nearby Kyoto Royal Hotel & Spa, and well, time had gotten away from us and we missed lunch. It was later in the afternoon and I was hangry, after finding most options we were interested in closed for the late afternoon break and having decided to head back to the hotel to have the concierge point us in the direction of something open, we literally stumbled across Morita-ya's Kiya Machi-ten location. Luckily, they were open and still serving lunch. We took off our shoes, were offered slippers, and asked to sit on the summer patio. Moritay-ya Kiya Machi-ten looks as though it is a traditional Kyoto Machiya, or townhouse, with a narrow frontage that leads backwards to a the structure. There are several private rooms surrounding a garden, and furthest to the back is the summer patio which is a platform over the Takase River and overlooks the Kamo River. Our first visit to Morita-ya was during the late spring, early summer, and we sat on the summer patio. Our second visit was deep in the heart of winter and we were seated in one of the private rooms overlooking the garden. Morita-ya's Kiya Machi-ten location is like stepping back into history, back to when Kyoto was the capital of Japan. The servers wear kimono that reflect the seasons, and attend to you very carefully. If you order a teppanyaki (flat grill) , oiryu yaki (oiled grill) meal or a sukiyaki meal, they actually cook it for you. Staying with you until the majority, if not all, the cooking is done, serving you as different items become ready. Once the meal is well on its way, they take their leave to allow you to privately enjoy your meal. If you are in a private room there is a phone that you may use to call a server. If you are on the summer patio, they stand in the back, constantly turning to check on the tables without being intrusive. They seem to know when you are going to need some, because it wasn't long before someone suddenly appeared at our elbow to refill water glasses or clear empty plates. On our first trip we ordered the Specialty course for the oiled grill (not teppanyaki as this is distinguished as including seafood and we opted for beef only) for two. This came with 150g per person of Wagyu beef from Morita-ya's personal ranch. Yes, they have their own ranch so they can be assured of the quality of meat. Our server stayed with us, asking us how we would like our meat cooked, and cooking all of our food as we sat and enjoyed the cool breeze on the summer patio. The summer patio is covered in a tatami mat and you sit on a cushion on the floor at a low table. If you have bad knees, have a hard time sitting on the floor, this may be difficult for you. On our second trip, I ordered the Specialty Sukiyaki course and my husband ordered 170g Fillet meal. This time we were seated in a private room and came for dinner. Sukiyaki is served with raw egg dipping sauce, and our served stayed until all the meat was well on the way to cooking before taking her leave. The filet is cooked in their kitchen so it is served as is. The private rooms have shoji doors that can be opened to allow a breeze in, but as it was winter there was a heater in the room to keep us comfortable. All dishes include rice and an appetizer, if you order a course meal then there is also a dessert. The meat at Morita-ya was the most succulent and tender Wagyu I've ever had. It also had a wonderful beef flavor that beef in America just doesn't have. Finding out that they have a ranch that exclusively provides them with Wagyu, I am now not surprised at the high quality of meat that they serve. Morita-ya is on the pricier side, even for lunch. Their prices for lunch and dinner do not differ at all. Considering the service and meal quality, I have no qualms with the price. In fact, it was probably one of the more affordable high end meals we had in Japan, when everything was taken into consideration. Please note, they do have English menus and some of the servers speak limited English. As anywhere in Japan, if you know rudimentary Japanese, this will be incredibly beneficial. They do take reservations, which can be made online using the website, or you can have your concierge make a reservation for you. This may be crucial in the summer months so that you can ask for a summer patio table, but one that is slightly shaded.

Great staff. They were nice enough to squeeze us in without even having reservations. Got put in a nice private room. The wagyu was top level stuff. Melted in your mouth. Even the melon as the end melted in your mouth! Definiteky splurge and get their highest quality beef, well worth it.

Ok so... let me just spare you the heartache (and probably the bellyache) and just advise you that your 100$/person can be spent on much better food other places in Kyoto... bar none worst meal I had on my trip. The beef itself wasn't bad but the sauce killed it, the rest I want to forget... like forever. Just avoid. Two stars are pity stars.

This was a very disappointing experience. We each had a meat dish that came with appetizers and salad and a dessert. The meat prepared sukiyaki style was delicious but all of the other dishes were not very good at all, especially given how expensive the place is. The appetizers were terrible and my party basically pushed them aside. The salad was average. The miso soup was average and the dessert consisted of some fruits (which was my second favorite dish). If you go to this place, get the sukiyaki style cut but dont expect much from anything else you are served.

Delicious sukiyaki. Definitely something everyone should try in Japan / Kyoto. This is known as the leading sukiyaki restaurant along with Mishima-tei. They require booking through your hotel only and a guarantee of payment if cancelled within 3 days. I saw some people try to walk in and they were turned away. The beef was great and it seemed like an authentic sukiyaki experience.

They steak was awesome, but super overpriced. $70 per person, with steak, a few Japanese appetizers, and fruit for dessert. It was an okay experience. Would probably not go back again.

I stumbled on this place when I was looking for a steak dinner. Not what I expected, and I loved every minute of it. An amazing kobe beef meal served in a traditional manner by a restaurant that has been serving for almost 200 years. The meal was incredible. For the quality of kobe beef, I did not think the price was steep, around $80 for a steak. I've been to a lot of amazing steakhouses all over the world and have spent hundred of dollars on a good steak. This now pains me to know that the best steak I've ever had was under $100 :)