Sen

Our first kaiseki experience. We came for lunch service and were impressed by each dish brought out. The level of service was at a high standard and we felt very welcomed despite being foreigners. Highly recommend Sen if you are looking to experience Kaiseki as a visitor to Japan.

SEN is a magical dining and cultural experience. The attention to detail in each dish, its presentation and collection is spectacular. We are so glad we went - our departure with the farewell from the SEN team will never be forgotten.

Our dinner at Sen was one of the best culinary experiences I've ever had and I don't say that lightly. I've been to more than 100 Michelin-starred restaurants in many different countries and Sen would easily be one of the top few. . The entire restaurant consists of and 8-seat counter. It's a 2-1/2 hour "experience" that starts with the staff bringing out the live fish before preparation and it's interesting to watch the careful work required to plate some of the dishes. Presentation and taste were phenomenal, portions were generous and the sake pairing was an excellent value. The chef and staff were extremely friendly and helpful throughout. There are really nice and genuine people. Everything has English translations, so no issues whatsoever. Try to visit Sen before they get star #2, because it's bound to happen.

Amazing michelin star dinner experience. Enjoyed a lot. Service was top-notch and personalized because of only 9 customers. Food was amazing. Chef was very friendly. He even came to drop us off at taxi.

My goodness me, what an experience! Celebrated the end of our honeymoon at SEN and the restaurant, the Chef and his excellent team did not disappoint at all. Very unassuming spot in Kyoto but opens into a gorgeous restaurant that seats 9-10 people facing the Chef. Had a spring blossom tasting menu for dinner and it was stunning, alongside incredibly delicious. Treated to lobster alongside Wagyu and other delicacies too. Neither of us are fans of sea urchin but absolutely didn’t have that view after eating at SEN, very delicate by comparison to elsewhere that we had eaten. The team were so, so kind to us. We were the only English people dining and they treated us wonderfully, really including us in each of the courses. Other customers were equally kind to us too - a very special evening. One remarked (to us) that it was the hot spot to eat in Kyoto - an honour for us but also, we have to agree. Finally, wine list very accessible and always pleasing to see champagne by the glass at a surprisingly reasonable price. A fantastic red Burgundy was served alongside a Hokkaido white - both delicious. What an evening - definitely go!

By far the best kaiseki we had and best meal in Kyoto. Fine quality, luxurious ingredients. You can taste and feel alot of attention and detail in the food served. Staff was warm and welcoming - we were served by a very hospitable mandarin-speaking staff. Simply awesome and unforgettable culinary experience.

We spent two weeks in Japan enjoying the culture with an emphasis on culinary experiences. Our dinner at Sen was the best meal we had in Kyoto, and arguably our whole trip, which included multiple Michelin starred restaurants. We had the seasonal matsutake mushroom coursed menu. Sen will certainly have a 2nd star soon and is a must try for those who appreciate this quality of food and experience (still pricey, but worth it). One side note, many Japanese kaiseki experiences are extremely formal, and while this is a formal setting, the atmosphere was also comfortable and at times even lively!

2nd visit after last summer, impressive! Coz it‘s difficult to book for next one … Very well preparation with all good details, superb!!