Tan

Made a seating reservation which required order of 6000 yen set course meal. Topped up with Cabernet Sauvignon which staff explained was from Napa Valley. The set came along with hot cauliflower soup for starters, followed by yellowtail sashimi and grated daikon. The persimmon, pickled radish, chrysanthemum greens and gluten were seasoned with sesame sauce dressing and sesame seeds, and there were 3 types of croquette with different flavours for fillings. You would finish off with the tempura anago, miso soup, pickles and steamed rife wrapped with grated yam and mixed in with fresh vegetables such as lotus roots and burdock. What stood out was the third course in sesame dressing, as the vegetables were fresh and dressing seasoning was on point. One of the croquette balls tasted great as it resembled a bit like curry with meat fillings. The lightly battered daikon helped to balance out the greasiness you would expect from fried food. For someone who did not really fancy grated yam, they did a good job that I finished all my rice in grated yam. What was great was that they used fresh lotus roots which were crunchy and slightly sweet. To end off the meal, they served apple slices soaked in syrup and small scoop of red beans below, with a small biscuit to finish off. I enjoyed the dessert. Overall it cost 7300 yen which I thought was still ok given the experience. Staff was attentive and gave due consideration for English speaking customers, with a English menu to translate the food that you are eating. Would rate this like 4.1 star.

Tan is a small restaurant sitting quietly next to the Shirakawa River, Kyoto. The 2-storey restaurant is cozy and relaxing. Servers are friendly and accommodating. It is named “Tan” because it serves Japanese cuisine that is mostly cooked with ingredients from Tango Peninsula, Kyoto. Produce from Tango, specifically the taro and pear, is fresh, but the 7-course lunch is quite under-seasoned and not necessary light. The salad made with pear, sweet pepper, pumpkin, wheat gluten with sesame dressing is mushy and heavy. The best dish is probably the flavorful Bonito Grilled with Straw.

Love this restaurant in terms of food quality and attentive service. All dishes were being prepared next to your table. Seasoning on all dishes is minimal so that you could taste the freshness of the starting materials, which is quite to my liking. Could definitely come back to try dinner.

I was in July 2023 for lunch. I love Japanese cuisine. Tan is a seasonal cuisine where I have found many vegetable ingredients. A symbiosis of Japanese technique and light and fresh flavours. You can eat at a large table in front of the kitchen. The staff is very friendly and professional. I will be back to try dinner .

Worth the money for the experience. There were four of us for dinner and we had the whole first floor to ourselves and got to see the chef prepare food. All the courses were delicious. Drinks were pleasant. For the final price it left us a little wanting but I definitely recommend this as an experience in Kyoto

Stopped in to visit Tan for lunch during a weekday in Kyoto. Our experience felt like we were enjoying a meal in someones home with the sounds of the river right outside. Tan itself opened on time, had no language barrier, and was filled with locals (always a good sign if you’re looking for authenticity). The food and wine suggestions exceeded expectations. The food options range from familiar to more cultural. If you’re looking for a scenic spot to escape the busy streets of Kyoto and a meal in a place that feels like home — this is it. We made reservations a month in advanced as they don’t take walk ins.

I really enjoyed their food and atmosphere. I felt peaceful while I was there. The neighborhood around the restaurant was beautiful. The food was carefully and delicately prepared. I especially loved the dishes with the fresh vegetables. Also I appreciated how easy it was to make a reservation online.

An extraordinary dining experience from start to finish. This tiny restaurant has a warm ambiance with modern sensibilities. The service is excellent and complements the incredible food. Every course was not just delicious, it was unusual. One of us had a vegetarian tasting menu which was every bit as special as the regular menu. The best meal we’ve had in Japan.