Sou

We unexpectedly stumbled across this restaurant for dinner. It was very intimate but absolutely wonderful! The restaurant was all run by the chef who took time to explain the courses to you after he’d cooked in front of you. The flavours were incredible! We did a set menu and loved everything we had. Would recommend to anyone and will be back if we ever come back to Kyoto!

We had the most incredible dining experience at "Sou," the teppanyaki restaurant in Kyoto. From the moment we walked in, the warm and welcoming atmosphere set the tone for a memorable evening.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the chef, whose skills were nothing short of mesmerizing. Their friendly demeanor and the way they engaged with us throughout the meal made us feel like honored guests. The chef's kindness and willingness to share their culinary passion added an extra layer of warmth to the entire experience.

Speaking of dishes, the Kobe beef was an absolute standout. The tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture combined with the rich, savory flavor made it a true delicacy. It's a taste I won't forget anytime soon.

The set menu was a fantastic choice, as it allowed us to witness the chef's talent firsthand. The artistry with which they cooked each course right in front of us was a sight to behold. It added an extra layer of appreciation for the culinary expertise that went into crafting our meal.

Overall, "Sou" is a hidden gem in Kyoto, and I can't recommend it enough. Five stars hardly do justice to this extraordinary dining experience, made even more special by the kind and talented chef.

What a gem! I walked in because I couldn't reach them and I was able to get a seat. If you stay at hotel then ask your concierge to book in advance. The chef speaks conversational English but a bit shy about taking calls from non Japanese speakers.

This place allows BYOB with 3000 yen corkage fee. This is very rare at least for Kyoto. The food was absolutely delicious and the chef was fantastic. Sou only has a course meal so make sure you check the menu before you go.

Reunited and it feels so good. The first and last time I ate at Sou teppanyaki kappo was over 10 years ago! It's one of the restaurants that elevated my foodie journey to the next level.

I tried booking the last two trips to Kyoto and failed both times as Sou gained wider game from just the locals when I was here.

The experience this time is nostalgically good. After all, it's the place that I first had selection of 5 different salts to use with my A5 beef!

The most amazing part is that the price remains almost exactly the same as over ten years ago! Japan's stagflation. No complaints here for sure.

Highly recommended

What a wonderful surprise! The trio that works there is amazing and the food decadent. Had the Hana menu and loved every bite. Good value for very high end ingredients. Makes you feel special as it felt like you have your very own chef. Highly recommend and lack of reviews not representative of quality

Fabulous food, fantastic personal service and did I say the food was amazing! Great steak!

Outstanding! The best meal we’ve had in Japan, everything was delicious. You need to book in advance as tiny restaurant.

One of the best meals of our trip, great service, quiet location and fantastic food. Preset menu hit all of the marks, really great.

A hidden gem, small restaurant with great food and still reasonable price

Extraordinary food, service and experience. Best tepanyaki. A “must” in Kyoto.

A complete MUST! Great food, great value, waygu beef is astonishing, time to try some other japanese food very cool! Will recommend it to everyone coming to kyoto!

Amazing. Hidden gem. Great price.

One of the best meals we had on our trip. The food was incredible. A very intimate setting and everything was prepared beautifully. The service is phenomenal and the owner is incredibly friendly. We will definitely come back when we are in Kyoto next!

Happened across here for an early dinner and what an amazing surprise! They were able to fit us in right as they opened and I am so happy they did. Every course was amazingly cooked in front of us and the service was impeccable. Do not let the lack of reviews deter you from enjoying this gem in Kyoto. I would definitely come back.

Our expectations of Sou were high & it didn’t fail to deliver. Every mouthful was a food orgasm & left us waiting eagerly for the next one. To see the head chef make every course look so pretty & mouth watering was an honour to experience. So many culinary highlights but the beef is just melt in the mouth goodness. Thanks so much!

By far one of the best food experiences I have had the pleasure of being able to partake. Every dish is on point and sophisticated. The chef puts on a marvelous performance as you smell the aroma of the ingredients cooking before your eyes, almost magical. Highest recommendation!!!

We had a very pleasant surprise with this hidden gem. This place is the real deal. Delicious food by a very friendly chef. Can’t recommend enough.

Every course that we enjoyed was delicious. Chef Tsukada was gracious and humble while his staff were friendly and explained all the dishes in excellent english. The wagyu was excellent and the prices were good value by Japanese standards. I would recommend this restaurant and return happily.

Completely disagree with previous review. The premium wagyu, foie gras, and seafood were all awesome. Excellent service from the 3-person team that runs this place.

Probably the best beef steak I ever had.