Hyotei is one of Kyoto's top traditional Japanese restaurants famous for its Kaiseki cuisine. It also serves a traditional breakfast as well as a Shokado-style bento box for lunch in an annex to the main restaurant.
As we were planning our Kyoto itinerary, Hyotei turned out to be in a convenient location for a lunch break after the Heian Jingu Shrine and before we visited Nanzenji Temple. So we made the reservations for the Shokado bento lunch five days before through our hotel concierge.
As we were planning our Kyoto itinerary, Hyotei turned out to be in a convenient location for a lunch break after the Heian Jingu Shrine and before we visited Nanzenji Temple. So we made the reservations for the Shokado bento lunch five days before through our hotel concierge.
The street view
Waiting room
There are two traditional style dining rooms around a nice Japanese garden
We ordered green tea, which was brought in some nice cups. Unfortunately, we were never offered a refill afterwards.
Here's the starter and the Shokado-style bento box
Sea bream sashimi
Hyotei Egg, grilled chicken - the egg was delicious but the chicken was pathetic. It was the type of processed chicken found in cheap supermarket meals, with fillet and fat mixed altogether.
As soon as we finished our bento boxes, a waitress came to remove them and soon after, the second course was brought.
Rice bowl, miso soup, pickles
Overall, service was rushed, as if the waitresses had been instructed to make sure all customers had finished their meals, the tables were cleared and ready for the next reservations within one hour. Soon after the rice course was served, the check was placed on our table. We still do not understand this practice - common in food courts and cheap eateries - at a restaurant with 3 Michelin stars!
The chopsticks were of the cheapest quality, like those available in cheap ramen places or in bento boxes on trains. We were never offered a tea refill. The worst part is that we left Hyotei hungry and thirsty. On Hyotei's web site, they claim that "most of the ingredients are the same as those used in Hyotei’s kaiseki cuisine." With such bad service and rather common food, we are so glad we did not book the ¥ 27,000 dinner Kaiseki at Hyotei.
Hyotei, Kyoto
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