Iida (飯田) Kyoto

Awards

OAD

Japanese Restaurants 2022, 52

All OAD Japanese in Kyoto All OAD Japanese in Japan

Tabelog

2023 Gold

All Tabelog in Kyoto All Tabelog in Japan All Tabelog Gold in Kyoto All Tabelog Gold in Japan

Ratings from the web

Tabelog

4.59

Chef

Shinichi Iida

Cuisine

Japanese Cuisine

• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018

10 / 10

Dinner at Iida (飯田)

on 05 Apr 2022

by Gerhard Huber

Spring menu at Iida. As always precise, thoughtful and delicious. Exclusive ingredients cooked gently to perfection. A phenomenal layering of flavors releasing plenty of umami.

This place is impossible to book, it is small and very, very good. A few years ago they got 3 stars in the Guide Michelin. Then the telephone avalanche started. People trying to bully their way to a reservation. In the end Mrs. Iida asked the GM not only to remove the stars but to remove their restaurant from the Guide... More

Spring menu at Iida. As always precise, thoughtful and delicious. Exclusive ingredients cooked gently to perfection. A phenomenal layering of flavors releasing plenty of umami.

This place is impossible to book, it is small and very, very good. A few years ago they got 3 stars in the Guide Michelin. Then the telephone avalanche started. People trying to bully their way to a reservation. In the end Mrs. Iida asked the GM not only to remove the stars but to remove their restaurant from the Guide at all. Since then, she says, peace has returned and they can go about their business as they used to. They don’t really need to worry about filling the place up, normally you have to submit your wishes in August of each year, not for the next year but for the year after. Of course there is no credit card or deposit needed, only an entry with a pencil into their diary even though the reservation might be more than 2 years in the future.
Only in Japan….

ps: The pictures show only the first part of the meal as one is only allowed photos if on is the only guest in the restaurant. Once the other guest arrived I had to stop making pictures. Less

Dinner at Iida (飯田)

on 29 Mar 2021

by Gerhard Huber

Dinner at Iida (飯田)

on 21 Oct 2020

by Gerhard Huber

10 / 10

Dinner at Iida (飯田)

on 04 Nov 2019

by Gerhard Huber

Most likely one of the best Kaiseki restaurants in Kyoto.

9 / 10

Dinner at Iida (飯田)

Top list

on 29 Jul 2018

by Gerhard Huber

The latest 3 star in Kyoto. Modern Kaiseki, he follows the rules but introduces gently some innovation.
One dish in particular was interesting. Shirako wrapped in grilled butterfish and then deep fried to comply with the mandatory tempura dish. However it was served in a sauce which was not clear but rather thick like a tomato sauce. Very powerful flavour and extraordinary texture in the mouth.
Booked again in November 2019(!), the first possible booking without relying on cancellations.