Tokuha Motonari Kyoto

Awards

MICHELIN Guide

One star restaurant, 2024

All Michelin stars in Kyoto All Michelin stars in Japan All 1 star Michelin in Kyoto All 1 star Michelin in Japan

Restaurant Ranking

Restaurant Ranking 2024, #3080, PRO #16.00, USER #0.00

All Restaurant Ranking in Kyoto All Restaurant Ranking in Japan

Ratings from the web

Tabelog

4.20

Cuisine

Japanease

• 2024

8 / 10

Lunch at Tokuha Motonari

on 24 Dec 2024

by Gerhard Huber

Tokuha Motonari, located in Kyoto’s Kamigyo-ku district, is a Michelin-starred restaurant that quickly gained acclaim after its opening in December 2023. Led by Chef Shinya Matsumoto, the restaurant specializes in traditional Japanese cuisine with a focus on genshiyaki, an ancient grilling technique using binchotan charcoal. Chef Matsumoto, with experience as a fish wholesaler and his deep understanding of seafood, emphasizes quality and flavor in every dish. The standout offering, “Grilled Nodoguro,”... More

Tokuha Motonari, located in Kyoto’s Kamigyo-ku district, is a Michelin-starred restaurant that quickly gained acclaim after its opening in December 2023. Led by Chef Shinya Matsumoto, the restaurant specializes in traditional Japanese cuisine with a focus on genshiyaki, an ancient grilling technique using binchotan charcoal. Chef Matsumoto, with experience as a fish wholesaler and his deep understanding of seafood, emphasizes quality and flavor in every dish. The standout offering, “Grilled Nodoguro,” showcases the unique irori-style grilling method that imparts a smoky aroma and rich taste.

The restaurant’s name, inspired by a Confucian proverb, reflects Chef Matsumoto’s commitment to culinary excellence. Tokuha Motonari is celebrated for its rustic yet refined dining experience, with open-hearth grilling performed in view of guests. While my recent lunch was very good, there were some misses. This place has great potential but is still on its way to perfecting its technique. Less

9 / 10

Lunch at Tokuha Motonari

on 15 Nov 2024

by Bruno Abreu

Tokuha Motonari opened in December 2023, and before completing its first anniversary, it had already become impossible to book online.

The chef comes from Wakuden, arguably the finest school for Kaiseki in Kyoto. As with other restaurants led by Wakuden alumni, you can expect a Kaiseki meal with creative touches while remaining true to the essence of Kyo-ryouri—lightly seasoned and elegantly presented.

The specialties are the dishes prepared over a hearth with binchotan. These included kuruma... More

Tokuha Motonari opened in December 2023, and before completing its first anniversary, it had already become impossible to book online.

The chef comes from Wakuden, arguably the finest school for Kaiseki in Kyoto. As with other restaurants led by Wakuden alumni, you can expect a Kaiseki meal with creative touches while remaining true to the essence of Kyo-ryouri—lightly seasoned and elegantly presented.

The specialties are the dishes prepared over a hearth with binchotan. These included kuruma shrimp, used in the owan soup (a missed opportunity, as the smoked notes don’t carry over to the dashi), sawara yuanyaki, Kagoshima wagyu with hachi miso and narazuke pickles, and salt-grilled sanma for the final rice dish.

It was a long meal, lasting over two hours. The food was delicious, and the counter is one of the most beautiful in Kyoto. It's easy to see why it's so popular. Less