Uogashi Miyatake - Kyoto

A little out of the city but very near the JR line on the way to Arashiyama. Had the popular 800¥ lunch set. Be prepared to be amazed by the quality of food you're getting for the price. Sets with more seafood are available at 1300 and 1500¥ too.

2020/03 Visited around 11:30 AM. Me and my partner got to the table without waiting. The shop was crowded with customers. The set meal, which mainly consists of fish for lunch, is delicious and cheap. The shop was clean and the staff were kind and polite. Recommend it.

Our Airbnb host told us about this little restaurant on a quiet street in Shimogyo-ku (5 minutes from JR Tambaguchi station) and we were so disappointed to find that it was fully booked at dinner time for every night of our stay. We decided to go for lunch and were once again disappointed to see a huge lineup (from what we gathered, they do not take reservations at lunch). On the third try, we went as soon as they opened for lunch (at 10:30) and managed to get a seat in the tatami area. It was already nearly full with business men and locals who had the same idea as us. The lunch set (higawari) was offered with three separate choices for the main dish. The daily menu was written entirely in Japanese, however our friendly server thankfully spoke a few words of English and we were able to understand sashimi platter and sashimi bowl with rice (not sure what the third choice was, but something sashimi-related). The set came with tea, rice, miso soup, Japanese pickle, and a few other plates of fish prepared in different ways. It was a huge amount of food for a surprisingly cheap price (3,300 yen for two people). Everything was fresh and flavourful. The restaurant itself is classy and sophisticated. It's a small, dimly lit space with seats at the bar/counter, and four tables in the tatami mat area (that seat 6 each). There was jazz music playing in the background. The kitchen is open format, so people seated in the bar area can watch the chefs do their work. The staff were all professional, gracious and courteous, and the service was quick (they seem to be accustomed to having a full house regularly). The bathroom was also one of the nicest I've seen in Japan (which is saying a lot considering how nice bathrooms are in general in Japan). There was a little zen garden inside. It's obvious that this restaurant puts a lot of care into every detail of their food, service, and space. This is a hidden gem and a must-visit restaurant when in Kyoto. Highly recommended if looking for a romantic lunch or dinner date idea.

The best service I have got ! The chef has given us many things for free and food is super delicious !!!!!!!!!

Must go place to have a exquisite Japanese cuisine at reasonable price. Especially lunch plate is unbelievably valuable dish.

Uogashi Miyatake is a hidden world of flavor, nestled into the back of a small street. Had we not been on a mission to go there, we would not have found it. Make a reservation for dinner. The owner was nice enough to let us in without one. Bring someone who knows Japanese, or study the menu ad nauseam. I am providing tips, as the restaurant is worthy of it. Had I known prior how exquisite this place was, I would done my legwork. We had a few dishes, all of which were surprising. An amusebouche came to us. A lovely pickled cherry leaf at the bottom of a napoleon featuring tofu, shrimp, Spring-tender bamboo, and topped with dashi gelee and a pickled sakura. Truly a taste of Spring, and perfect during hanami. I only wish I could provide such detail for the sashimi. Alas, my Japanese is not well enough to have deciphered the "sashimi 5-ways and 7-ways" courses. The octopus "suckers" for lack of a better word, were tender and hinting of vinegar and daikon. The most unique item on that plate was the little red leaf called benitate. It has a lightly bitter taste, but causes everything else to taste sweet for about 15 minutes. My last course was sumashi-jiru, a light suimono with yuba skin and a fish I could not put my finger on for a name, nor find on the menu. It was tender, subtle, and a wonderful coup de grace to my hunger. I will be back, and well prepared next time.

Great food, atmosphere and price. We had lunch here on a Thursday in August, got into the restaurant without waiting at 12PM, but it was soon crowded with people inside eating and outside waiting. Two lunch sets to choose from 800 and 1500 (exclude tax). Watching the chief slicing fish was an enjoyable experience :)

Very good food as a price that cheaper then most of the restaurant. A lunch set at only 800¥. The set menu change daily.