This idiosyncratic seafood spot in Tamboerskloof makes one of the best Bloody Marys in town, and the sushi and seafood is not shabby either. About to expand to include a private dining area, Kyoto is all about fresh seafood made in a classic Japanese style. The usual sushi suspects are there, but also wonderful alternatives, like scallop nigiri and exotic Alaskan morsels. Yes, the carbon footprint is not ideal, but you can also stick to tempura battered oysters and kabeljou sashimi – and with a few shots of shochu, you’ll soon be ready for anything.
Kyoto Garden Sushi. Tamboerskloof (at lights alongside Rafiki’s). 021422 2001
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27 Comments
I also like the Kyoto Cosmo…
I found the seafood to be very fresh and prepared in a way that allowed the natural flavour of the food to be revealed. I tried the tempura seafood and veggies, very light and you could taste each individual flavour rather than the flavour of the batter which is often the case. My partner ordered the steamed fish on rice, which sounded boring but again, the flavour of the fish was amazing.
Also, did you use the toilet? It’s fantastic, you have to step through a miniature garden and into one of the cleanest toilets I have ever seen.
The soup called ‘The Sea’ is a sure favourite, and they are one of the few places that stock Santori Whisky, (as in Lost in Translation/Bill Murray… “and for good times, make it… Santori time”). But not so sure about the translucent eel-like addition on the sushi platter.
Thanks Dax and Jeanne, re the washrooms, I made the grave error of trying to go to the ladies. The owner was kind but clear that this was not in order! The facilities are fantastic, yes. The cocktails get raves from all. And the seafood is freshness exemplified.
And a last note, I enjoyed having the opportunity to try fresh wasabi root and compare it to the wasabi we usually get served.
Just revisited Kyoto tonight. Good cocktails, great tempura, but the sushi rice was disappointing – not sticky, and was a bit on the porridge side of the scale. Then, seared tuna, which was very good (but the menu doesn't jest when it states that mains are served "as is" – slices of tuna were pretty much the sole occupants of the plate). The curious thing (as has previously been observed by Chris Roper) was the owner – his abrupt and dramatic pause at the table, followed by the horrified "are you dipping your tempura in the soy sauce, not the tempura sauce"? seemed somewhat rude, in that one could have a legitimate preference for something more salty, regardless of norms. Otherwise, a glass of Glen Carlou chardonnay in something which could either be a very broad flute, or a very narrow martini glass, left us feeling like the 100ml or so in the glass was a tad overpriced at R45.
Scott, the owner, has something of a reputation for eccentricity. It has sometimes taken a form that put people off… but I will forgive eccentricity for great food and cocktails. Prices are high, then again these are high-end delicacies.
What Kyoto has going for it is the owner. He is eccentric and charming, a show in itself. The food however is overpriced and the portions minuscule. I find the American serving Japanese food ironic. The chef outside smoking and then going inside to roll my sushi always scares me.
I'm with Jacques on this one, the tempura was great but sushi not up to scratch, mainly as a result of the bland su-meshi (rice) rather than the sashimi, which was good.
I must also agree with the comment about the owner. He seemed to appear at the table at inopportune times, his dramatic pauses being somewhat overbearing and a little awkward. Which is a shame, as the rest of the staff where polite and not looking so unkempt or stressed. Being fairly quiet and not overly busy, I'm not sure what the point of his presence was?
I personally do not find the food to be high end and also do not find the 2stars given on this site to be a true reflection. Kyoto has to use the same suppliers as any other restaurant in the cape. The owner is definitely not getting specialist products flown in just for his restaurant. The portions compared to prices charged are extravagant in themselves. They definitely do anything extra ordinary that put them in a league of oh my god what is this it is fantastic.
Interestingly, the one aspect many comment on about Kyoto is the appeal of the washrooms. Shows what attention to these details can garner.
Have been here a few times now and have tried to warm to it, the space is clean and the sushi is good (not amazing) prices are twice anywhere else in Cape Town and frankly not worth it, also agree with the previous comments about the owner, he has no idea how to treat customers.
In the book it states that Kyoto is open Tues-Sundays. It is in fact closed on sundays
Thank you, yes, a mistake. I have noted this for correction in hard copy.
Interesting point from Natalie, as I have been really scratching around for somewhere open on a Sunday..seems only to be Waterfront or Camps Bay establishments. Such a shame.
Or the hotel restaurants Liz… two new options? It may be a good idea to have a list of places open on Sundays in the next hard copy guide?
Il Leone and Bouillabaisse are both open on Sundays.
Caveau @ The Mill in Newlands is open for brunch and lunch on Sundays, great vibe with fire place and live music. They also have a creche service for people with little ones!
The list would certainly be helpful to me. I am sure there are good places open (thanks Michael) but its not easy searching page by page.
It’s funny to read such varied impressions of the place. There’s a grain of truth in most of the criticisms but the restaurant as a whole still scores highly for me. What I like is, yes, the slightly obsessive attention to detail; the intimacy of the venue; the calm, almost hushed atmosphere; the lovely, solicitous hostess (she’s a winner!); and the sense of culinary adventure. The sushi isn’t the absolute best in town, but its strengths are in the non-sushi pages of the menu. Plus, the soup called the “The Sea” is one of the most exquisite things I’m lucky enough to be able to consume on a semi-regular basis.
It comes down to personal preference. Some people will not enjoy the owner’s slightly agitated little intrusions, or the sense one gets that he’s a little baffled by his patrons. I personally think he’s great. He’s charming, a little eccentric and adds a hint of mystery to the place. I’ve more than once imagined a louche backstory for him! What’s absolutely true is that Kyoto Garden *is* him, and I enjoy a place that so fully reflects its owner. It makes for something unique.
The only thing I don’t like is the prominent display of boxes of Japanese whisky — at the tables (though not, of course, on them). It’s a surprising lapse of taste.
The chef from the former Asuma in Hout Bay has joined the team and welcomed us warmly. What a class act this is. For those that think that 50 pieces of falling apart tasteless sushi for R100 is the norm the bill will astound. But if you want to experience real Japanese food give it a try.
where do u get 50 pieces for a 100 bucks because i am there in a flash.
off to Kyoto again tonight. Crayfish Miso is the drug of choice, hope they have it, that and the fresh horseradish….
…and “The Sea” is the most aptly-named dish in town. Every meal at Kyoto Garden feels like a special occasion.
Over the past few visits I’ve even started to enjoy the owner’s slight craziness. It seems to come from a real excitement about the food, so it’s easy to forgive. The prices seem like good value (relative to Cape Town’s overall high-prices) for thoughtful food. And if you want to know what maki are supposed to taste like, this is the place.
One problem is its very limited sashimi selection, though the Alaskan red salmon is very tasty. (On this subject, try Fujiyumi, a new restaurant on Bree St. It’s cavernous and a bit empty at the moment, and not everything on the menu is great, but it has a good range of sashimi. They even serve fish like mackerel which most restaurants are usually afraid of.)
I went in again on New Years eve, Had the sublime Crayfish Miso yet again, the fresh wasabi was incredible. Scott’s approach made us uncomfortable and my guest vowed never to go back if he was there. His oddball approach can be endearing. On this occasion it just made her feel extremely unwelcome.
I was surprised that Kyoto Garden Sushi was not mentioned in the JPR’s current article on the best sushi places in CT – not because I think it is spectacular, but because it obviously has a lot of loyal followers. I have been only once, on recommendation. The quiet ambiance and neat decor is appealing. The service was very slow: one waitress, only three tables full, and yet we waited for some time to place our drinks order, to receive our drinks order, to place our food orders, etc etc. The salmon sashimi and octopus salad were fresh, well presented, lovely. We did not encounter the infamous owner. However, as a consumer, I chose not to go back because of the menu contents. I think that it is irresponsible for a high-end sushi restaurant to have both blue fin tuna AND swordfish on the menu (and for the waitress to recommend it). We all know of SASSI, the Sustainable Seafood Initiative (and if you haven’t, google it, you should). There are linefish in the Cape that are excellent as sashimi, and are not listed as ‘ on the verge of collapse’ (Blue fin tuna) and ’severely over fished’ (swordfish).