Akasaka Kikunoi

Few names command as much respect in the field of traditional Kyoto-style dining as Yoshihiro Murata. This third generation chef and restaurateur is the head of one of the biggest and most famous Kyoto kaiseki restaurants. This is the Tokyo outpost of his family's three-Michelin-star kaiseki restaurant, founded in 1912 by his grandfather. The Akasaka establishment is smaller, as necessitated by Tokyo’s real estate prices, but no less impressive in the food it serves. Murata-san sees Kikunoi Akasaka as a conduit for promoting traditional Japanese cuisine on the world stage. Enter on the first floor and be greeted with a tea room style space, above which there is a tatami-floored dining room, with scrolls, flowers, and furnishings all carefully arranged throughout. Dining here is a transportive experience, with a feeling of rustic elegance in the cuisine which is typical of Kyoto. Expect outstanding platters and boxed dishes — a plethora of bites which showcase the range and expertise of the staff. Other highlights include sea eel and tofu dumplings, and snapping turtle served with ginger, dashi, and sake. For a true taste of Kyoto in the capital, Kikunoi is the cream of the crop. Michelin Stars: 2010 - 2 Michelin Stars