Maeda

The historic cuisine of Kyoto — Kyo-ryori — was developed to satisfy the tastes and standards of the courtly elite in the days of samurai warriors and daimyo lords. Aspiring chefs would flock to the capital to hone their skills, dreaming of landing a position in the kitchens of a royal household. The city’s culinary reputation persists to this day, and it continues to draw in each new generation of talented chefs. Yujiro Maeda can be counted among the absolute best of these cooks. He continues to build on the inherited traditions of old to take Kyoto cuisine into the future while respecting the traditions of the past. His 10-seat restaurant has been recognized for its excellence, holding the prestigious three-star Michelin award. A crowd of local devotees swear by Maeda’s cooking as the best example of its kind. He presents local heritage dishes such as “shime saba sushi,” often with modern twists through innovative choices of ingredients.