Kyoto Japanese Restaurant

Working in downtown Scottsdale, I utilize most of the restaurants on a regular basis - but not this one, never again. After being informed by the manager that ""the customer is never right"" when we asked to be seated before all eight of our party arrived (they were a few minutes away and we had a fidgety baby in the overcrowded ""waiting"" area), we were served watered down soup with mushrooms sliced so thin as to be almost no-existant, seafood that must have sat on a pier in Hong Kong for the past six months as it was rubbery and tasteless. The sushi tasted like it was held together with Elmers glue. When I ordered a beer, they brought me the gigantic one, twice the price of a regular one, in an not-very-good and highly transparent disguise to generate additional gross profit. Up-selling, I guess, but they could have told me. In summary, there are dozens of good restaurants old Scottsdale, but this isn't one of them. more

Kyoto is a good option for sushi in the Phoenix area, although not the best. The sushi is excellent quality... more

Kyoto is a good option for sushi in the Phoenix area, although not the best. The sushi is excellent quality and creative, offering several rolls ... more

My husband and friends and family (12 of us) dined here last night as a birthday treat for me. Fortunately... more

My husband and friends and family (12 of us) dined here last night as a birthday treat for me. Fortunately we had reservations or we would never h... more

I have been familiar with Kyotos for the past 5 years and would like to comment on the service that I received my last visit. It was truly disappointing. I asked my wife to take me to Kyotos for my birthday and experienced a nightmare. A once crowded location was basically empty (On a Saturday night). I ordered $6 Saki bombers; a shrimp tempura roll that was a joke and very small; a rainbow roll that was tiny; a nigiri eel that tasted like a sponge; and the smallest nigiri sushi I have ever seen! My comment is don't don't go to Kyotos ever, especially for your birthday. I was hoping to enjoy good sushi and truly did not. Sakana Sushi is superior and anyone that knows good sushi would walk out before the WASABI hits the table! How far they fall! Pros: None anymore! Cons: Low quality sushi that doesn't measure up to the price more

The food is decent and cheap for lunch but the service is just so horribly slow. For people like me that only have 1 hour for lunch eating at Kyoto is almost a stressful experience. We always joke about tackling our waiter for our bill. But to us its close and cheap so we make do, we just ask for the check soon as our food lands on the table. I did have 1 instance where a co worker and I split the bill evenly but they charge my credit card for both bill. Pros: decent cheap sushi and teryaki for lunch menu Cons: slow waiters more

terrible service. and when we complained we were blown off. Used to have great experience at Kyoto. DO NOT GO THERE FOR A SPECIAL DAY! Our waitress (Sandy) did not check on us at all but when we wanted to go she was right there. Lame! more

This place has really gone downhill. Not only is the physical appearance of this restaurant itself rundown, the menu is also rundown and lacking in variety.\r Kyoto offers teppanyaki dining, where the chef prepares the food in front of you, but there is no style, no flair to it. Typically with teppanyaki dining, the chef comes out and puts on a show for those at the table. It's supposed to be a form of entertainment and a meal. Otherwise, he may as well just cook it in the back and bring out to us on a plate. In addition, they are really overpriced for the quality and amount of food you receive. They even had the nerve to charge for every glass of iced tea you order. This isn't the stuff brought out to you in a bottle, this is a skinny glass of tea that tastes like it came from the soda fountain, not even enough to fill a soda can. In addition, the service was extremely slow and this was on a Wednesday when the place was not even close to being half full.\r All in all, I wouldn't recommend it, especially if you have out of town guests. \r \r Pros: Location - Old Scottsdale Cons: Parking, service, ambience, food more

The sushi was pretty good but the teppan, hmm, not so much. No real tricks or anything and they didn't even make the fried rice on the grill! Took way too long to get started and once going it came all so fast. more

I think that Kyoto is the best place to go, when I am in town. They have great serves, and food. Everyone I always so nice, and also it's a great atmosphere. Pros: Great with all! more

People may complain about the wait, but hey, when something is the best, it is worth waiting for. I have been eating at this restaturant for over 12 years, and it's just as good now as the first time. The staff is friendly; the food is delicious and authentic. The teppenyaki tables are entertaining and it's a great place to go with a group of people. It can get a bit loud, but that's part of the fun atmosphere. Overall, the food is reasonably priced. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone who likes Japanese food, especially sushi. Pros: Food Quality and Authenticity Cons: Wait times, parking more

Many reviewers have mentioned the long weekend wait times, but if you're in the area at lunch time, this is an excellent place to eat. My co-workers and I used to come for the traditional Bento Box meals (tempura, teriyaki, pork). The sushi is always fresh and delicious and the mood is a lot less hectic during the day. I always worried that everything seemed to be coated with a layer or grime, but I figured they wouldn't pass health inspections if everything wasn't OK. Maybe cleanliness has improved since I was there last. Pros: Excellent food, authentic Cons: Staff seem to move slowly more

This restaurant has been around for a long time and it's always been the same - the best sushi and the longest weekend wait. I am among many who have frequented Kyoto for years and recommend it to everyone (despite the weekend wait times.) Hands down, it's the best sushi I have had in the US. (You have to try: the green mussels - chopped and cooked, served in shell with dynamite sauce; the dynamite with scallops; the raw salmon sushi; and the Teppanyaki tables. These are all among the best I've had anywhere.) The chefs are very fun at the sushi bar and Teppanyaki tables. The overall atmosphere is always very cheery and friendly...once you get seated. The lines for this place are as much a part of the tradition as the incredible food and atmosphere. Expect it, plan for it or don't go there on the weekends without a reservation - and still expect to wait. You'll have plenty of time to mingle while you are wedged into the bar having pre-dinner drinks. If you go in with the right expectations, it'll remain a long time favorite. - Note that the longest waits are for Teppanyaki and sushi bar once people get seated, they dont like to leave and create long wait times. Pros: Amazing Food, Funny/Talented Chefs, Fun Atmosphere Cons: You'll be among hundreds waiting to eat dinner there Thursday-Saturday more

I love this place, but I hate it at the same time. I have gone there about 8 times and everytime I can't wait to eat there yummy food and at the same time I dread going there for the awful service I receive. There is always a LONG wait even if you have a reservation-sometimes 45 minutes past your reservation. They don't care how long you wait, they don't apologize. We ordered to go because there wait was too long to dine and we got our food ONE HOUR AFTER WE ORDERED. No apology! What kind of service is that. AWFUL. They treat you like they live on Camelback Mountain and you live in the Ghetto. If they keep it up they are going to lose business. Trust me I tell everyone they have good food, but I tell even more people how awful there service is. Pros: Green Mussels, Price, Good Food Cons: Service, Wait Time, Parking more

This is a great restaurant!! There is always something fun happening here....The food is wonderful and priced very reasonable. They are always trying to make their restaurant the best. This is a family owned restaurant, which also makes this place cool. I get sick of cookie cuttter chain restaurants. Pros: Food, location, price more

The host/hostesses act like they're at the Ritz in NYC...at least that's the way they treat you. Doesn't matter if you have a reservation or not, you'll end up waitng half an hour. The bar is very tiny...maybe 6 stools, so on a Friday or Saturday night, it's almost impossible to have a drink while waiting. Not to mention there is no intercom system, so if you don't hear your name called, your SOL. The hostesses make no apologies when you say you never heard your name, nor do they make any attempt to seat you any faster...you're just at the bottom of the list again. Small piece of advise.....look for your nearest exit due to all the flames from the teppan tables, and the lowness of the ceilings. Food is always good and the prices are great for Snottsdale and the other surrounding Japanese places. Pros: great food, great prices Cons: , snotty waitstaff more

The building is starting to get run-down, you probably will park in the dirt, and reservations usually mean nothing. But this is, by far, my favorite resturant in Scottsdale. The lighting, seating, and overall ambiance makes it a truly enjoyable eating experience. The sake and beer is authentically and happily intoxicating. The sushi is always fabulous. To match, food cooked at the tables will undoubtedly please your pallate. Kyoto is just as wonderful a place to bring a group of 5+ people, to eat, drink, and be merry as it is to bring one friend to have some great sushi or meet new people. I highly recommend this old-town Scottsdale fixture. Pros: Food, Drink, Atmosphere Cons: , Sometimes Crowded more