Kyoto has a wide selection of sushi and other Japanese/Asian dishes for almost anyone's tastes and good prices overall. The freshness of the sushi is generally only average, but Kansas is about as land locked as you can get, so I'm not expecting super fresh fish. In my last visit we got: Sexy Roll - A large fat roll with shrimp tempura, spicy tuna and I believe eel with macadamia nuts on top which is normally my favorite roll. Although this time they were a bit skimpy on the macadamia nuts and it is a little pricey at $13 for 5 (large) pieces, but it's still good. Crazy Monkey Roll - Salmon, avocado, cream cheese and deep fried tempura roll which was a good deal and a large portion at the happy hour price of $5. But horrifyingly, the roll was hot all the way through so the salmon was completely cooked :(
(4)
Tom H.
Great place. Happy Hour sushi prices are great!
(5)
Chris T.
We used to go here all the time and loved their food; but the last few times we have gone, the food and service have gone downhill. The service was slow, we had to look for a server to pay our bill, and the food wasn't exceptional. As a matter of fact, the sushi was tasteless. We will not be returning.
(1)
Kimberly D.
This place was SO GOOD. I had sushi and sat at the bar and it was fast and delicious. They had so many options, including a bunch with mango (my favorite). They also have a few rolls available on the cheap for happy hour.
(5)
Melisa V.
came here with a few friends last week. we had reservations for the hibachi, so we were sitting with a couple on their first date. the server was incredibly impatient when it came to getting our order. we were waiting for a friend who was running late and the couple were enjoying sushi first, so really why rush? the hibachi chef was great and cooked everything well. we all had chicken. I felt bad for my friend sitting next to me though, because he spilled a bit of her meal off the plate making it really messy! then, before we were even finished, our server threw our checks down with oranges. yes, we were the last customers in the restaurant, but we left 45 minutes before it was scheduled to close!! on our way out, we just saw a table of people who work at the restaurant just chatting. none of them even bothered to say bye or thank you to us. for me, this altered the experience a little for me. I'd return, but maybe for sushi and on the weekend where I'm not the only one in there.
(3)
Missy E.
Good teppanyaki, great bento boxes. And my mom says the sushi is wonderful. The servers are also nice and very attentive. This is good Japanese food.
(4)
Celina K.
Love, love, love the hibatchi grill here! The cooks are fantastic entertainment too. I will always call this one of my favorite restaurants!!
(5)
ME E.
Food is delicious! Very authentic. Great staff. This is one of our favorite restaurants. Has both sushi and steak house seating areas.
(5)
Art N.
im from california and the standards of sushi here is much higher. i went here for dinner with the family and the food here is about average. nothing special. When it comes to service i would have to give it a zero. The waitresses dont even check to see if anyone has come to take your order. It is was damn near impossible to get the waitresses to serve us. I would have to say this must have been the slowest service i have ever experience. The worst part of eating here is the super long wait for the food and by time you are starving the food is just below average. Save your money and dine somewhere else. The food and service here is very poor.
(2)
Jessica N.
This place is ok. Just ok though. My husband and I are true sushi lovers and having just moved from Chicago we wanted to try several to find a sushi place we liked. When we entered we noticed there were tables and then a hibachi area and the sushi bar. We were seated at the sushi bar, not by choice, they didnt ask if we wanted a table which annoyed me. We we offered the heated towels which is nice. The sushi chef was ok pleasant, but while we were sitting there two employees got into a wrestling match. I am not kidding! The waitress was not very pleasant and the rolls were ok. I had a rock and roll or something and it was good but covered in some thick mayo sauce. Not sure we will give another try.
(2)
Angelica E.
Would not recommend this restaurant. Even for the midwest this is a poor representation of Japanese/sushi. I dined in the bar area early evening. Horrible service. Given a glass of water but never followed up with a cocktail order even with me sitting at the bar. The waiter who assisted me (reddish medium length hair) said he never eats at the restaurant when I asked for a suggestion, so I opted for the crazy monkey roll and basic japenese noodle dish. Food presentation was so poor I felt like I was back in my college dorm. Observed a waitress constantly touching her long brown hair while prepping the bar for dinner rush while she hosted. I give the review 2stars for the hospitality of a hostess (pregnant woman) and the amazing detail of their holiday decor.
(2)
S G.
My coworkers and I came for lunch but during happy hour. Service was good but the food was a disappointment. The salads were wilted and the sushi did not taste fresh. I couldn't finish one roll because it was so fishy tasting. The 3 of us all got food poisoning afterwards. Maybe the sushi off the regular menu is fine but there's nothing happy about the happy hour sushi.
(2)
William L.
Food was okay. Chef was nice. Hostess doesn't smile at all. And my appetizer came after I finished my meal. Unworthy of the price. Service is cold regardless of the servers' and manager's pretended caring for customers. Not recommended.
(2)
Dia S.
Perhaps the worst experience I have ever had at a hibachi restaurant. We made reservations and STILL ended up having to wait a ridiculously long time after our reservation time. Once seated it was apparent the other people at the table were regulars, the chef even gave them way more food then he gave any of us. When it came time for the "shrimp toss" he used all the shrimp he set aside on the other people and then tried to give us shrimp he TOOK OFF OF SOMEONES PLATE! One of the people we didn't know! How disgusting! All of us were mortified!
(1)
Levi P.
We brought friends from Japan and they said the sushi was great. The egg drop soup was very thick, but good. Sushi was a good price and a good amount for the price. We will be back! True service is not super friendly, but they are nice.
(5)
Jose P.
Honestly I have been to a bunch of hibachi joints...this one takes the cake....Benny Hannah has nothing on this place. Food was delicious and I actually received a show. Super entertaining and will definitely be back. Best in Kansas City.
(5)
Jessica K.
I went there a couple week ago and the sushi make me little disappointed. The sushi rolls is not fresh at all. I feel like they used old fish. But the server very nice and friendly.
(3)
Beth B.
This is my favorite Japanese Steak House in Kansas City, and I've been to a few. It has consistently good service, highly entertaining teppanyaki chefs and good food. The food is 4 stars, but the chefs are 5+ to up this to a 5 star. I have been there with my family (husband and 2 teenagers) several times, but just went today for a work lunch so I thought I would give it a review. We started off with appetizers - sushi, endameme and shrimp tempura. The sushi is good, but I am not an expert. My daughter tells me the sushi is very good, so I believe her. She also tells me they have a good sushi happy hour deal. Check it out. The endameme was meh - sort of dry. Shrimp tempura I did not try - heck, I can only eat so much - but the batter looked lightly fried, which is how I like it. Those who ate it said it was good. Everyone at our table had either chicken, filet or shrimp teppanyaki for entrees. My medium rare filet was cooked perfectly, the vegetables were tender and fried rice was good, Typical Japanese steakhouse fare. Our drinks were refilled before they were empty and the appetizer plates were cleared quickly. The X factor for this restaurant was the chef. He was hilarious and very skilled. I've been to these restaurants before where you kind of felt sorry for the chef and were hoping they didn't drop their utensils as they were juggling or could tell they were working from a script on their jokes. This guy, "Hot" Rod, actually improvised his jokes, gave each of us a nickname and was a master at the juggling, egg tricks and other typical entertainment. Now, if you are too "cool" to enjoy this fun entertainment, go somewhere else. This schtick is just good fun for me and I don't want you at my table being a stick in the mud. Plus, the chefs are witty enough here that they will make fun of you if you don't get their humor. And that will make us have more fun. Enjoy!!
(5)
Dev V.
I basically think Japanese steakhouses are very similar outside of decor. You don't get sat till your entire party is there and you spend that time downing bombers of Kirin until you have to pee so bad you can taste it. Well, Kyoto is different. The staff here is actually nice. It seems like so many other steakhouses just want you to order quickly, serve you and get the f out so they can put another eight people at their glorious griddle and suction fan. Well, not here. The wait staff smiles and are asking if you want another drink far before you'd have to flag them down. The chefs have big personalities and they can cook like a mofo. Sure, they all do the same things (volcano, smiley face, shrimp toss, etc). Our chef last night actually made a flower out of rice and sesame seeds, it was pretty clever. I also like how fresh the beef is here, it's bright red. I did the KC Strip and Lobster and for $29 that is actually not a bad deal considering you get soup, salad, rice, shrimp and veggies along with this. Skip Gojo's and the other ancient spots and get your ass out to Kyoto!
(4)
Dani G.
The food here was ok the first time I went. The past two times have been horrible. We went for lunch and got charged dinner prices and then some. I added cucumber to my Philly roll and got a tiny tiny cube of cucumber in SOME of my roll for a two dollar up charge. The fried rice was great...when drenched in soy sauce. The fish did not taste fresh and the nigiri was tiny. I suggest eating somewhere else if you want good sushi. Have not had the hibachi grill yet....and probably won't.
(2)
Dan D.
I can only speak to the sushi. I'm not a teppan yaki fan, nor do I go for any regular menu. Also, I tend to go for happy hour, when the sushi prices are a bit cheaper. I avoid the "specialty rolls" which are just an excuse to charge over 10 bucks for some rice, sweet sauce, and a bit of fish. Then again - who can resist the "sports team of your choice" roll? Ok - so given the criticism, why 4 stars? Because their nigiri is pretty good actually, and the prices (even non-happy hour) are quite reasonable. Enough said. Go for the sushi, and you should enjoy!
(4)
Pam T.
I've been here a few times for happy hour and I'm finally getting around to writing a review. Any who, service has always been pretty good and the sushi is pretty good too but, nothing spectacular. I got the Tootsie and California rolls. The California roll was on point but, the Tootsie roll came out a little sloppy. It wasn't rolled as tight towards the end as the other one. Other than that, I was a happy camper lol. It was still edible. I had no issues using my voucher for a free half order of Crab Rangoon. At the time, if you checked in on Yelp, you received a voucher. I didn't try them though, I'm trying to watch my fat intake but, there were no complaints from my coworker! Overall, it's a good spot for happy hour sushi because, their prices are fairly decent. Two rolls for 6 bucks, you can't beat that! However, if you're looking for happy hour drink specials, they don't have them. Some of my coworkers were a little bummed about that.
(3)
Elocin V.
This was my first visit to kyotoand I was absolutely delighted! ! We had a party of 6 we shared the spicy crab salad and 4 rolls everything was amazing and super fresh. . We got hibachi for the non sushi members of the party. It was a very entertaining show. . The hibachi chicken was super dry but over all the meal atmosphere and experiance was fantastic! !! I highly recommend the crazy monkey roll, the Jayhawk roll, and the sexy roll! !
(5)
Jan L.
If you like sushi this is a restaurant I would recommend. Their fish is fresh, correctly prepared, tasty, and presented well. I usually don't do rolls, too much rice for my personal taste. So when I order I get their sushi during their happy hour. Since I save a little bit on happy hour prices it allows me to splurge on a few non-happy hour items. They are generous with the ginger...I like extra...and the service is good. I look forward to my next visit.
(4)
Mari M.
This place does not attempt to try and stand out with their food or their service. Instead, they choose to present the same cookie-cutter routine as other restaurants of the same genre. It doesn't work for me AT ALL. My family chose this place for a large group of us to gather for a celebration. As soon as we were seated they began taking orders. Some of us were not ready, but they put the pressure on because they are not there to provide and exceptional dining experience, they just file you in and out. Why anyone makes a choice to come here, is beyond me. The food is low-quality and typically prepared. The service is rushed and is not suited for the customer to enjoy.
(1)
Bobbi M.
Best sushi, hibachi and Japanese steakhouse in Kansas City. I've been going for years. (I moved to Denver, but always go back when I'm in town)! The chefs are fabulous and so entertaining.. Side note, the Spicy Crab Salad is a MUST! Absolutely love this place! Great ownership and servers!
(5)
Josh B.
Judy took our orders and she was incredibly rude and impatient. She made it abundantly clear that she was frustrated with the three questions we asked about the menu. What made it more disappointing is that this was a birthday celebration and we made it clear it was. So she upset the birthday celebration. I would recommend she gets customer service training.
(1)
Laurie M.
Oh Crazy Monkey Roll, why do I crave you so?! The hibachi grill is pretty standard stuff... flaming onion volcano, knife tricks and cheesy jokes. Entertaining for the kids. But the gem of this place is the variety of sushi. It's so fresh and done well. If you like rolls, get them at lunch for half the cost at night but still the same portion.
(4)
Brianne L.
I am in love with this sushi place. Whenever my friends want to have sushi or if they have never tried it before, I always make them come here. Their sushi is great and their happy hour is awesome and cheap. I love their sushi and drink specials. Not horribly priced during regular hours either!
(5)
A.m. S.
Delicious! Service and food were fantastic. It was our 5yr old first time at hibachi and she had a great time
(5)
Andrea H.
This place would be better if they had better service. The rolls are good, but sometimes taste a little less than fresh. The wait staff is hit or miss. Sometimes you get an attentive server, but other times you don't. The last time I was in there, which was yesterday, I met my party at the restaurant. I was the last to arrive, and it took the server at least 15 minutes to bring me any water, while the rest of my party had some. All in all this place is fine if you're in the area and craving sushi, but there are much better places to go if you're actually wanting an enjoyable experience.
(2)
Jamie L.
This is the best example of the combo Japanese Steakhouse/sushi bar I've been to since returning to KC. Our hamachi with jalapeño and cilantro was a fresh and tasty appetizer. Our teppenyaki chef had a fun routine and cooked our ribeye, scallops and shrimp perfectly. Plenty of seating, quick service and very clean. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Beau G.
Went here lastnight for my girlfriends birthday. Food was good nothing stood out as outstanding or a wow factor. They allowed us to bring a birthday cake in.
(4)
Cali O.
Not great. Ordered a lunch bento. Salmon was over cooked. The tempura wasnt cooked all the way. The calfornia roll was alright. And the steamed rice was undercooked. Not going to come back.
(1)
Jody C.
Very quick service at the bar area table. We ordered the tootsie roll (great!), I had vegetable udon and my husband ordered the chicken and steak teriyaki combo. We both agreed that we loved our food.
(5)
Christine G.
Went here for lunch and was pretty good. I got the tempora shrimp and veggies and some sushi, while a friend of mine got the seaweed salad and the vegetable sushi. Made right in front of us, which is always a plus. Prices were decent compared to what I've paid at other places. They also offer hibachi which would be good for another trip. Took a look at their happy hour offerings and they had a good amount of options at good prices. Menu itself is pretty wide so I'd go back to try some other options!
(4)
John G.
First let met start off by saying that my family and I have visited nearly EVERY Japanese restaurant in the greater Kansas City area and Kyoto is by far and away the best. It is a little expensive; however, you get a GREAT quality product and pretty darn fresh seafood and beef. I had Swordfish and Filet and it was absolutely excellent and cooked to perfection. Our chef was very entertaining and engaging and really did a good job of engaging the kids. Kyoto was extremely clean and very quick with service. I could not have asked for a better experience for my birthday. The waiter sang Happy B-Day along with everyone at the table. We will become a regular at this restaurant for sure. I would highly suggest Kyoto to anyone who like Japanese to take a trip out to 135th & Metcalf and give this a try. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Juliana S.
Love this place!! We took 2 toddlers with us and they loved it! The food is great! The service is great!
(5)
Marie F.
A lot of fun rolls to choose from... they were all pretty good, but I felt a little cheated on the origami roll. It just didn't have a lot going for it. The magic mushroom was ok, but the menu says it is a best selling appetizer. Alas, I wouldn't order it again. The Blade roll was my favorite of all the rolls we ordered. The crazy monkey was pretty good too. The cucumber salad was quite tasty. I don't like it to be too sugary...I like more vinegar flavor and this had it. They have one of those rooms you sit on the floor and let your feet dangle if you have a group of people. That was fun. The Happy Buddha drink is served in a Buddha glass... funny. Doesn't hold a lot though. The shaved ice cream was REALLY good and one of the guys was nice enough to chat me up about it and said they actually make in house. Sweet, light and refreshing. Has little bits of cake and fruit in it... not a lot... just enough to keep you digging. We had reservations (that was a difficult call to make (it was very soup Nazi like... they were practically shouting at me over the phone), but we arrived in waves and they put our party in different locations. Luckily, we were able to reunite. So no harm done. Pretty good sushi (didn't try the hibachi, but I overheard them offering yellow- that's a good sign) but RA's happy hour is hard to beat.
(4)
Megan S.
I love Kyoto! I have been there many times! Their variety of sushi is fantastic and the service is really great at getting your seated quickly! Will definitely continue going back!
(5)
Tony R.
Hibachi! I love this place... the hibachi chef was hilarious, he really engaged with the table and added his own little spice to the traditional tricks. The food was delicious. I had teriyaki salmon and fried rice. The salmon looked beautiful, so much that a couple across the table asked about it. A big plus, is that there's always enough to take home and eat later.
(4)
Amy C.
I'm a sushi aficionado, so when my regular sushi restaurant ran off all of my favorite employees, I decided to look for a new haunt. I don't think Kyoto is it. There is something cheap and not very Japanese feeling about Kyoto - the decor is a little off-putting (maybe it's the thousands of fake flowers when you walk in). Also, for some reason, it doesn't feel as warm and welcoming as other restaurants. We decided to order sashimi and a couple of rolls. The fish didn't taste as fresh as I am used to. I have had a friend tell me this is her favorite sushi in Johnson County and I wanted to like it, but I don't think I'll be back. It was marginal at best.
(2)
Dianna W.
Awesome place, great food, friendly and helpful staff. Midori shrimp sushi to die for and habachi chefs are a blast!
(5)
Caitlin M.
We went here for my birthday last year. The hibachi chef was incredible! We go to a different hibachi restaurant every year for my birthday and this chef was the best by a long shot. He was entertaining, exciting, and fresh with his tricks! The food was good, and cooked correctly. I don't care for shrimp, and he was willing to toss other things to allow me to be included in the fun. The only thing I wish they would do differently is include potatoes in their veggie medley. I really enjoy them at other locations, but they did not include them this time. The restaurant was very busy, but we still had excellent service.
(4)
Heidi B.
I've done both sushi bar and hibachi. First the sushi bar was very good except for the over sauced rolls which can leave the crunch to mush. That can be very disheartening but we still left on a happy hour check with bellies overloaded with sushi. So yeah I will come back. Now for the hibachi, holy cow is it good!!! I got the filet and scallops and it was so delicious. We were kept very entertained and even the other guests made it fun. That was a true blue awesome experience. Over all, Kyoto is a very awesome place to go!
(4)
Tod S.
Yea, I like this place ok. Got a free half order of crab rangoon, thanks yelp but if it wasnt for that idk if I would've eaten here again today.
(3)
Mark Z.
The entertainment was fantastic! Our chef, Roy, was very fun! The food was very good. I especially liked the crab rangoons. Of course they were free for checking into Yelp! My only complaint is that I didn't get the ice tea I ordered. It also wasn't on the bill so it wasn't a big deal. I would definitely eat there again. I tried making reservations through the YELP app, but it could not connect so we called instead.
(4)
Aaron R.
Kinda pricey but great sushi and very friendly staff. Japanese steak house very fun.
(4)
Ann W.
The hubby and I checked Kyoto out for sushi, not steak, so we didn't do the teppanyaki tables (which I generally don't care for, anyway), but they were quite lively and very noisy. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered a sashimi platter and a couple of sushi rolls, veggie tempura and cocktails. We were served our sushi over the counter by one of the sushi chefs, but there was a waitress who took our drink orders and cleared our dishes. Our waitress was slow and glum, not appearing to particularly care about her patrons or the quality of their experience. The veggie tempura arrived after our sushi was gone and it was inedible. We tried several of the pieces, but it was undercooked and just gross. We would have sent it back, but our waitress was mostly absent and by the time she returned, after a very significant wait, we just wanted out of there. As for the sushi, the rolls were fine. We had ordered the 13 piece sashimi entree and when it was presented, I thought it was the 7 piece because there was so little fish there. The pieces were ridiculously small and we really didn't get our $23 worth, but the white tuna that was part of the sashimi entree was excellent. The sashimi entree was supposed to come with miso soup, and that was delivered along with the tempura long after we'd already eaten our sushi and it was inedible with very little flavor aside from salt. We also each had a cocktail and the cocktails seemed to be completely devoid of alcohol. For 70+ bucks for the two of us, we spent way too much for a truly sub-par dining experience. Maybe the teppanyaki table experience is better, but I wouldn't bother to return here for sushi.
(2)
Lisa S.
My husband and I visited Kyoto tonight. I'd been craving a sushi roll. I got the garlic spiced edamame. I like the added flavor. I got the midori shrimp again with the same substitution of soy paper. The roll came out perfect this time. I like that it doesn't fall apart while eating it. My husband tried a hand roll and a sushi roll. He loved both of his. We also got a bowl of fried rice to share. It was probably some of the best fried rice we've had in a while. Lots of onion and other ingredients in it, which is just the way I like. He said we'll definately be back.
(5)
Nicole W.
We came in for sushi however the tappenaki grill looked great! The food was pretty good although the rolls were small. You did get 8 though. The service was fantastic, moving and working together in an even flow. The mango roll is wonderful! We also got dumplings, not too hot but not too cold. I wasn't too fond of the miso or spicy crab salad but overall the food was great! Great atmosphere too :)
(4)
Danah S.
I have had both the sushi and the steak house. Both are wonderful. Super friendly and fun staff and the food is great. I will be returning.
(5)
Hannah P.
After a not so great experience here (rushed service, food quality not great) with a large group of people, I wrote an unhappy review. The owner and manager made a big effort to get me to come in again and have a better experience-a meal for two on the house! Upon the second visit, I found the service to be much more accommodating, and the food of a higher quality. If you're looking for a lot of flavorful food, come here!
(3)
Scott R.
Our trip to Kyoto was predicated on a get-together for my sister's birthday, though it was also a good chance to get to see the family. I didn't make the arrangements, but I presume that my brother or mother made a reservation - not that it would have mattered, since there are few restaurants that are packed at 5:00 on a Monday, Memorial Day, no less. We were seated around a teppanyaki grill and put in our orders. I chose the scallops, and Mrs. R chose the tofu, and the rest around the table stayed with beef or chicken. We started with some crab Rangoon and calamari, and these came from the house kitchen, but came roughly at the same time as the cook, so we had a few items to nibble on while we watched the show. We also all started with a small salad and soup, though not quite the traditional miso (I can't recall just what it was). Our cook came out and started the typical grill show, though I did see from other tables that were within eyesight that each cook has a different routine of bits. These included the onion volcano (with the silly little 'peeing' toy to put it out), a joke bottle of sauce that shoots out a string to startle the guest, the spinning flippers and tossing an egg into the chef's hat, and the traditional shrimp toss. The food was well-prepared, and the show was entertaining. I think my father was a little confused about his meal - not typically experience with teppanyaki, he ordered a steak, though was thrown a little off when it was cut into bite-sized pieces just before being put on his plate. My scallops were done well, big fat sea scallops, seared on the outside, but still soft and succulent inside.
(4)
Samantha B.
Went here for a group birthday dinner. The service was AMAZING. So attentive and quick. If you have to wait for a table, it is worth it. The Bangkok roll and the Wildcat roll were delicious, fresh and unique. The flavors and creativity were impressive. I venture a lot of different sushi places in KC Area. The hibachi grill chef was fun and did a great job.
(5)
Alicia R.
This Japanese Steakhouse is in a strip mall on 135th...I did not know that this whole area had been developed to this extent, but I am glad it has been so I could enjoy dinner at Kyoto. They have standard teppanyaki tables, as well as standard tables, a few sunken tables, and seats at the sushi bar. Our party of 9 sat at a teppanyaki table, and have to admit that a party of 8 would have fit better, but it was still fun and comfortable. Our chef was great...very funny and personable, and made a big deal out of the birthday that we were celebrating. Our server was very attentive, bringing lots of drink refills and ensuring we had everything we needed. I tried the tofu (very good, pre-fried and then well sauced), my companions got a variety of steaks, shrimp, chicken, and scallops. Everyone enjoyed their food. The sushi that was served to other patrons looked really good, so next time I go, I will take advantage of the reduced-price sushi for happy hour from 4-6pm.
(4)
Alycia C.
Had the pleasure of eating here before attending the "Sound of Music" on what seemed to be the HOTTEST night of this KC summer. The hibachi chef was charismatic, which is what you want or we wanted. We ordered sushi roll that was heavenly. I'm sorry I can remember which one. The food was excellent. I believe I had the teriyaki chicken. I went light since I'd be out in the heat for 3 hours, hoping to love this musical. The strawberry daiquiri was delicious. The atmosphere was friendly, open and clean. The only thing I noticed was the hibachi chef gave me the most food. My plate was overflowing in food. Weird or did he feel I was famished? But you know what it made for amazing leftovers the next day so lucky me. We will be back or better yet come to Olathe ;)
(5)
Patrick W.
Awesome happy hour that goes til 6 on weekdays. You do have to sit in the booths though. $5 crazy monkey rolls!! Also the BEST Japanese Steakhouse in town!
(5)
Saju J.
Good food, miso soup was well balanced but lukewarm. Surprisingly sinful Rangoon rolls
(4)
Stephanie P.
I have been coming here since 2003. It is far and away my favorite Japanese restaurant in Kansas City. The food is always fresh and extremely tasty. The bento box lunch is the best. Tons of food and great prices. The tempura is out of this world, as is the fried rice. Yum!
(5)
Kelly R.
Absolutely LOVE this restuarant. I've had yummy sushi at several restaurants in Kansas City area (RA, Friends, etc.) but this restaurant has so much going for it... Small, neighborhood feel. My husband says I must go here TOO often because when I walk in they immediately greet me by name. HA! But, it's a family business and the staff has been consistent. They know who their clients are. A pretty diverse and delish sushi menu - they have lots of nigiri, sashimi and some salads on sushi menu and a lot of cool rolls to choose from...including the really, really crazy (but crazy yummy) Americanized ones and the more traditional raw and simple rolls. Every roll I have tried has been YUMMY. Sushi is FRESH...EVERY TIME. Hibachi tables are delicious and fun. It can be a pricey night if you take the family to the hibachi tables for dinner but you get a LOT of food. If you don't pig out and box up food you'll have lunch for the next day for certain! HIbachi chefs are entertaining and fun. And like the rest of the staff they will remember repeat customers. We have met some of the nicest KC folks while chatting it up at the hibachi tables, too! I am the sushi eater and my family loves the hibachi menu. Kids LOVE the handmade shaved ice cream! One tip, though...AVOID this place if you know it is homecoming or prom night! This restaurant FILLS with teens on those nights. Love kids, but it's pretty nuts in this restaurant when 90% of the clientele are giggly teens :). My current favorite roll - St Patricks roll...fun mix of flavors and a good kick - spicy salmon, cucumber, cilantro, jalepeno rolled and topped with touch of spicy mayo plus avocado and green tobiko....mmmmmm... This restaurant is reasonably priced and there is a sushi 'happy hour' period daily, too.
(5)
Alliey D.
Kyoto used to be my family's favorite local Japanese steak house, but within the past year or two, things have really been going down hill here. Most recently, I took my boyfriend here for his birthday, and after bragging about this place for a good week non-stop, we left incredibly disappointed (and I left with -1000 credibility points on restaurant suggestions.) The service was perfectly fine, and the show was entertaining as always- 'the Japanese choo-choo train', crazy knife and spatula tricks, jokes and the usual finale shrimp catch used to embarrass everyone at the table, ya know, the typical deal.) but the food was very under-par. The rice was hardly cooked, the food did not taste right, and everything was very over-seasoned and kindof disappointing. My boyfriend still makes fun of me when I get excited about a new restaurant ("Ohhh, is it as good as Kyoto" he mocks. It will be months until I've lived this down...) I give it 3 stars due to the relatively friendly service, and the fact that the sushi bar here is still super great! If you go, go for sushi or a show, but not for any spectacular steak house cuisine.
(3)
Mike B.
Ate there for the first time this weekend and we were impressed, the sushi was very good ....we had the Monkey Role and the Godzilla...I recommend them both! I ordered the steak and chicken combo and it was a large amount of food ..the steak was great the chicken was a little over cooked. My wife and my son both enjoyed.
(4)
Nate A.
My wife and I eat sushi once in awhile and when we do we go here. Best sushi in south KC area. Never disappointed, great signature rolls and the hibachi is fun for everyone!
(4)
Patrick And Stephanie P.
This place was great the first few times there. Stopped in for a quick bite on mother's day, and the place was packed w/ a wait. We got right in 'cause we like to sit at the sushi bar. There are tons of rolls available, and we quickly found a couple that looked good, in addition to some yellowtail sashimi. The server was quick, friendly, and seemed experienced. One of the rolls looked great, except it had daikon radish wrapping (see other review). I asked the sushi chef if we could switch it to soy paper and rice. He said yes, and quickly made our selections. The server was attentive but didn't hover. The rolls were delicious and the yellowtail sashimi was the best we'd had in KC! It melted in my mouth and was extremely fresh! Even though all of the stir fry tables were full and staff was busy, we got our check promptly after we asked for it. Overall, great sushi, service, and atmospere! The last time we were there, we came in for dinner. We were just planning on ordering our usual rolls (which we almost always over order n take rest home). Found out that they were having happy hour and decided on some of those rolls instead. We ordered just what we thought we could eat (since the HH menu clearly states no to-go). At the end of our meal we couldn't quite finish the last 4 pieces of one roll, and I asked for a box. The server asked the sushi chef for one and he barked "No to-go's for HH sushi". We explained we understood the reasoning behind it, so ppl don't order a ton and then take a bunch of sushi to go, but we only had 4 measly little pieces. He just barked the same at us again. We could care less about the sushi, but talked to the manager anyway to let home know we were restaurant ppl, we understand policies, but that his staff could have been less rude about it. He just repeated the same as the sushi chef, like a robot. This last experience just left a cold, unfriendly feeling w/ us. That's okay, the ppl at our our fave sushi place always give good service and are friendly every time.
(3)
Brandon D.
The sushi was decent, I really liked the rolls with jalapeño on top. The service was ok.
(3)
Erin W.
By far, my favorite sushi restaurant in KC. Very fresh! I especially love the Crazy Monkey roll. When you sit at the sushi bar, you get fast service, but if you are at a table, it's usually a lot slower. However, the sushi is so good, they could probably spill on me everytime and I'd still go back :) They have a hibachi as well, but I've never ate at it, but others look like they like it everytime.
(5)
Dorian G.
Best Japanese food in the Kansas City area, excellent meals and fresh sushi.
(5)
Julia F.
I am always a little nervous when restaurants throw authenticity to the wind and serve crab Rangoon and hot and sour soup at a Japanese restaurant. My friends and I chose to eat sushi (instead of the tepanyaki seating), but we instantly regrettted it. Notably, this was NOT due to the food; the sushi was delicious and of good quality. Everything tasted fresh. My major complaint was that we were seated in a small closet off the bar with three booths. You could smell the delicious meat and vegetables on the tepanyaki grills in the next room and hear the great fun, but we were in the, well, closet. The service was definitely lacking. Our waitress was terrible on refilling drinks (a good litmus test for a server), but perhaps this was also a side-effect of where we were seated. I intend to return (one cannot be completely accurate with only one visit), but it is worth mentioning that I will either sit at the tepanyaki tables (which will be a wholly different experience, I am sure) or in one of the small traditional seating rooms (again, a bit like closets, but with more intimacy and authenticity, so therefore, more acceptable).
(3)
Jeana C.
Poor service, terrible waitresses and food is not great. A Japanese person would defiantly be disappointed in the food. Food is not authentic.
(1)
Abigail S.
Favorite sushi spot in KC. Nice staff. Good Drinks. Great Sushi at great prices! Definitely recommend it!
(5)
KungFu T.
Love eating at Kyoto, we've been going there for more than 10 years. Their Sushi is pretty good, not the best but it's up there. Their hibachi is always fun too.
(4)
Michael R.
Best Sushi in Kansas City! I've lived in Santa Barbara and Chicago and this is the closest competition to the best in both those places. Their rolls are really works of art. Some of them have quite a bit of stuff on them, and some heavy sauces but that makes them that much better.. They also have some of the fresher fish I've had in town. The service is great as well!
(5)
Dan D.
I can only speak to the sushi. I'm not a teppan yaki fan, nor do I go for any regular menu. Also, I tend to go for happy hour, when the sushi prices are a bit cheaper. I avoid the "specialty rolls" which are just an excuse to charge over 10 bucks for some rice, sweet sauce, and a bit of fish. Then again - who can resist the "sports team of your choice" roll? Ok - so given the criticism, why 4 stars? Because their nigiri is pretty good actually, and the prices (even non-happy hour) are quite reasonable. Enough said. Go for the sushi, and you should enjoy!
(4)
Missy E.
Good teppanyaki, great bento boxes. And my mom says the sushi is wonderful. The servers are also nice and very attentive. This is good Japanese food.
(4)
Celina K.
Love, love, love the hibatchi grill here! The cooks are fantastic entertainment too. I will always call this one of my favorite restaurants!!
(5)
Jeana C.
Poor service, terrible waitresses and food is not great. A Japanese person would defiantly be disappointed in the food. Food is not authentic.
(1)
Abigail S.
Favorite sushi spot in KC. Nice staff. Good Drinks. Great Sushi at great prices! Definitely recommend it!
(5)
KungFu T.
Love eating at Kyoto, we've been going there for more than 10 years. Their Sushi is pretty good, not the best but it's up there. Their hibachi is always fun too.
(4)
Michael R.
Best Sushi in Kansas City! I've lived in Santa Barbara and Chicago and this is the closest competition to the best in both those places. Their rolls are really works of art. Some of them have quite a bit of stuff on them, and some heavy sauces but that makes them that much better.. They also have some of the fresher fish I've had in town. The service is great as well!
(5)
ME E.
Food is delicious! Very authentic. Great staff. This is one of our favorite restaurants. Has both sushi and steak house seating areas.
(5)
Art N.
im from california and the standards of sushi here is much higher. i went here for dinner with the family and the food here is about average. nothing special. When it comes to service i would have to give it a zero. The waitresses dont even check to see if anyone has come to take your order. It is was damn near impossible to get the waitresses to serve us. I would have to say this must have been the slowest service i have ever experience. The worst part of eating here is the super long wait for the food and by time you are starving the food is just below average. Save your money and dine somewhere else. The food and service here is very poor.
(2)
Jessica N.
This place is ok. Just ok though. My husband and I are true sushi lovers and having just moved from Chicago we wanted to try several to find a sushi place we liked. When we entered we noticed there were tables and then a hibachi area and the sushi bar. We were seated at the sushi bar, not by choice, they didnt ask if we wanted a table which annoyed me. We we offered the heated towels which is nice. The sushi chef was ok pleasant, but while we were sitting there two employees got into a wrestling match. I am not kidding! The waitress was not very pleasant and the rolls were ok. I had a rock and roll or something and it was good but covered in some thick mayo sauce. Not sure we will give another try.
(2)
Bobbi M.
Best sushi, hibachi and Japanese steakhouse in Kansas City. I've been going for years. (I moved to Denver, but always go back when I'm in town)! The chefs are fabulous and so entertaining.. Side note, the Spicy Crab Salad is a MUST! Absolutely love this place! Great ownership and servers!
(5)
Josh B.
Judy took our orders and she was incredibly rude and impatient. She made it abundantly clear that she was frustrated with the three questions we asked about the menu. What made it more disappointing is that this was a birthday celebration and we made it clear it was. So she upset the birthday celebration. I would recommend she gets customer service training.
(1)
Hannah P.
After a not so great experience here (rushed service, food quality not great) with a large group of people, I wrote an unhappy review. The owner and manager made a big effort to get me to come in again and have a better experience-a meal for two on the house! Upon the second visit, I found the service to be much more accommodating, and the food of a higher quality. If you're looking for a lot of flavorful food, come here!
(3)
Jody C.
Very quick service at the bar area table. We ordered the tootsie roll (great!), I had vegetable udon and my husband ordered the chicken and steak teriyaki combo. We both agreed that we loved our food.
(5)
Ann W.
The hubby and I checked Kyoto out for sushi, not steak, so we didn't do the teppanyaki tables (which I generally don't care for, anyway), but they were quite lively and very noisy. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered a sashimi platter and a couple of sushi rolls, veggie tempura and cocktails. We were served our sushi over the counter by one of the sushi chefs, but there was a waitress who took our drink orders and cleared our dishes. Our waitress was slow and glum, not appearing to particularly care about her patrons or the quality of their experience. The veggie tempura arrived after our sushi was gone and it was inedible. We tried several of the pieces, but it was undercooked and just gross. We would have sent it back, but our waitress was mostly absent and by the time she returned, after a very significant wait, we just wanted out of there. As for the sushi, the rolls were fine. We had ordered the 13 piece sashimi entree and when it was presented, I thought it was the 7 piece because there was so little fish there. The pieces were ridiculously small and we really didn't get our $23 worth, but the white tuna that was part of the sashimi entree was excellent. The sashimi entree was supposed to come with miso soup, and that was delivered along with the tempura long after we'd already eaten our sushi and it was inedible with very little flavor aside from salt. We also each had a cocktail and the cocktails seemed to be completely devoid of alcohol. For 70+ bucks for the two of us, we spent way too much for a truly sub-par dining experience. Maybe the teppanyaki table experience is better, but I wouldn't bother to return here for sushi.
(2)
Nicole W.
We came in for sushi however the tappenaki grill looked great! The food was pretty good although the rolls were small. You did get 8 though. The service was fantastic, moving and working together in an even flow. The mango roll is wonderful! We also got dumplings, not too hot but not too cold. I wasn't too fond of the miso or spicy crab salad but overall the food was great! Great atmosphere too :)
(4)
Danah S.
I have had both the sushi and the steak house. Both are wonderful. Super friendly and fun staff and the food is great. I will be returning.
(5)
Laurie M.
Oh Crazy Monkey Roll, why do I crave you so?! The hibachi grill is pretty standard stuff... flaming onion volcano, knife tricks and cheesy jokes. Entertaining for the kids. But the gem of this place is the variety of sushi. It's so fresh and done well. If you like rolls, get them at lunch for half the cost at night but still the same portion.
(4)
Lisa S.
My husband and I visited Kyoto tonight. I'd been craving a sushi roll. I got the garlic spiced edamame. I like the added flavor. I got the midori shrimp again with the same substitution of soy paper. The roll came out perfect this time. I like that it doesn't fall apart while eating it. My husband tried a hand roll and a sushi roll. He loved both of his. We also got a bowl of fried rice to share. It was probably some of the best fried rice we've had in a while. Lots of onion and other ingredients in it, which is just the way I like. He said we'll definately be back.
(5)
Scott R.
Our trip to Kyoto was predicated on a get-together for my sister's birthday, though it was also a good chance to get to see the family. I didn't make the arrangements, but I presume that my brother or mother made a reservation - not that it would have mattered, since there are few restaurants that are packed at 5:00 on a Monday, Memorial Day, no less. We were seated around a teppanyaki grill and put in our orders. I chose the scallops, and Mrs. R chose the tofu, and the rest around the table stayed with beef or chicken. We started with some crab Rangoon and calamari, and these came from the house kitchen, but came roughly at the same time as the cook, so we had a few items to nibble on while we watched the show. We also all started with a small salad and soup, though not quite the traditional miso (I can't recall just what it was). Our cook came out and started the typical grill show, though I did see from other tables that were within eyesight that each cook has a different routine of bits. These included the onion volcano (with the silly little 'peeing' toy to put it out), a joke bottle of sauce that shoots out a string to startle the guest, the spinning flippers and tossing an egg into the chef's hat, and the traditional shrimp toss. The food was well-prepared, and the show was entertaining. I think my father was a little confused about his meal - not typically experience with teppanyaki, he ordered a steak, though was thrown a little off when it was cut into bite-sized pieces just before being put on his plate. My scallops were done well, big fat sea scallops, seared on the outside, but still soft and succulent inside.
(4)
Samantha B.
Went here for a group birthday dinner. The service was AMAZING. So attentive and quick. If you have to wait for a table, it is worth it. The Bangkok roll and the Wildcat roll were delicious, fresh and unique. The flavors and creativity were impressive. I venture a lot of different sushi places in KC Area. The hibachi grill chef was fun and did a great job.
(5)
Alicia R.
This Japanese Steakhouse is in a strip mall on 135th...I did not know that this whole area had been developed to this extent, but I am glad it has been so I could enjoy dinner at Kyoto. They have standard teppanyaki tables, as well as standard tables, a few sunken tables, and seats at the sushi bar. Our party of 9 sat at a teppanyaki table, and have to admit that a party of 8 would have fit better, but it was still fun and comfortable. Our chef was great...very funny and personable, and made a big deal out of the birthday that we were celebrating. Our server was very attentive, bringing lots of drink refills and ensuring we had everything we needed. I tried the tofu (very good, pre-fried and then well sauced), my companions got a variety of steaks, shrimp, chicken, and scallops. Everyone enjoyed their food. The sushi that was served to other patrons looked really good, so next time I go, I will take advantage of the reduced-price sushi for happy hour from 4-6pm.
(4)
Angelica E.
Would not recommend this restaurant. Even for the midwest this is a poor representation of Japanese/sushi. I dined in the bar area early evening. Horrible service. Given a glass of water but never followed up with a cocktail order even with me sitting at the bar. The waiter who assisted me (reddish medium length hair) said he never eats at the restaurant when I asked for a suggestion, so I opted for the crazy monkey roll and basic japenese noodle dish. Food presentation was so poor I felt like I was back in my college dorm. Observed a waitress constantly touching her long brown hair while prepping the bar for dinner rush while she hosted. I give the review 2stars for the hospitality of a hostess (pregnant woman) and the amazing detail of their holiday decor.
(2)
S G.
My coworkers and I came for lunch but during happy hour. Service was good but the food was a disappointment. The salads were wilted and the sushi did not taste fresh. I couldn't finish one roll because it was so fishy tasting. The 3 of us all got food poisoning afterwards. Maybe the sushi off the regular menu is fine but there's nothing happy about the happy hour sushi.
(2)
William L.
Food was okay. Chef was nice. Hostess doesn't smile at all. And my appetizer came after I finished my meal. Unworthy of the price. Service is cold regardless of the servers' and manager's pretended caring for customers. Not recommended.
(2)
Dia S.
Perhaps the worst experience I have ever had at a hibachi restaurant. We made reservations and STILL ended up having to wait a ridiculously long time after our reservation time. Once seated it was apparent the other people at the table were regulars, the chef even gave them way more food then he gave any of us. When it came time for the "shrimp toss" he used all the shrimp he set aside on the other people and then tried to give us shrimp he TOOK OFF OF SOMEONES PLATE! One of the people we didn't know! How disgusting! All of us were mortified!
(1)
Levi P.
We brought friends from Japan and they said the sushi was great. The egg drop soup was very thick, but good. Sushi was a good price and a good amount for the price. We will be back! True service is not super friendly, but they are nice.
(5)
Jose P.
Honestly I have been to a bunch of hibachi joints...this one takes the cake....Benny Hannah has nothing on this place. Food was delicious and I actually received a show. Super entertaining and will definitely be back. Best in Kansas City.
(5)
Jessica K.
I went there a couple week ago and the sushi make me little disappointed. The sushi rolls is not fresh at all. I feel like they used old fish. But the server very nice and friendly.
(3)
Alycia C.
Had the pleasure of eating here before attending the "Sound of Music" on what seemed to be the HOTTEST night of this KC summer. The hibachi chef was charismatic, which is what you want or we wanted. We ordered sushi roll that was heavenly. I'm sorry I can remember which one. The food was excellent. I believe I had the teriyaki chicken. I went light since I'd be out in the heat for 3 hours, hoping to love this musical. The strawberry daiquiri was delicious. The atmosphere was friendly, open and clean. The only thing I noticed was the hibachi chef gave me the most food. My plate was overflowing in food. Weird or did he feel I was famished? But you know what it made for amazing leftovers the next day so lucky me. We will be back or better yet come to Olathe ;)
(5)
Patrick W.
Awesome happy hour that goes til 6 on weekdays. You do have to sit in the booths though. $5 crazy monkey rolls!! Also the BEST Japanese Steakhouse in town!
(5)
Saju J.
Good food, miso soup was well balanced but lukewarm. Surprisingly sinful Rangoon rolls
(4)
Brianne L.
I am in love with this sushi place. Whenever my friends want to have sushi or if they have never tried it before, I always make them come here. Their sushi is great and their happy hour is awesome and cheap. I love their sushi and drink specials. Not horribly priced during regular hours either!
(5)
A.m. S.
Delicious! Service and food were fantastic. It was our 5yr old first time at hibachi and she had a great time
(5)
Andrea H.
This place would be better if they had better service. The rolls are good, but sometimes taste a little less than fresh. The wait staff is hit or miss. Sometimes you get an attentive server, but other times you don't. The last time I was in there, which was yesterday, I met my party at the restaurant. I was the last to arrive, and it took the server at least 15 minutes to bring me any water, while the rest of my party had some. All in all this place is fine if you're in the area and craving sushi, but there are much better places to go if you're actually wanting an enjoyable experience.
(2)
Jamie L.
This is the best example of the combo Japanese Steakhouse/sushi bar I've been to since returning to KC. Our hamachi with jalapeño and cilantro was a fresh and tasty appetizer. Our teppenyaki chef had a fun routine and cooked our ribeye, scallops and shrimp perfectly. Plenty of seating, quick service and very clean. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Beau G.
Went here lastnight for my girlfriends birthday. Food was good nothing stood out as outstanding or a wow factor. They allowed us to bring a birthday cake in.
(4)
Cali O.
Not great. Ordered a lunch bento. Salmon was over cooked. The tempura wasnt cooked all the way. The calfornia roll was alright. And the steamed rice was undercooked. Not going to come back.
(1)
Christine G.
Went here for lunch and was pretty good. I got the tempora shrimp and veggies and some sushi, while a friend of mine got the seaweed salad and the vegetable sushi. Made right in front of us, which is always a plus. Prices were decent compared to what I've paid at other places. They also offer hibachi which would be good for another trip. Took a look at their happy hour offerings and they had a good amount of options at good prices. Menu itself is pretty wide so I'd go back to try some other options!
(4)
John G.
First let met start off by saying that my family and I have visited nearly EVERY Japanese restaurant in the greater Kansas City area and Kyoto is by far and away the best. It is a little expensive; however, you get a GREAT quality product and pretty darn fresh seafood and beef. I had Swordfish and Filet and it was absolutely excellent and cooked to perfection. Our chef was very entertaining and engaging and really did a good job of engaging the kids. Kyoto was extremely clean and very quick with service. I could not have asked for a better experience for my birthday. The waiter sang Happy B-Day along with everyone at the table. We will become a regular at this restaurant for sure. I would highly suggest Kyoto to anyone who like Japanese to take a trip out to 135th & Metcalf and give this a try. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Juliana S.
Love this place!! We took 2 toddlers with us and they loved it! The food is great! The service is great!
(5)
Caitlin M.
We went here for my birthday last year. The hibachi chef was incredible! We go to a different hibachi restaurant every year for my birthday and this chef was the best by a long shot. He was entertaining, exciting, and fresh with his tricks! The food was good, and cooked correctly. I don't care for shrimp, and he was willing to toss other things to allow me to be included in the fun. The only thing I wish they would do differently is include potatoes in their veggie medley. I really enjoy them at other locations, but they did not include them this time. The restaurant was very busy, but we still had excellent service.
(4)
Tod S.
Yea, I like this place ok. Got a free half order of crab rangoon, thanks yelp but if it wasnt for that idk if I would've eaten here again today.
(3)
Marie F.
A lot of fun rolls to choose from... they were all pretty good, but I felt a little cheated on the origami roll. It just didn't have a lot going for it. The magic mushroom was ok, but the menu says it is a best selling appetizer. Alas, I wouldn't order it again. The Blade roll was my favorite of all the rolls we ordered. The crazy monkey was pretty good too. The cucumber salad was quite tasty. I don't like it to be too sugary...I like more vinegar flavor and this had it. They have one of those rooms you sit on the floor and let your feet dangle if you have a group of people. That was fun. The Happy Buddha drink is served in a Buddha glass... funny. Doesn't hold a lot though. The shaved ice cream was REALLY good and one of the guys was nice enough to chat me up about it and said they actually make in house. Sweet, light and refreshing. Has little bits of cake and fruit in it... not a lot... just enough to keep you digging. We had reservations (that was a difficult call to make (it was very soup Nazi like... they were practically shouting at me over the phone), but we arrived in waves and they put our party in different locations. Luckily, we were able to reunite. So no harm done. Pretty good sushi (didn't try the hibachi, but I overheard them offering yellow- that's a good sign) but RA's happy hour is hard to beat.
(4)
Megan S.
I love Kyoto! I have been there many times! Their variety of sushi is fantastic and the service is really great at getting your seated quickly! Will definitely continue going back!
(5)
Tony R.
Hibachi! I love this place... the hibachi chef was hilarious, he really engaged with the table and added his own little spice to the traditional tricks. The food was delicious. I had teriyaki salmon and fried rice. The salmon looked beautiful, so much that a couple across the table asked about it. A big plus, is that there's always enough to take home and eat later.
(4)
Amy C.
I'm a sushi aficionado, so when my regular sushi restaurant ran off all of my favorite employees, I decided to look for a new haunt. I don't think Kyoto is it. There is something cheap and not very Japanese feeling about Kyoto - the decor is a little off-putting (maybe it's the thousands of fake flowers when you walk in). Also, for some reason, it doesn't feel as warm and welcoming as other restaurants. We decided to order sashimi and a couple of rolls. The fish didn't taste as fresh as I am used to. I have had a friend tell me this is her favorite sushi in Johnson County and I wanted to like it, but I don't think I'll be back. It was marginal at best.
(2)
Dianna W.
Awesome place, great food, friendly and helpful staff. Midori shrimp sushi to die for and habachi chefs are a blast!
(5)
Heidi B.
I've done both sushi bar and hibachi. First the sushi bar was very good except for the over sauced rolls which can leave the crunch to mush. That can be very disheartening but we still left on a happy hour check with bellies overloaded with sushi. So yeah I will come back. Now for the hibachi, holy cow is it good!!! I got the filet and scallops and it was so delicious. We were kept very entertained and even the other guests made it fun. That was a true blue awesome experience. Over all, Kyoto is a very awesome place to go!
(4)
Beth B.
This is my favorite Japanese Steak House in Kansas City, and I've been to a few. It has consistently good service, highly entertaining teppanyaki chefs and good food. The food is 4 stars, but the chefs are 5+ to up this to a 5 star. I have been there with my family (husband and 2 teenagers) several times, but just went today for a work lunch so I thought I would give it a review. We started off with appetizers - sushi, endameme and shrimp tempura. The sushi is good, but I am not an expert. My daughter tells me the sushi is very good, so I believe her. She also tells me they have a good sushi happy hour deal. Check it out. The endameme was meh - sort of dry. Shrimp tempura I did not try - heck, I can only eat so much - but the batter looked lightly fried, which is how I like it. Those who ate it said it was good. Everyone at our table had either chicken, filet or shrimp teppanyaki for entrees. My medium rare filet was cooked perfectly, the vegetables were tender and fried rice was good, Typical Japanese steakhouse fare. Our drinks were refilled before they were empty and the appetizer plates were cleared quickly. The X factor for this restaurant was the chef. He was hilarious and very skilled. I've been to these restaurants before where you kind of felt sorry for the chef and were hoping they didn't drop their utensils as they were juggling or could tell they were working from a script on their jokes. This guy, "Hot" Rod, actually improvised his jokes, gave each of us a nickname and was a master at the juggling, egg tricks and other typical entertainment. Now, if you are too "cool" to enjoy this fun entertainment, go somewhere else. This schtick is just good fun for me and I don't want you at my table being a stick in the mud. Plus, the chefs are witty enough here that they will make fun of you if you don't get their humor. And that will make us have more fun. Enjoy!!
(5)
Pam T.
I've been here a few times for happy hour and I'm finally getting around to writing a review. Any who, service has always been pretty good and the sushi is pretty good too but, nothing spectacular. I got the Tootsie and California rolls. The California roll was on point but, the Tootsie roll came out a little sloppy. It wasn't rolled as tight towards the end as the other one. Other than that, I was a happy camper lol. It was still edible. I had no issues using my voucher for a free half order of Crab Rangoon. At the time, if you checked in on Yelp, you received a voucher. I didn't try them though, I'm trying to watch my fat intake but, there were no complaints from my coworker! Overall, it's a good spot for happy hour sushi because, their prices are fairly decent. Two rolls for 6 bucks, you can't beat that! However, if you're looking for happy hour drink specials, they don't have them. Some of my coworkers were a little bummed about that.
(3)
Elocin V.
This was my first visit to kyotoand I was absolutely delighted! ! We had a party of 6 we shared the spicy crab salad and 4 rolls everything was amazing and super fresh. . We got hibachi for the non sushi members of the party. It was a very entertaining show. . The hibachi chicken was super dry but over all the meal atmosphere and experiance was fantastic! !! I highly recommend the crazy monkey roll, the Jayhawk roll, and the sexy roll! !
(5)
Jan L.
If you like sushi this is a restaurant I would recommend. Their fish is fresh, correctly prepared, tasty, and presented well. I usually don't do rolls, too much rice for my personal taste. So when I order I get their sushi during their happy hour. Since I save a little bit on happy hour prices it allows me to splurge on a few non-happy hour items. They are generous with the ginger...I like extra...and the service is good. I look forward to my next visit.
(4)
Mari M.
This place does not attempt to try and stand out with their food or their service. Instead, they choose to present the same cookie-cutter routine as other restaurants of the same genre. It doesn't work for me AT ALL. My family chose this place for a large group of us to gather for a celebration. As soon as we were seated they began taking orders. Some of us were not ready, but they put the pressure on because they are not there to provide and exceptional dining experience, they just file you in and out. Why anyone makes a choice to come here, is beyond me. The food is low-quality and typically prepared. The service is rushed and is not suited for the customer to enjoy.
(1)
Stephanie P.
I have been coming here since 2003. It is far and away my favorite Japanese restaurant in Kansas City. The food is always fresh and extremely tasty. The bento box lunch is the best. Tons of food and great prices. The tempura is out of this world, as is the fried rice. Yum!
(5)
Dorian G.
Best Japanese food in the Kansas City area, excellent meals and fresh sushi.
(5)
Nate A.
My wife and I eat sushi once in awhile and when we do we go here. Best sushi in south KC area. Never disappointed, great signature rolls and the hibachi is fun for everyone!
(4)
Melisa V.
came here with a few friends last week. we had reservations for the hibachi, so we were sitting with a couple on their first date. the server was incredibly impatient when it came to getting our order. we were waiting for a friend who was running late and the couple were enjoying sushi first, so really why rush? the hibachi chef was great and cooked everything well. we all had chicken. I felt bad for my friend sitting next to me though, because he spilled a bit of her meal off the plate making it really messy! then, before we were even finished, our server threw our checks down with oranges. yes, we were the last customers in the restaurant, but we left 45 minutes before it was scheduled to close!! on our way out, we just saw a table of people who work at the restaurant just chatting. none of them even bothered to say bye or thank you to us. for me, this altered the experience a little for me. I'd return, but maybe for sushi and on the weekend where I'm not the only one in there.
(3)
Patrick And Stephanie P.
This place was great the first few times there. Stopped in for a quick bite on mother's day, and the place was packed w/ a wait. We got right in 'cause we like to sit at the sushi bar. There are tons of rolls available, and we quickly found a couple that looked good, in addition to some yellowtail sashimi. The server was quick, friendly, and seemed experienced. One of the rolls looked great, except it had daikon radish wrapping (see other review). I asked the sushi chef if we could switch it to soy paper and rice. He said yes, and quickly made our selections. The server was attentive but didn't hover. The rolls were delicious and the yellowtail sashimi was the best we'd had in KC! It melted in my mouth and was extremely fresh! Even though all of the stir fry tables were full and staff was busy, we got our check promptly after we asked for it. Overall, great sushi, service, and atmospere! The last time we were there, we came in for dinner. We were just planning on ordering our usual rolls (which we almost always over order n take rest home). Found out that they were having happy hour and decided on some of those rolls instead. We ordered just what we thought we could eat (since the HH menu clearly states no to-go). At the end of our meal we couldn't quite finish the last 4 pieces of one roll, and I asked for a box. The server asked the sushi chef for one and he barked "No to-go's for HH sushi". We explained we understood the reasoning behind it, so ppl don't order a ton and then take a bunch of sushi to go, but we only had 4 measly little pieces. He just barked the same at us again. We could care less about the sushi, but talked to the manager anyway to let home know we were restaurant ppl, we understand policies, but that his staff could have been less rude about it. He just repeated the same as the sushi chef, like a robot. This last experience just left a cold, unfriendly feeling w/ us. That's okay, the ppl at our our fave sushi place always give good service and are friendly every time.
(3)
Brandon D.
The sushi was decent, I really liked the rolls with jalapeño on top. The service was ok.
(3)
Mike B.
Ate there for the first time this weekend and we were impressed, the sushi was very good ....we had the Monkey Role and the Godzilla...I recommend them both! I ordered the steak and chicken combo and it was a large amount of food ..the steak was great the chicken was a little over cooked. My wife and my son both enjoyed.
(4)
Kelly R.
Absolutely LOVE this restuarant. I've had yummy sushi at several restaurants in Kansas City area (RA, Friends, etc.) but this restaurant has so much going for it... Small, neighborhood feel. My husband says I must go here TOO often because when I walk in they immediately greet me by name. HA! But, it's a family business and the staff has been consistent. They know who their clients are. A pretty diverse and delish sushi menu - they have lots of nigiri, sashimi and some salads on sushi menu and a lot of cool rolls to choose from...including the really, really crazy (but crazy yummy) Americanized ones and the more traditional raw and simple rolls. Every roll I have tried has been YUMMY. Sushi is FRESH...EVERY TIME. Hibachi tables are delicious and fun. It can be a pricey night if you take the family to the hibachi tables for dinner but you get a LOT of food. If you don't pig out and box up food you'll have lunch for the next day for certain! HIbachi chefs are entertaining and fun. And like the rest of the staff they will remember repeat customers. We have met some of the nicest KC folks while chatting it up at the hibachi tables, too! I am the sushi eater and my family loves the hibachi menu. Kids LOVE the handmade shaved ice cream! One tip, though...AVOID this place if you know it is homecoming or prom night! This restaurant FILLS with teens on those nights. Love kids, but it's pretty nuts in this restaurant when 90% of the clientele are giggly teens :). My current favorite roll - St Patricks roll...fun mix of flavors and a good kick - spicy salmon, cucumber, cilantro, jalepeno rolled and topped with touch of spicy mayo plus avocado and green tobiko....mmmmmm... This restaurant is reasonably priced and there is a sushi 'happy hour' period daily, too.
(5)
Erin W.
By far, my favorite sushi restaurant in KC. Very fresh! I especially love the Crazy Monkey roll. When you sit at the sushi bar, you get fast service, but if you are at a table, it's usually a lot slower. However, the sushi is so good, they could probably spill on me everytime and I'd still go back :) They have a hibachi as well, but I've never ate at it, but others look like they like it everytime.
(5)
Alliey D.
Kyoto used to be my family's favorite local Japanese steak house, but within the past year or two, things have really been going down hill here. Most recently, I took my boyfriend here for his birthday, and after bragging about this place for a good week non-stop, we left incredibly disappointed (and I left with -1000 credibility points on restaurant suggestions.) The service was perfectly fine, and the show was entertaining as always- 'the Japanese choo-choo train', crazy knife and spatula tricks, jokes and the usual finale shrimp catch used to embarrass everyone at the table, ya know, the typical deal.) but the food was very under-par. The rice was hardly cooked, the food did not taste right, and everything was very over-seasoned and kindof disappointing. My boyfriend still makes fun of me when I get excited about a new restaurant ("Ohhh, is it as good as Kyoto" he mocks. It will be months until I've lived this down...) I give it 3 stars due to the relatively friendly service, and the fact that the sushi bar here is still super great! If you go, go for sushi or a show, but not for any spectacular steak house cuisine.
(3)
Julia F.
I am always a little nervous when restaurants throw authenticity to the wind and serve crab Rangoon and hot and sour soup at a Japanese restaurant. My friends and I chose to eat sushi (instead of the tepanyaki seating), but we instantly regrettted it. Notably, this was NOT due to the food; the sushi was delicious and of good quality. Everything tasted fresh. My major complaint was that we were seated in a small closet off the bar with three booths. You could smell the delicious meat and vegetables on the tepanyaki grills in the next room and hear the great fun, but we were in the, well, closet. The service was definitely lacking. Our waitress was terrible on refilling drinks (a good litmus test for a server), but perhaps this was also a side-effect of where we were seated. I intend to return (one cannot be completely accurate with only one visit), but it is worth mentioning that I will either sit at the tepanyaki tables (which will be a wholly different experience, I am sure) or in one of the small traditional seating rooms (again, a bit like closets, but with more intimacy and authenticity, so therefore, more acceptable).
(3)
Esther Y.
Kyoto has a wide selection of sushi and other Japanese/Asian dishes for almost anyone's tastes and good prices overall. The freshness of the sushi is generally only average, but Kansas is about as land locked as you can get, so I'm not expecting super fresh fish. In my last visit we got: Sexy Roll - A large fat roll with shrimp tempura, spicy tuna and I believe eel with macadamia nuts on top which is normally my favorite roll. Although this time they were a bit skimpy on the macadamia nuts and it is a little pricey at $13 for 5 (large) pieces, but it's still good. Crazy Monkey Roll - Salmon, avocado, cream cheese and deep fried tempura roll which was a good deal and a large portion at the happy hour price of $5. But horrifyingly, the roll was hot all the way through so the salmon was completely cooked :(
(4)
Tom H.
Great place. Happy Hour sushi prices are great!
(5)
Chris T.
We used to go here all the time and loved their food; but the last few times we have gone, the food and service have gone downhill. The service was slow, we had to look for a server to pay our bill, and the food wasn't exceptional. As a matter of fact, the sushi was tasteless. We will not be returning.
(1)
Kimberly D.
This place was SO GOOD. I had sushi and sat at the bar and it was fast and delicious. They had so many options, including a bunch with mango (my favorite). They also have a few rolls available on the cheap for happy hour.
(5)
Dev V.
I basically think Japanese steakhouses are very similar outside of decor. You don't get sat till your entire party is there and you spend that time downing bombers of Kirin until you have to pee so bad you can taste it. Well, Kyoto is different. The staff here is actually nice. It seems like so many other steakhouses just want you to order quickly, serve you and get the f out so they can put another eight people at their glorious griddle and suction fan. Well, not here. The wait staff smiles and are asking if you want another drink far before you'd have to flag them down. The chefs have big personalities and they can cook like a mofo. Sure, they all do the same things (volcano, smiley face, shrimp toss, etc). Our chef last night actually made a flower out of rice and sesame seeds, it was pretty clever. I also like how fresh the beef is here, it's bright red. I did the KC Strip and Lobster and for $29 that is actually not a bad deal considering you get soup, salad, rice, shrimp and veggies along with this. Skip Gojo's and the other ancient spots and get your ass out to Kyoto!
(4)
Dani G.
The food here was ok the first time I went. The past two times have been horrible. We went for lunch and got charged dinner prices and then some. I added cucumber to my Philly roll and got a tiny tiny cube of cucumber in SOME of my roll for a two dollar up charge. The fried rice was great...when drenched in soy sauce. The fish did not taste fresh and the nigiri was tiny. I suggest eating somewhere else if you want good sushi. Have not had the hibachi grill yet....and probably won't.
(2)
Mark Z.
The entertainment was fantastic! Our chef, Roy, was very fun! The food was very good. I especially liked the crab rangoons. Of course they were free for checking into Yelp! My only complaint is that I didn't get the ice tea I ordered. It also wasn't on the bill so it wasn't a big deal. I would definitely eat there again. I tried making reservations through the YELP app, but it could not connect so we called instead.
(4)
Aaron R.
Kinda pricey but great sushi and very friendly staff. Japanese steak house very fun.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Esther Y.
Kyoto has a wide selection of sushi and other Japanese/Asian dishes for almost anyone's tastes and good prices overall. The freshness of the sushi is generally only average, but Kansas is about as land locked as you can get, so I'm not expecting super fresh fish. In my last visit we got: Sexy Roll - A large fat roll with shrimp tempura, spicy tuna and I believe eel with macadamia nuts on top which is normally my favorite roll. Although this time they were a bit skimpy on the macadamia nuts and it is a little pricey at $13 for 5 (large) pieces, but it's still good. Crazy Monkey Roll - Salmon, avocado, cream cheese and deep fried tempura roll which was a good deal and a large portion at the happy hour price of $5. But horrifyingly, the roll was hot all the way through so the salmon was completely cooked :(
(4)Tom H.
Great place. Happy Hour sushi prices are great!
(5)Chris T.
We used to go here all the time and loved their food; but the last few times we have gone, the food and service have gone downhill. The service was slow, we had to look for a server to pay our bill, and the food wasn't exceptional. As a matter of fact, the sushi was tasteless. We will not be returning.
(1)Kimberly D.
This place was SO GOOD. I had sushi and sat at the bar and it was fast and delicious. They had so many options, including a bunch with mango (my favorite). They also have a few rolls available on the cheap for happy hour.
(5)Melisa V.
came here with a few friends last week. we had reservations for the hibachi, so we were sitting with a couple on their first date. the server was incredibly impatient when it came to getting our order. we were waiting for a friend who was running late and the couple were enjoying sushi first, so really why rush? the hibachi chef was great and cooked everything well. we all had chicken. I felt bad for my friend sitting next to me though, because he spilled a bit of her meal off the plate making it really messy! then, before we were even finished, our server threw our checks down with oranges. yes, we were the last customers in the restaurant, but we left 45 minutes before it was scheduled to close!! on our way out, we just saw a table of people who work at the restaurant just chatting. none of them even bothered to say bye or thank you to us. for me, this altered the experience a little for me. I'd return, but maybe for sushi and on the weekend where I'm not the only one in there.
(3)Missy E.
Good teppanyaki, great bento boxes. And my mom says the sushi is wonderful. The servers are also nice and very attentive. This is good Japanese food.
(4)Celina K.
Love, love, love the hibatchi grill here! The cooks are fantastic entertainment too. I will always call this one of my favorite restaurants!!
(5)ME E.
Food is delicious! Very authentic. Great staff. This is one of our favorite restaurants. Has both sushi and steak house seating areas.
(5)Art N.
im from california and the standards of sushi here is much higher. i went here for dinner with the family and the food here is about average. nothing special. When it comes to service i would have to give it a zero. The waitresses dont even check to see if anyone has come to take your order. It is was damn near impossible to get the waitresses to serve us. I would have to say this must have been the slowest service i have ever experience. The worst part of eating here is the super long wait for the food and by time you are starving the food is just below average. Save your money and dine somewhere else. The food and service here is very poor.
(2)Jessica N.
This place is ok. Just ok though. My husband and I are true sushi lovers and having just moved from Chicago we wanted to try several to find a sushi place we liked. When we entered we noticed there were tables and then a hibachi area and the sushi bar. We were seated at the sushi bar, not by choice, they didnt ask if we wanted a table which annoyed me. We we offered the heated towels which is nice. The sushi chef was ok pleasant, but while we were sitting there two employees got into a wrestling match. I am not kidding! The waitress was not very pleasant and the rolls were ok. I had a rock and roll or something and it was good but covered in some thick mayo sauce. Not sure we will give another try.
(2)Angelica E.
Would not recommend this restaurant. Even for the midwest this is a poor representation of Japanese/sushi. I dined in the bar area early evening. Horrible service. Given a glass of water but never followed up with a cocktail order even with me sitting at the bar. The waiter who assisted me (reddish medium length hair) said he never eats at the restaurant when I asked for a suggestion, so I opted for the crazy monkey roll and basic japenese noodle dish. Food presentation was so poor I felt like I was back in my college dorm. Observed a waitress constantly touching her long brown hair while prepping the bar for dinner rush while she hosted. I give the review 2stars for the hospitality of a hostess (pregnant woman) and the amazing detail of their holiday decor.
(2)S G.
My coworkers and I came for lunch but during happy hour. Service was good but the food was a disappointment. The salads were wilted and the sushi did not taste fresh. I couldn't finish one roll because it was so fishy tasting. The 3 of us all got food poisoning afterwards. Maybe the sushi off the regular menu is fine but there's nothing happy about the happy hour sushi.
(2)William L.
Food was okay. Chef was nice. Hostess doesn't smile at all. And my appetizer came after I finished my meal. Unworthy of the price. Service is cold regardless of the servers' and manager's pretended caring for customers. Not recommended.
(2)Dia S.
Perhaps the worst experience I have ever had at a hibachi restaurant. We made reservations and STILL ended up having to wait a ridiculously long time after our reservation time. Once seated it was apparent the other people at the table were regulars, the chef even gave them way more food then he gave any of us. When it came time for the "shrimp toss" he used all the shrimp he set aside on the other people and then tried to give us shrimp he TOOK OFF OF SOMEONES PLATE! One of the people we didn't know! How disgusting! All of us were mortified!
(1)Levi P.
We brought friends from Japan and they said the sushi was great. The egg drop soup was very thick, but good. Sushi was a good price and a good amount for the price. We will be back! True service is not super friendly, but they are nice.
(5)Jose P.
Honestly I have been to a bunch of hibachi joints...this one takes the cake....Benny Hannah has nothing on this place. Food was delicious and I actually received a show. Super entertaining and will definitely be back. Best in Kansas City.
(5)Jessica K.
I went there a couple week ago and the sushi make me little disappointed. The sushi rolls is not fresh at all. I feel like they used old fish. But the server very nice and friendly.
(3)Beth B.
This is my favorite Japanese Steak House in Kansas City, and I've been to a few. It has consistently good service, highly entertaining teppanyaki chefs and good food. The food is 4 stars, but the chefs are 5+ to up this to a 5 star. I have been there with my family (husband and 2 teenagers) several times, but just went today for a work lunch so I thought I would give it a review. We started off with appetizers - sushi, endameme and shrimp tempura. The sushi is good, but I am not an expert. My daughter tells me the sushi is very good, so I believe her. She also tells me they have a good sushi happy hour deal. Check it out. The endameme was meh - sort of dry. Shrimp tempura I did not try - heck, I can only eat so much - but the batter looked lightly fried, which is how I like it. Those who ate it said it was good. Everyone at our table had either chicken, filet or shrimp teppanyaki for entrees. My medium rare filet was cooked perfectly, the vegetables were tender and fried rice was good, Typical Japanese steakhouse fare. Our drinks were refilled before they were empty and the appetizer plates were cleared quickly. The X factor for this restaurant was the chef. He was hilarious and very skilled. I've been to these restaurants before where you kind of felt sorry for the chef and were hoping they didn't drop their utensils as they were juggling or could tell they were working from a script on their jokes. This guy, "Hot" Rod, actually improvised his jokes, gave each of us a nickname and was a master at the juggling, egg tricks and other typical entertainment. Now, if you are too "cool" to enjoy this fun entertainment, go somewhere else. This schtick is just good fun for me and I don't want you at my table being a stick in the mud. Plus, the chefs are witty enough here that they will make fun of you if you don't get their humor. And that will make us have more fun. Enjoy!!
(5)Dev V.
I basically think Japanese steakhouses are very similar outside of decor. You don't get sat till your entire party is there and you spend that time downing bombers of Kirin until you have to pee so bad you can taste it. Well, Kyoto is different. The staff here is actually nice. It seems like so many other steakhouses just want you to order quickly, serve you and get the f out so they can put another eight people at their glorious griddle and suction fan. Well, not here. The wait staff smiles and are asking if you want another drink far before you'd have to flag them down. The chefs have big personalities and they can cook like a mofo. Sure, they all do the same things (volcano, smiley face, shrimp toss, etc). Our chef last night actually made a flower out of rice and sesame seeds, it was pretty clever. I also like how fresh the beef is here, it's bright red. I did the KC Strip and Lobster and for $29 that is actually not a bad deal considering you get soup, salad, rice, shrimp and veggies along with this. Skip Gojo's and the other ancient spots and get your ass out to Kyoto!
(4)Dani G.
The food here was ok the first time I went. The past two times have been horrible. We went for lunch and got charged dinner prices and then some. I added cucumber to my Philly roll and got a tiny tiny cube of cucumber in SOME of my roll for a two dollar up charge. The fried rice was great...when drenched in soy sauce. The fish did not taste fresh and the nigiri was tiny. I suggest eating somewhere else if you want good sushi. Have not had the hibachi grill yet....and probably won't.
(2)Dan D.
I can only speak to the sushi. I'm not a teppan yaki fan, nor do I go for any regular menu. Also, I tend to go for happy hour, when the sushi prices are a bit cheaper. I avoid the "specialty rolls" which are just an excuse to charge over 10 bucks for some rice, sweet sauce, and a bit of fish. Then again - who can resist the "sports team of your choice" roll? Ok - so given the criticism, why 4 stars? Because their nigiri is pretty good actually, and the prices (even non-happy hour) are quite reasonable. Enough said. Go for the sushi, and you should enjoy!
(4)Pam T.
I've been here a few times for happy hour and I'm finally getting around to writing a review. Any who, service has always been pretty good and the sushi is pretty good too but, nothing spectacular. I got the Tootsie and California rolls. The California roll was on point but, the Tootsie roll came out a little sloppy. It wasn't rolled as tight towards the end as the other one. Other than that, I was a happy camper lol. It was still edible. I had no issues using my voucher for a free half order of Crab Rangoon. At the time, if you checked in on Yelp, you received a voucher. I didn't try them though, I'm trying to watch my fat intake but, there were no complaints from my coworker! Overall, it's a good spot for happy hour sushi because, their prices are fairly decent. Two rolls for 6 bucks, you can't beat that! However, if you're looking for happy hour drink specials, they don't have them. Some of my coworkers were a little bummed about that.
(3)Elocin V.
This was my first visit to kyotoand I was absolutely delighted! ! We had a party of 6 we shared the spicy crab salad and 4 rolls everything was amazing and super fresh. . We got hibachi for the non sushi members of the party. It was a very entertaining show. . The hibachi chicken was super dry but over all the meal atmosphere and experiance was fantastic! !! I highly recommend the crazy monkey roll, the Jayhawk roll, and the sexy roll! !
(5)Jan L.
If you like sushi this is a restaurant I would recommend. Their fish is fresh, correctly prepared, tasty, and presented well. I usually don't do rolls, too much rice for my personal taste. So when I order I get their sushi during their happy hour. Since I save a little bit on happy hour prices it allows me to splurge on a few non-happy hour items. They are generous with the ginger...I like extra...and the service is good. I look forward to my next visit.
(4)Mari M.
This place does not attempt to try and stand out with their food or their service. Instead, they choose to present the same cookie-cutter routine as other restaurants of the same genre. It doesn't work for me AT ALL. My family chose this place for a large group of us to gather for a celebration. As soon as we were seated they began taking orders. Some of us were not ready, but they put the pressure on because they are not there to provide and exceptional dining experience, they just file you in and out. Why anyone makes a choice to come here, is beyond me. The food is low-quality and typically prepared. The service is rushed and is not suited for the customer to enjoy.
(1)Bobbi M.
Best sushi, hibachi and Japanese steakhouse in Kansas City. I've been going for years. (I moved to Denver, but always go back when I'm in town)! The chefs are fabulous and so entertaining.. Side note, the Spicy Crab Salad is a MUST! Absolutely love this place! Great ownership and servers!
(5)Josh B.
Judy took our orders and she was incredibly rude and impatient. She made it abundantly clear that she was frustrated with the three questions we asked about the menu. What made it more disappointing is that this was a birthday celebration and we made it clear it was. So she upset the birthday celebration. I would recommend she gets customer service training.
(1)Laurie M.
Oh Crazy Monkey Roll, why do I crave you so?! The hibachi grill is pretty standard stuff... flaming onion volcano, knife tricks and cheesy jokes. Entertaining for the kids. But the gem of this place is the variety of sushi. It's so fresh and done well. If you like rolls, get them at lunch for half the cost at night but still the same portion.
(4)Brianne L.
I am in love with this sushi place. Whenever my friends want to have sushi or if they have never tried it before, I always make them come here. Their sushi is great and their happy hour is awesome and cheap. I love their sushi and drink specials. Not horribly priced during regular hours either!
(5)A.m. S.
Delicious! Service and food were fantastic. It was our 5yr old first time at hibachi and she had a great time
(5)Andrea H.
This place would be better if they had better service. The rolls are good, but sometimes taste a little less than fresh. The wait staff is hit or miss. Sometimes you get an attentive server, but other times you don't. The last time I was in there, which was yesterday, I met my party at the restaurant. I was the last to arrive, and it took the server at least 15 minutes to bring me any water, while the rest of my party had some. All in all this place is fine if you're in the area and craving sushi, but there are much better places to go if you're actually wanting an enjoyable experience.
(2)Jamie L.
This is the best example of the combo Japanese Steakhouse/sushi bar I've been to since returning to KC. Our hamachi with jalapeño and cilantro was a fresh and tasty appetizer. Our teppenyaki chef had a fun routine and cooked our ribeye, scallops and shrimp perfectly. Plenty of seating, quick service and very clean. We will definitely be back.
(4)Beau G.
Went here lastnight for my girlfriends birthday. Food was good nothing stood out as outstanding or a wow factor. They allowed us to bring a birthday cake in.
(4)Cali O.
Not great. Ordered a lunch bento. Salmon was over cooked. The tempura wasnt cooked all the way. The calfornia roll was alright. And the steamed rice was undercooked. Not going to come back.
(1)Jody C.
Very quick service at the bar area table. We ordered the tootsie roll (great!), I had vegetable udon and my husband ordered the chicken and steak teriyaki combo. We both agreed that we loved our food.
(5)Christine G.
Went here for lunch and was pretty good. I got the tempora shrimp and veggies and some sushi, while a friend of mine got the seaweed salad and the vegetable sushi. Made right in front of us, which is always a plus. Prices were decent compared to what I've paid at other places. They also offer hibachi which would be good for another trip. Took a look at their happy hour offerings and they had a good amount of options at good prices. Menu itself is pretty wide so I'd go back to try some other options!
(4)John G.
First let met start off by saying that my family and I have visited nearly EVERY Japanese restaurant in the greater Kansas City area and Kyoto is by far and away the best. It is a little expensive; however, you get a GREAT quality product and pretty darn fresh seafood and beef. I had Swordfish and Filet and it was absolutely excellent and cooked to perfection. Our chef was very entertaining and engaging and really did a good job of engaging the kids. Kyoto was extremely clean and very quick with service. I could not have asked for a better experience for my birthday. The waiter sang Happy B-Day along with everyone at the table. We will become a regular at this restaurant for sure. I would highly suggest Kyoto to anyone who like Japanese to take a trip out to 135th & Metcalf and give this a try. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Juliana S.
Love this place!! We took 2 toddlers with us and they loved it! The food is great! The service is great!
(5)Marie F.
A lot of fun rolls to choose from... they were all pretty good, but I felt a little cheated on the origami roll. It just didn't have a lot going for it. The magic mushroom was ok, but the menu says it is a best selling appetizer. Alas, I wouldn't order it again. The Blade roll was my favorite of all the rolls we ordered. The crazy monkey was pretty good too. The cucumber salad was quite tasty. I don't like it to be too sugary...I like more vinegar flavor and this had it. They have one of those rooms you sit on the floor and let your feet dangle if you have a group of people. That was fun. The Happy Buddha drink is served in a Buddha glass... funny. Doesn't hold a lot though. The shaved ice cream was REALLY good and one of the guys was nice enough to chat me up about it and said they actually make in house. Sweet, light and refreshing. Has little bits of cake and fruit in it... not a lot... just enough to keep you digging. We had reservations (that was a difficult call to make (it was very soup Nazi like... they were practically shouting at me over the phone), but we arrived in waves and they put our party in different locations. Luckily, we were able to reunite. So no harm done. Pretty good sushi (didn't try the hibachi, but I overheard them offering yellow- that's a good sign) but RA's happy hour is hard to beat.
(4)Megan S.
I love Kyoto! I have been there many times! Their variety of sushi is fantastic and the service is really great at getting your seated quickly! Will definitely continue going back!
(5)Tony R.
Hibachi! I love this place... the hibachi chef was hilarious, he really engaged with the table and added his own little spice to the traditional tricks. The food was delicious. I had teriyaki salmon and fried rice. The salmon looked beautiful, so much that a couple across the table asked about it. A big plus, is that there's always enough to take home and eat later.
(4)Amy C.
I'm a sushi aficionado, so when my regular sushi restaurant ran off all of my favorite employees, I decided to look for a new haunt. I don't think Kyoto is it. There is something cheap and not very Japanese feeling about Kyoto - the decor is a little off-putting (maybe it's the thousands of fake flowers when you walk in). Also, for some reason, it doesn't feel as warm and welcoming as other restaurants. We decided to order sashimi and a couple of rolls. The fish didn't taste as fresh as I am used to. I have had a friend tell me this is her favorite sushi in Johnson County and I wanted to like it, but I don't think I'll be back. It was marginal at best.
(2)Dianna W.
Awesome place, great food, friendly and helpful staff. Midori shrimp sushi to die for and habachi chefs are a blast!
(5)Caitlin M.
We went here for my birthday last year. The hibachi chef was incredible! We go to a different hibachi restaurant every year for my birthday and this chef was the best by a long shot. He was entertaining, exciting, and fresh with his tricks! The food was good, and cooked correctly. I don't care for shrimp, and he was willing to toss other things to allow me to be included in the fun. The only thing I wish they would do differently is include potatoes in their veggie medley. I really enjoy them at other locations, but they did not include them this time. The restaurant was very busy, but we still had excellent service.
(4)Heidi B.
I've done both sushi bar and hibachi. First the sushi bar was very good except for the over sauced rolls which can leave the crunch to mush. That can be very disheartening but we still left on a happy hour check with bellies overloaded with sushi. So yeah I will come back. Now for the hibachi, holy cow is it good!!! I got the filet and scallops and it was so delicious. We were kept very entertained and even the other guests made it fun. That was a true blue awesome experience. Over all, Kyoto is a very awesome place to go!
(4)Tod S.
Yea, I like this place ok. Got a free half order of crab rangoon, thanks yelp but if it wasnt for that idk if I would've eaten here again today.
(3)Mark Z.
The entertainment was fantastic! Our chef, Roy, was very fun! The food was very good. I especially liked the crab rangoons. Of course they were free for checking into Yelp! My only complaint is that I didn't get the ice tea I ordered. It also wasn't on the bill so it wasn't a big deal. I would definitely eat there again. I tried making reservations through the YELP app, but it could not connect so we called instead.
(4)Aaron R.
Kinda pricey but great sushi and very friendly staff. Japanese steak house very fun.
(4)Ann W.
The hubby and I checked Kyoto out for sushi, not steak, so we didn't do the teppanyaki tables (which I generally don't care for, anyway), but they were quite lively and very noisy. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered a sashimi platter and a couple of sushi rolls, veggie tempura and cocktails. We were served our sushi over the counter by one of the sushi chefs, but there was a waitress who took our drink orders and cleared our dishes. Our waitress was slow and glum, not appearing to particularly care about her patrons or the quality of their experience. The veggie tempura arrived after our sushi was gone and it was inedible. We tried several of the pieces, but it was undercooked and just gross. We would have sent it back, but our waitress was mostly absent and by the time she returned, after a very significant wait, we just wanted out of there. As for the sushi, the rolls were fine. We had ordered the 13 piece sashimi entree and when it was presented, I thought it was the 7 piece because there was so little fish there. The pieces were ridiculously small and we really didn't get our $23 worth, but the white tuna that was part of the sashimi entree was excellent. The sashimi entree was supposed to come with miso soup, and that was delivered along with the tempura long after we'd already eaten our sushi and it was inedible with very little flavor aside from salt. We also each had a cocktail and the cocktails seemed to be completely devoid of alcohol. For 70+ bucks for the two of us, we spent way too much for a truly sub-par dining experience. Maybe the teppanyaki table experience is better, but I wouldn't bother to return here for sushi.
(2)Lisa S.
My husband and I visited Kyoto tonight. I'd been craving a sushi roll. I got the garlic spiced edamame. I like the added flavor. I got the midori shrimp again with the same substitution of soy paper. The roll came out perfect this time. I like that it doesn't fall apart while eating it. My husband tried a hand roll and a sushi roll. He loved both of his. We also got a bowl of fried rice to share. It was probably some of the best fried rice we've had in a while. Lots of onion and other ingredients in it, which is just the way I like. He said we'll definately be back.
(5)Nicole W.
We came in for sushi however the tappenaki grill looked great! The food was pretty good although the rolls were small. You did get 8 though. The service was fantastic, moving and working together in an even flow. The mango roll is wonderful! We also got dumplings, not too hot but not too cold. I wasn't too fond of the miso or spicy crab salad but overall the food was great! Great atmosphere too :)
(4)Danah S.
I have had both the sushi and the steak house. Both are wonderful. Super friendly and fun staff and the food is great. I will be returning.
(5)Hannah P.
After a not so great experience here (rushed service, food quality not great) with a large group of people, I wrote an unhappy review. The owner and manager made a big effort to get me to come in again and have a better experience-a meal for two on the house! Upon the second visit, I found the service to be much more accommodating, and the food of a higher quality. If you're looking for a lot of flavorful food, come here!
(3)Scott R.
Our trip to Kyoto was predicated on a get-together for my sister's birthday, though it was also a good chance to get to see the family. I didn't make the arrangements, but I presume that my brother or mother made a reservation - not that it would have mattered, since there are few restaurants that are packed at 5:00 on a Monday, Memorial Day, no less. We were seated around a teppanyaki grill and put in our orders. I chose the scallops, and Mrs. R chose the tofu, and the rest around the table stayed with beef or chicken. We started with some crab Rangoon and calamari, and these came from the house kitchen, but came roughly at the same time as the cook, so we had a few items to nibble on while we watched the show. We also all started with a small salad and soup, though not quite the traditional miso (I can't recall just what it was). Our cook came out and started the typical grill show, though I did see from other tables that were within eyesight that each cook has a different routine of bits. These included the onion volcano (with the silly little 'peeing' toy to put it out), a joke bottle of sauce that shoots out a string to startle the guest, the spinning flippers and tossing an egg into the chef's hat, and the traditional shrimp toss. The food was well-prepared, and the show was entertaining. I think my father was a little confused about his meal - not typically experience with teppanyaki, he ordered a steak, though was thrown a little off when it was cut into bite-sized pieces just before being put on his plate. My scallops were done well, big fat sea scallops, seared on the outside, but still soft and succulent inside.
(4)Samantha B.
Went here for a group birthday dinner. The service was AMAZING. So attentive and quick. If you have to wait for a table, it is worth it. The Bangkok roll and the Wildcat roll were delicious, fresh and unique. The flavors and creativity were impressive. I venture a lot of different sushi places in KC Area. The hibachi grill chef was fun and did a great job.
(5)Alicia R.
This Japanese Steakhouse is in a strip mall on 135th...I did not know that this whole area had been developed to this extent, but I am glad it has been so I could enjoy dinner at Kyoto. They have standard teppanyaki tables, as well as standard tables, a few sunken tables, and seats at the sushi bar. Our party of 9 sat at a teppanyaki table, and have to admit that a party of 8 would have fit better, but it was still fun and comfortable. Our chef was great...very funny and personable, and made a big deal out of the birthday that we were celebrating. Our server was very attentive, bringing lots of drink refills and ensuring we had everything we needed. I tried the tofu (very good, pre-fried and then well sauced), my companions got a variety of steaks, shrimp, chicken, and scallops. Everyone enjoyed their food. The sushi that was served to other patrons looked really good, so next time I go, I will take advantage of the reduced-price sushi for happy hour from 4-6pm.
(4)Alycia C.
Had the pleasure of eating here before attending the "Sound of Music" on what seemed to be the HOTTEST night of this KC summer. The hibachi chef was charismatic, which is what you want or we wanted. We ordered sushi roll that was heavenly. I'm sorry I can remember which one. The food was excellent. I believe I had the teriyaki chicken. I went light since I'd be out in the heat for 3 hours, hoping to love this musical. The strawberry daiquiri was delicious. The atmosphere was friendly, open and clean. The only thing I noticed was the hibachi chef gave me the most food. My plate was overflowing in food. Weird or did he feel I was famished? But you know what it made for amazing leftovers the next day so lucky me. We will be back or better yet come to Olathe ;)
(5)Patrick W.
Awesome happy hour that goes til 6 on weekdays. You do have to sit in the booths though. $5 crazy monkey rolls!! Also the BEST Japanese Steakhouse in town!
(5)Saju J.
Good food, miso soup was well balanced but lukewarm. Surprisingly sinful Rangoon rolls
(4)Stephanie P.
I have been coming here since 2003. It is far and away my favorite Japanese restaurant in Kansas City. The food is always fresh and extremely tasty. The bento box lunch is the best. Tons of food and great prices. The tempura is out of this world, as is the fried rice. Yum!
(5)Kelly R.
Absolutely LOVE this restuarant. I've had yummy sushi at several restaurants in Kansas City area (RA, Friends, etc.) but this restaurant has so much going for it... Small, neighborhood feel. My husband says I must go here TOO often because when I walk in they immediately greet me by name. HA! But, it's a family business and the staff has been consistent. They know who their clients are. A pretty diverse and delish sushi menu - they have lots of nigiri, sashimi and some salads on sushi menu and a lot of cool rolls to choose from...including the really, really crazy (but crazy yummy) Americanized ones and the more traditional raw and simple rolls. Every roll I have tried has been YUMMY. Sushi is FRESH...EVERY TIME. Hibachi tables are delicious and fun. It can be a pricey night if you take the family to the hibachi tables for dinner but you get a LOT of food. If you don't pig out and box up food you'll have lunch for the next day for certain! HIbachi chefs are entertaining and fun. And like the rest of the staff they will remember repeat customers. We have met some of the nicest KC folks while chatting it up at the hibachi tables, too! I am the sushi eater and my family loves the hibachi menu. Kids LOVE the handmade shaved ice cream! One tip, though...AVOID this place if you know it is homecoming or prom night! This restaurant FILLS with teens on those nights. Love kids, but it's pretty nuts in this restaurant when 90% of the clientele are giggly teens :). My current favorite roll - St Patricks roll...fun mix of flavors and a good kick - spicy salmon, cucumber, cilantro, jalepeno rolled and topped with touch of spicy mayo plus avocado and green tobiko....mmmmmm... This restaurant is reasonably priced and there is a sushi 'happy hour' period daily, too.
(5)Alliey D.
Kyoto used to be my family's favorite local Japanese steak house, but within the past year or two, things have really been going down hill here. Most recently, I took my boyfriend here for his birthday, and after bragging about this place for a good week non-stop, we left incredibly disappointed (and I left with -1000 credibility points on restaurant suggestions.) The service was perfectly fine, and the show was entertaining as always- 'the Japanese choo-choo train', crazy knife and spatula tricks, jokes and the usual finale shrimp catch used to embarrass everyone at the table, ya know, the typical deal.) but the food was very under-par. The rice was hardly cooked, the food did not taste right, and everything was very over-seasoned and kindof disappointing. My boyfriend still makes fun of me when I get excited about a new restaurant ("Ohhh, is it as good as Kyoto" he mocks. It will be months until I've lived this down...) I give it 3 stars due to the relatively friendly service, and the fact that the sushi bar here is still super great! If you go, go for sushi or a show, but not for any spectacular steak house cuisine.
(3)Mike B.
Ate there for the first time this weekend and we were impressed, the sushi was very good ....we had the Monkey Role and the Godzilla...I recommend them both! I ordered the steak and chicken combo and it was a large amount of food ..the steak was great the chicken was a little over cooked. My wife and my son both enjoyed.
(4)Nate A.
My wife and I eat sushi once in awhile and when we do we go here. Best sushi in south KC area. Never disappointed, great signature rolls and the hibachi is fun for everyone!
(4)Patrick And Stephanie P.
This place was great the first few times there. Stopped in for a quick bite on mother's day, and the place was packed w/ a wait. We got right in 'cause we like to sit at the sushi bar. There are tons of rolls available, and we quickly found a couple that looked good, in addition to some yellowtail sashimi. The server was quick, friendly, and seemed experienced. One of the rolls looked great, except it had daikon radish wrapping (see other review). I asked the sushi chef if we could switch it to soy paper and rice. He said yes, and quickly made our selections. The server was attentive but didn't hover. The rolls were delicious and the yellowtail sashimi was the best we'd had in KC! It melted in my mouth and was extremely fresh! Even though all of the stir fry tables were full and staff was busy, we got our check promptly after we asked for it. Overall, great sushi, service, and atmospere! The last time we were there, we came in for dinner. We were just planning on ordering our usual rolls (which we almost always over order n take rest home). Found out that they were having happy hour and decided on some of those rolls instead. We ordered just what we thought we could eat (since the HH menu clearly states no to-go). At the end of our meal we couldn't quite finish the last 4 pieces of one roll, and I asked for a box. The server asked the sushi chef for one and he barked "No to-go's for HH sushi". We explained we understood the reasoning behind it, so ppl don't order a ton and then take a bunch of sushi to go, but we only had 4 measly little pieces. He just barked the same at us again. We could care less about the sushi, but talked to the manager anyway to let home know we were restaurant ppl, we understand policies, but that his staff could have been less rude about it. He just repeated the same as the sushi chef, like a robot. This last experience just left a cold, unfriendly feeling w/ us. That's okay, the ppl at our our fave sushi place always give good service and are friendly every time.
(3)Brandon D.
The sushi was decent, I really liked the rolls with jalapeño on top. The service was ok.
(3)Erin W.
By far, my favorite sushi restaurant in KC. Very fresh! I especially love the Crazy Monkey roll. When you sit at the sushi bar, you get fast service, but if you are at a table, it's usually a lot slower. However, the sushi is so good, they could probably spill on me everytime and I'd still go back :) They have a hibachi as well, but I've never ate at it, but others look like they like it everytime.
(5)Dorian G.
Best Japanese food in the Kansas City area, excellent meals and fresh sushi.
(5)Julia F.
I am always a little nervous when restaurants throw authenticity to the wind and serve crab Rangoon and hot and sour soup at a Japanese restaurant. My friends and I chose to eat sushi (instead of the tepanyaki seating), but we instantly regrettted it. Notably, this was NOT due to the food; the sushi was delicious and of good quality. Everything tasted fresh. My major complaint was that we were seated in a small closet off the bar with three booths. You could smell the delicious meat and vegetables on the tepanyaki grills in the next room and hear the great fun, but we were in the, well, closet. The service was definitely lacking. Our waitress was terrible on refilling drinks (a good litmus test for a server), but perhaps this was also a side-effect of where we were seated. I intend to return (one cannot be completely accurate with only one visit), but it is worth mentioning that I will either sit at the tepanyaki tables (which will be a wholly different experience, I am sure) or in one of the small traditional seating rooms (again, a bit like closets, but with more intimacy and authenticity, so therefore, more acceptable).
(3)Jeana C.
Poor service, terrible waitresses and food is not great. A Japanese person would defiantly be disappointed in the food. Food is not authentic.
(1)Abigail S.
Favorite sushi spot in KC. Nice staff. Good Drinks. Great Sushi at great prices! Definitely recommend it!
(5)KungFu T.
Love eating at Kyoto, we've been going there for more than 10 years. Their Sushi is pretty good, not the best but it's up there. Their hibachi is always fun too.
(4)Michael R.
Best Sushi in Kansas City! I've lived in Santa Barbara and Chicago and this is the closest competition to the best in both those places. Their rolls are really works of art. Some of them have quite a bit of stuff on them, and some heavy sauces but that makes them that much better.. They also have some of the fresher fish I've had in town. The service is great as well!
(5)Dan D.
I can only speak to the sushi. I'm not a teppan yaki fan, nor do I go for any regular menu. Also, I tend to go for happy hour, when the sushi prices are a bit cheaper. I avoid the "specialty rolls" which are just an excuse to charge over 10 bucks for some rice, sweet sauce, and a bit of fish. Then again - who can resist the "sports team of your choice" roll? Ok - so given the criticism, why 4 stars? Because their nigiri is pretty good actually, and the prices (even non-happy hour) are quite reasonable. Enough said. Go for the sushi, and you should enjoy!
(4)Missy E.
Good teppanyaki, great bento boxes. And my mom says the sushi is wonderful. The servers are also nice and very attentive. This is good Japanese food.
(4)Celina K.
Love, love, love the hibatchi grill here! The cooks are fantastic entertainment too. I will always call this one of my favorite restaurants!!
(5)Jeana C.
Poor service, terrible waitresses and food is not great. A Japanese person would defiantly be disappointed in the food. Food is not authentic.
(1)Abigail S.
Favorite sushi spot in KC. Nice staff. Good Drinks. Great Sushi at great prices! Definitely recommend it!
(5)KungFu T.
Love eating at Kyoto, we've been going there for more than 10 years. Their Sushi is pretty good, not the best but it's up there. Their hibachi is always fun too.
(4)Michael R.
Best Sushi in Kansas City! I've lived in Santa Barbara and Chicago and this is the closest competition to the best in both those places. Their rolls are really works of art. Some of them have quite a bit of stuff on them, and some heavy sauces but that makes them that much better.. They also have some of the fresher fish I've had in town. The service is great as well!
(5)ME E.
Food is delicious! Very authentic. Great staff. This is one of our favorite restaurants. Has both sushi and steak house seating areas.
(5)Art N.
im from california and the standards of sushi here is much higher. i went here for dinner with the family and the food here is about average. nothing special. When it comes to service i would have to give it a zero. The waitresses dont even check to see if anyone has come to take your order. It is was damn near impossible to get the waitresses to serve us. I would have to say this must have been the slowest service i have ever experience. The worst part of eating here is the super long wait for the food and by time you are starving the food is just below average. Save your money and dine somewhere else. The food and service here is very poor.
(2)Jessica N.
This place is ok. Just ok though. My husband and I are true sushi lovers and having just moved from Chicago we wanted to try several to find a sushi place we liked. When we entered we noticed there were tables and then a hibachi area and the sushi bar. We were seated at the sushi bar, not by choice, they didnt ask if we wanted a table which annoyed me. We we offered the heated towels which is nice. The sushi chef was ok pleasant, but while we were sitting there two employees got into a wrestling match. I am not kidding! The waitress was not very pleasant and the rolls were ok. I had a rock and roll or something and it was good but covered in some thick mayo sauce. Not sure we will give another try.
(2)Bobbi M.
Best sushi, hibachi and Japanese steakhouse in Kansas City. I've been going for years. (I moved to Denver, but always go back when I'm in town)! The chefs are fabulous and so entertaining.. Side note, the Spicy Crab Salad is a MUST! Absolutely love this place! Great ownership and servers!
(5)Josh B.
Judy took our orders and she was incredibly rude and impatient. She made it abundantly clear that she was frustrated with the three questions we asked about the menu. What made it more disappointing is that this was a birthday celebration and we made it clear it was. So she upset the birthday celebration. I would recommend she gets customer service training.
(1)Hannah P.
After a not so great experience here (rushed service, food quality not great) with a large group of people, I wrote an unhappy review. The owner and manager made a big effort to get me to come in again and have a better experience-a meal for two on the house! Upon the second visit, I found the service to be much more accommodating, and the food of a higher quality. If you're looking for a lot of flavorful food, come here!
(3)Jody C.
Very quick service at the bar area table. We ordered the tootsie roll (great!), I had vegetable udon and my husband ordered the chicken and steak teriyaki combo. We both agreed that we loved our food.
(5)Ann W.
The hubby and I checked Kyoto out for sushi, not steak, so we didn't do the teppanyaki tables (which I generally don't care for, anyway), but they were quite lively and very noisy. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered a sashimi platter and a couple of sushi rolls, veggie tempura and cocktails. We were served our sushi over the counter by one of the sushi chefs, but there was a waitress who took our drink orders and cleared our dishes. Our waitress was slow and glum, not appearing to particularly care about her patrons or the quality of their experience. The veggie tempura arrived after our sushi was gone and it was inedible. We tried several of the pieces, but it was undercooked and just gross. We would have sent it back, but our waitress was mostly absent and by the time she returned, after a very significant wait, we just wanted out of there. As for the sushi, the rolls were fine. We had ordered the 13 piece sashimi entree and when it was presented, I thought it was the 7 piece because there was so little fish there. The pieces were ridiculously small and we really didn't get our $23 worth, but the white tuna that was part of the sashimi entree was excellent. The sashimi entree was supposed to come with miso soup, and that was delivered along with the tempura long after we'd already eaten our sushi and it was inedible with very little flavor aside from salt. We also each had a cocktail and the cocktails seemed to be completely devoid of alcohol. For 70+ bucks for the two of us, we spent way too much for a truly sub-par dining experience. Maybe the teppanyaki table experience is better, but I wouldn't bother to return here for sushi.
(2)Nicole W.
We came in for sushi however the tappenaki grill looked great! The food was pretty good although the rolls were small. You did get 8 though. The service was fantastic, moving and working together in an even flow. The mango roll is wonderful! We also got dumplings, not too hot but not too cold. I wasn't too fond of the miso or spicy crab salad but overall the food was great! Great atmosphere too :)
(4)Danah S.
I have had both the sushi and the steak house. Both are wonderful. Super friendly and fun staff and the food is great. I will be returning.
(5)Laurie M.
Oh Crazy Monkey Roll, why do I crave you so?! The hibachi grill is pretty standard stuff... flaming onion volcano, knife tricks and cheesy jokes. Entertaining for the kids. But the gem of this place is the variety of sushi. It's so fresh and done well. If you like rolls, get them at lunch for half the cost at night but still the same portion.
(4)Lisa S.
My husband and I visited Kyoto tonight. I'd been craving a sushi roll. I got the garlic spiced edamame. I like the added flavor. I got the midori shrimp again with the same substitution of soy paper. The roll came out perfect this time. I like that it doesn't fall apart while eating it. My husband tried a hand roll and a sushi roll. He loved both of his. We also got a bowl of fried rice to share. It was probably some of the best fried rice we've had in a while. Lots of onion and other ingredients in it, which is just the way I like. He said we'll definately be back.
(5)Scott R.
Our trip to Kyoto was predicated on a get-together for my sister's birthday, though it was also a good chance to get to see the family. I didn't make the arrangements, but I presume that my brother or mother made a reservation - not that it would have mattered, since there are few restaurants that are packed at 5:00 on a Monday, Memorial Day, no less. We were seated around a teppanyaki grill and put in our orders. I chose the scallops, and Mrs. R chose the tofu, and the rest around the table stayed with beef or chicken. We started with some crab Rangoon and calamari, and these came from the house kitchen, but came roughly at the same time as the cook, so we had a few items to nibble on while we watched the show. We also all started with a small salad and soup, though not quite the traditional miso (I can't recall just what it was). Our cook came out and started the typical grill show, though I did see from other tables that were within eyesight that each cook has a different routine of bits. These included the onion volcano (with the silly little 'peeing' toy to put it out), a joke bottle of sauce that shoots out a string to startle the guest, the spinning flippers and tossing an egg into the chef's hat, and the traditional shrimp toss. The food was well-prepared, and the show was entertaining. I think my father was a little confused about his meal - not typically experience with teppanyaki, he ordered a steak, though was thrown a little off when it was cut into bite-sized pieces just before being put on his plate. My scallops were done well, big fat sea scallops, seared on the outside, but still soft and succulent inside.
(4)Samantha B.
Went here for a group birthday dinner. The service was AMAZING. So attentive and quick. If you have to wait for a table, it is worth it. The Bangkok roll and the Wildcat roll were delicious, fresh and unique. The flavors and creativity were impressive. I venture a lot of different sushi places in KC Area. The hibachi grill chef was fun and did a great job.
(5)Alicia R.
This Japanese Steakhouse is in a strip mall on 135th...I did not know that this whole area had been developed to this extent, but I am glad it has been so I could enjoy dinner at Kyoto. They have standard teppanyaki tables, as well as standard tables, a few sunken tables, and seats at the sushi bar. Our party of 9 sat at a teppanyaki table, and have to admit that a party of 8 would have fit better, but it was still fun and comfortable. Our chef was great...very funny and personable, and made a big deal out of the birthday that we were celebrating. Our server was very attentive, bringing lots of drink refills and ensuring we had everything we needed. I tried the tofu (very good, pre-fried and then well sauced), my companions got a variety of steaks, shrimp, chicken, and scallops. Everyone enjoyed their food. The sushi that was served to other patrons looked really good, so next time I go, I will take advantage of the reduced-price sushi for happy hour from 4-6pm.
(4)Angelica E.
Would not recommend this restaurant. Even for the midwest this is a poor representation of Japanese/sushi. I dined in the bar area early evening. Horrible service. Given a glass of water but never followed up with a cocktail order even with me sitting at the bar. The waiter who assisted me (reddish medium length hair) said he never eats at the restaurant when I asked for a suggestion, so I opted for the crazy monkey roll and basic japenese noodle dish. Food presentation was so poor I felt like I was back in my college dorm. Observed a waitress constantly touching her long brown hair while prepping the bar for dinner rush while she hosted. I give the review 2stars for the hospitality of a hostess (pregnant woman) and the amazing detail of their holiday decor.
(2)S G.
My coworkers and I came for lunch but during happy hour. Service was good but the food was a disappointment. The salads were wilted and the sushi did not taste fresh. I couldn't finish one roll because it was so fishy tasting. The 3 of us all got food poisoning afterwards. Maybe the sushi off the regular menu is fine but there's nothing happy about the happy hour sushi.
(2)William L.
Food was okay. Chef was nice. Hostess doesn't smile at all. And my appetizer came after I finished my meal. Unworthy of the price. Service is cold regardless of the servers' and manager's pretended caring for customers. Not recommended.
(2)Dia S.
Perhaps the worst experience I have ever had at a hibachi restaurant. We made reservations and STILL ended up having to wait a ridiculously long time after our reservation time. Once seated it was apparent the other people at the table were regulars, the chef even gave them way more food then he gave any of us. When it came time for the "shrimp toss" he used all the shrimp he set aside on the other people and then tried to give us shrimp he TOOK OFF OF SOMEONES PLATE! One of the people we didn't know! How disgusting! All of us were mortified!
(1)Levi P.
We brought friends from Japan and they said the sushi was great. The egg drop soup was very thick, but good. Sushi was a good price and a good amount for the price. We will be back! True service is not super friendly, but they are nice.
(5)Jose P.
Honestly I have been to a bunch of hibachi joints...this one takes the cake....Benny Hannah has nothing on this place. Food was delicious and I actually received a show. Super entertaining and will definitely be back. Best in Kansas City.
(5)Jessica K.
I went there a couple week ago and the sushi make me little disappointed. The sushi rolls is not fresh at all. I feel like they used old fish. But the server very nice and friendly.
(3)Alycia C.
Had the pleasure of eating here before attending the "Sound of Music" on what seemed to be the HOTTEST night of this KC summer. The hibachi chef was charismatic, which is what you want or we wanted. We ordered sushi roll that was heavenly. I'm sorry I can remember which one. The food was excellent. I believe I had the teriyaki chicken. I went light since I'd be out in the heat for 3 hours, hoping to love this musical. The strawberry daiquiri was delicious. The atmosphere was friendly, open and clean. The only thing I noticed was the hibachi chef gave me the most food. My plate was overflowing in food. Weird or did he feel I was famished? But you know what it made for amazing leftovers the next day so lucky me. We will be back or better yet come to Olathe ;)
(5)Patrick W.
Awesome happy hour that goes til 6 on weekdays. You do have to sit in the booths though. $5 crazy monkey rolls!! Also the BEST Japanese Steakhouse in town!
(5)Saju J.
Good food, miso soup was well balanced but lukewarm. Surprisingly sinful Rangoon rolls
(4)Brianne L.
I am in love with this sushi place. Whenever my friends want to have sushi or if they have never tried it before, I always make them come here. Their sushi is great and their happy hour is awesome and cheap. I love their sushi and drink specials. Not horribly priced during regular hours either!
(5)A.m. S.
Delicious! Service and food were fantastic. It was our 5yr old first time at hibachi and she had a great time
(5)Andrea H.
This place would be better if they had better service. The rolls are good, but sometimes taste a little less than fresh. The wait staff is hit or miss. Sometimes you get an attentive server, but other times you don't. The last time I was in there, which was yesterday, I met my party at the restaurant. I was the last to arrive, and it took the server at least 15 minutes to bring me any water, while the rest of my party had some. All in all this place is fine if you're in the area and craving sushi, but there are much better places to go if you're actually wanting an enjoyable experience.
(2)Jamie L.
This is the best example of the combo Japanese Steakhouse/sushi bar I've been to since returning to KC. Our hamachi with jalapeño and cilantro was a fresh and tasty appetizer. Our teppenyaki chef had a fun routine and cooked our ribeye, scallops and shrimp perfectly. Plenty of seating, quick service and very clean. We will definitely be back.
(4)Beau G.
Went here lastnight for my girlfriends birthday. Food was good nothing stood out as outstanding or a wow factor. They allowed us to bring a birthday cake in.
(4)Cali O.
Not great. Ordered a lunch bento. Salmon was over cooked. The tempura wasnt cooked all the way. The calfornia roll was alright. And the steamed rice was undercooked. Not going to come back.
(1)Christine G.
Went here for lunch and was pretty good. I got the tempora shrimp and veggies and some sushi, while a friend of mine got the seaweed salad and the vegetable sushi. Made right in front of us, which is always a plus. Prices were decent compared to what I've paid at other places. They also offer hibachi which would be good for another trip. Took a look at their happy hour offerings and they had a good amount of options at good prices. Menu itself is pretty wide so I'd go back to try some other options!
(4)John G.
First let met start off by saying that my family and I have visited nearly EVERY Japanese restaurant in the greater Kansas City area and Kyoto is by far and away the best. It is a little expensive; however, you get a GREAT quality product and pretty darn fresh seafood and beef. I had Swordfish and Filet and it was absolutely excellent and cooked to perfection. Our chef was very entertaining and engaging and really did a good job of engaging the kids. Kyoto was extremely clean and very quick with service. I could not have asked for a better experience for my birthday. The waiter sang Happy B-Day along with everyone at the table. We will become a regular at this restaurant for sure. I would highly suggest Kyoto to anyone who like Japanese to take a trip out to 135th & Metcalf and give this a try. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Juliana S.
Love this place!! We took 2 toddlers with us and they loved it! The food is great! The service is great!
(5)Caitlin M.
We went here for my birthday last year. The hibachi chef was incredible! We go to a different hibachi restaurant every year for my birthday and this chef was the best by a long shot. He was entertaining, exciting, and fresh with his tricks! The food was good, and cooked correctly. I don't care for shrimp, and he was willing to toss other things to allow me to be included in the fun. The only thing I wish they would do differently is include potatoes in their veggie medley. I really enjoy them at other locations, but they did not include them this time. The restaurant was very busy, but we still had excellent service.
(4)Tod S.
Yea, I like this place ok. Got a free half order of crab rangoon, thanks yelp but if it wasnt for that idk if I would've eaten here again today.
(3)Marie F.
A lot of fun rolls to choose from... they were all pretty good, but I felt a little cheated on the origami roll. It just didn't have a lot going for it. The magic mushroom was ok, but the menu says it is a best selling appetizer. Alas, I wouldn't order it again. The Blade roll was my favorite of all the rolls we ordered. The crazy monkey was pretty good too. The cucumber salad was quite tasty. I don't like it to be too sugary...I like more vinegar flavor and this had it. They have one of those rooms you sit on the floor and let your feet dangle if you have a group of people. That was fun. The Happy Buddha drink is served in a Buddha glass... funny. Doesn't hold a lot though. The shaved ice cream was REALLY good and one of the guys was nice enough to chat me up about it and said they actually make in house. Sweet, light and refreshing. Has little bits of cake and fruit in it... not a lot... just enough to keep you digging. We had reservations (that was a difficult call to make (it was very soup Nazi like... they were practically shouting at me over the phone), but we arrived in waves and they put our party in different locations. Luckily, we were able to reunite. So no harm done. Pretty good sushi (didn't try the hibachi, but I overheard them offering yellow- that's a good sign) but RA's happy hour is hard to beat.
(4)Megan S.
I love Kyoto! I have been there many times! Their variety of sushi is fantastic and the service is really great at getting your seated quickly! Will definitely continue going back!
(5)Tony R.
Hibachi! I love this place... the hibachi chef was hilarious, he really engaged with the table and added his own little spice to the traditional tricks. The food was delicious. I had teriyaki salmon and fried rice. The salmon looked beautiful, so much that a couple across the table asked about it. A big plus, is that there's always enough to take home and eat later.
(4)Amy C.
I'm a sushi aficionado, so when my regular sushi restaurant ran off all of my favorite employees, I decided to look for a new haunt. I don't think Kyoto is it. There is something cheap and not very Japanese feeling about Kyoto - the decor is a little off-putting (maybe it's the thousands of fake flowers when you walk in). Also, for some reason, it doesn't feel as warm and welcoming as other restaurants. We decided to order sashimi and a couple of rolls. The fish didn't taste as fresh as I am used to. I have had a friend tell me this is her favorite sushi in Johnson County and I wanted to like it, but I don't think I'll be back. It was marginal at best.
(2)Dianna W.
Awesome place, great food, friendly and helpful staff. Midori shrimp sushi to die for and habachi chefs are a blast!
(5)Heidi B.
I've done both sushi bar and hibachi. First the sushi bar was very good except for the over sauced rolls which can leave the crunch to mush. That can be very disheartening but we still left on a happy hour check with bellies overloaded with sushi. So yeah I will come back. Now for the hibachi, holy cow is it good!!! I got the filet and scallops and it was so delicious. We were kept very entertained and even the other guests made it fun. That was a true blue awesome experience. Over all, Kyoto is a very awesome place to go!
(4)Beth B.
This is my favorite Japanese Steak House in Kansas City, and I've been to a few. It has consistently good service, highly entertaining teppanyaki chefs and good food. The food is 4 stars, but the chefs are 5+ to up this to a 5 star. I have been there with my family (husband and 2 teenagers) several times, but just went today for a work lunch so I thought I would give it a review. We started off with appetizers - sushi, endameme and shrimp tempura. The sushi is good, but I am not an expert. My daughter tells me the sushi is very good, so I believe her. She also tells me they have a good sushi happy hour deal. Check it out. The endameme was meh - sort of dry. Shrimp tempura I did not try - heck, I can only eat so much - but the batter looked lightly fried, which is how I like it. Those who ate it said it was good. Everyone at our table had either chicken, filet or shrimp teppanyaki for entrees. My medium rare filet was cooked perfectly, the vegetables were tender and fried rice was good, Typical Japanese steakhouse fare. Our drinks were refilled before they were empty and the appetizer plates were cleared quickly. The X factor for this restaurant was the chef. He was hilarious and very skilled. I've been to these restaurants before where you kind of felt sorry for the chef and were hoping they didn't drop their utensils as they were juggling or could tell they were working from a script on their jokes. This guy, "Hot" Rod, actually improvised his jokes, gave each of us a nickname and was a master at the juggling, egg tricks and other typical entertainment. Now, if you are too "cool" to enjoy this fun entertainment, go somewhere else. This schtick is just good fun for me and I don't want you at my table being a stick in the mud. Plus, the chefs are witty enough here that they will make fun of you if you don't get their humor. And that will make us have more fun. Enjoy!!
(5)Pam T.
I've been here a few times for happy hour and I'm finally getting around to writing a review. Any who, service has always been pretty good and the sushi is pretty good too but, nothing spectacular. I got the Tootsie and California rolls. The California roll was on point but, the Tootsie roll came out a little sloppy. It wasn't rolled as tight towards the end as the other one. Other than that, I was a happy camper lol. It was still edible. I had no issues using my voucher for a free half order of Crab Rangoon. At the time, if you checked in on Yelp, you received a voucher. I didn't try them though, I'm trying to watch my fat intake but, there were no complaints from my coworker! Overall, it's a good spot for happy hour sushi because, their prices are fairly decent. Two rolls for 6 bucks, you can't beat that! However, if you're looking for happy hour drink specials, they don't have them. Some of my coworkers were a little bummed about that.
(3)Elocin V.
This was my first visit to kyotoand I was absolutely delighted! ! We had a party of 6 we shared the spicy crab salad and 4 rolls everything was amazing and super fresh. . We got hibachi for the non sushi members of the party. It was a very entertaining show. . The hibachi chicken was super dry but over all the meal atmosphere and experiance was fantastic! !! I highly recommend the crazy monkey roll, the Jayhawk roll, and the sexy roll! !
(5)Jan L.
If you like sushi this is a restaurant I would recommend. Their fish is fresh, correctly prepared, tasty, and presented well. I usually don't do rolls, too much rice for my personal taste. So when I order I get their sushi during their happy hour. Since I save a little bit on happy hour prices it allows me to splurge on a few non-happy hour items. They are generous with the ginger...I like extra...and the service is good. I look forward to my next visit.
(4)Mari M.
This place does not attempt to try and stand out with their food or their service. Instead, they choose to present the same cookie-cutter routine as other restaurants of the same genre. It doesn't work for me AT ALL. My family chose this place for a large group of us to gather for a celebration. As soon as we were seated they began taking orders. Some of us were not ready, but they put the pressure on because they are not there to provide and exceptional dining experience, they just file you in and out. Why anyone makes a choice to come here, is beyond me. The food is low-quality and typically prepared. The service is rushed and is not suited for the customer to enjoy.
(1)Stephanie P.
I have been coming here since 2003. It is far and away my favorite Japanese restaurant in Kansas City. The food is always fresh and extremely tasty. The bento box lunch is the best. Tons of food and great prices. The tempura is out of this world, as is the fried rice. Yum!
(5)Dorian G.
Best Japanese food in the Kansas City area, excellent meals and fresh sushi.
(5)Nate A.
My wife and I eat sushi once in awhile and when we do we go here. Best sushi in south KC area. Never disappointed, great signature rolls and the hibachi is fun for everyone!
(4)Melisa V.
came here with a few friends last week. we had reservations for the hibachi, so we were sitting with a couple on their first date. the server was incredibly impatient when it came to getting our order. we were waiting for a friend who was running late and the couple were enjoying sushi first, so really why rush? the hibachi chef was great and cooked everything well. we all had chicken. I felt bad for my friend sitting next to me though, because he spilled a bit of her meal off the plate making it really messy! then, before we were even finished, our server threw our checks down with oranges. yes, we were the last customers in the restaurant, but we left 45 minutes before it was scheduled to close!! on our way out, we just saw a table of people who work at the restaurant just chatting. none of them even bothered to say bye or thank you to us. for me, this altered the experience a little for me. I'd return, but maybe for sushi and on the weekend where I'm not the only one in there.
(3)Patrick And Stephanie P.
This place was great the first few times there. Stopped in for a quick bite on mother's day, and the place was packed w/ a wait. We got right in 'cause we like to sit at the sushi bar. There are tons of rolls available, and we quickly found a couple that looked good, in addition to some yellowtail sashimi. The server was quick, friendly, and seemed experienced. One of the rolls looked great, except it had daikon radish wrapping (see other review). I asked the sushi chef if we could switch it to soy paper and rice. He said yes, and quickly made our selections. The server was attentive but didn't hover. The rolls were delicious and the yellowtail sashimi was the best we'd had in KC! It melted in my mouth and was extremely fresh! Even though all of the stir fry tables were full and staff was busy, we got our check promptly after we asked for it. Overall, great sushi, service, and atmospere! The last time we were there, we came in for dinner. We were just planning on ordering our usual rolls (which we almost always over order n take rest home). Found out that they were having happy hour and decided on some of those rolls instead. We ordered just what we thought we could eat (since the HH menu clearly states no to-go). At the end of our meal we couldn't quite finish the last 4 pieces of one roll, and I asked for a box. The server asked the sushi chef for one and he barked "No to-go's for HH sushi". We explained we understood the reasoning behind it, so ppl don't order a ton and then take a bunch of sushi to go, but we only had 4 measly little pieces. He just barked the same at us again. We could care less about the sushi, but talked to the manager anyway to let home know we were restaurant ppl, we understand policies, but that his staff could have been less rude about it. He just repeated the same as the sushi chef, like a robot. This last experience just left a cold, unfriendly feeling w/ us. That's okay, the ppl at our our fave sushi place always give good service and are friendly every time.
(3)Brandon D.
The sushi was decent, I really liked the rolls with jalapeño on top. The service was ok.
(3)Mike B.
Ate there for the first time this weekend and we were impressed, the sushi was very good ....we had the Monkey Role and the Godzilla...I recommend them both! I ordered the steak and chicken combo and it was a large amount of food ..the steak was great the chicken was a little over cooked. My wife and my son both enjoyed.
(4)Kelly R.
Absolutely LOVE this restuarant. I've had yummy sushi at several restaurants in Kansas City area (RA, Friends, etc.) but this restaurant has so much going for it... Small, neighborhood feel. My husband says I must go here TOO often because when I walk in they immediately greet me by name. HA! But, it's a family business and the staff has been consistent. They know who their clients are. A pretty diverse and delish sushi menu - they have lots of nigiri, sashimi and some salads on sushi menu and a lot of cool rolls to choose from...including the really, really crazy (but crazy yummy) Americanized ones and the more traditional raw and simple rolls. Every roll I have tried has been YUMMY. Sushi is FRESH...EVERY TIME. Hibachi tables are delicious and fun. It can be a pricey night if you take the family to the hibachi tables for dinner but you get a LOT of food. If you don't pig out and box up food you'll have lunch for the next day for certain! HIbachi chefs are entertaining and fun. And like the rest of the staff they will remember repeat customers. We have met some of the nicest KC folks while chatting it up at the hibachi tables, too! I am the sushi eater and my family loves the hibachi menu. Kids LOVE the handmade shaved ice cream! One tip, though...AVOID this place if you know it is homecoming or prom night! This restaurant FILLS with teens on those nights. Love kids, but it's pretty nuts in this restaurant when 90% of the clientele are giggly teens :). My current favorite roll - St Patricks roll...fun mix of flavors and a good kick - spicy salmon, cucumber, cilantro, jalepeno rolled and topped with touch of spicy mayo plus avocado and green tobiko....mmmmmm... This restaurant is reasonably priced and there is a sushi 'happy hour' period daily, too.
(5)Erin W.
By far, my favorite sushi restaurant in KC. Very fresh! I especially love the Crazy Monkey roll. When you sit at the sushi bar, you get fast service, but if you are at a table, it's usually a lot slower. However, the sushi is so good, they could probably spill on me everytime and I'd still go back :) They have a hibachi as well, but I've never ate at it, but others look like they like it everytime.
(5)Alliey D.
Kyoto used to be my family's favorite local Japanese steak house, but within the past year or two, things have really been going down hill here. Most recently, I took my boyfriend here for his birthday, and after bragging about this place for a good week non-stop, we left incredibly disappointed (and I left with -1000 credibility points on restaurant suggestions.) The service was perfectly fine, and the show was entertaining as always- 'the Japanese choo-choo train', crazy knife and spatula tricks, jokes and the usual finale shrimp catch used to embarrass everyone at the table, ya know, the typical deal.) but the food was very under-par. The rice was hardly cooked, the food did not taste right, and everything was very over-seasoned and kindof disappointing. My boyfriend still makes fun of me when I get excited about a new restaurant ("Ohhh, is it as good as Kyoto" he mocks. It will be months until I've lived this down...) I give it 3 stars due to the relatively friendly service, and the fact that the sushi bar here is still super great! If you go, go for sushi or a show, but not for any spectacular steak house cuisine.
(3)Julia F.
I am always a little nervous when restaurants throw authenticity to the wind and serve crab Rangoon and hot and sour soup at a Japanese restaurant. My friends and I chose to eat sushi (instead of the tepanyaki seating), but we instantly regrettted it. Notably, this was NOT due to the food; the sushi was delicious and of good quality. Everything tasted fresh. My major complaint was that we were seated in a small closet off the bar with three booths. You could smell the delicious meat and vegetables on the tepanyaki grills in the next room and hear the great fun, but we were in the, well, closet. The service was definitely lacking. Our waitress was terrible on refilling drinks (a good litmus test for a server), but perhaps this was also a side-effect of where we were seated. I intend to return (one cannot be completely accurate with only one visit), but it is worth mentioning that I will either sit at the tepanyaki tables (which will be a wholly different experience, I am sure) or in one of the small traditional seating rooms (again, a bit like closets, but with more intimacy and authenticity, so therefore, more acceptable).
(3)Esther Y.
Kyoto has a wide selection of sushi and other Japanese/Asian dishes for almost anyone's tastes and good prices overall. The freshness of the sushi is generally only average, but Kansas is about as land locked as you can get, so I'm not expecting super fresh fish. In my last visit we got: Sexy Roll - A large fat roll with shrimp tempura, spicy tuna and I believe eel with macadamia nuts on top which is normally my favorite roll. Although this time they were a bit skimpy on the macadamia nuts and it is a little pricey at $13 for 5 (large) pieces, but it's still good. Crazy Monkey Roll - Salmon, avocado, cream cheese and deep fried tempura roll which was a good deal and a large portion at the happy hour price of $5. But horrifyingly, the roll was hot all the way through so the salmon was completely cooked :(
(4)Tom H.
Great place. Happy Hour sushi prices are great!
(5)Chris T.
We used to go here all the time and loved their food; but the last few times we have gone, the food and service have gone downhill. The service was slow, we had to look for a server to pay our bill, and the food wasn't exceptional. As a matter of fact, the sushi was tasteless. We will not be returning.
(1)Kimberly D.
This place was SO GOOD. I had sushi and sat at the bar and it was fast and delicious. They had so many options, including a bunch with mango (my favorite). They also have a few rolls available on the cheap for happy hour.
(5)Dev V.
I basically think Japanese steakhouses are very similar outside of decor. You don't get sat till your entire party is there and you spend that time downing bombers of Kirin until you have to pee so bad you can taste it. Well, Kyoto is different. The staff here is actually nice. It seems like so many other steakhouses just want you to order quickly, serve you and get the f out so they can put another eight people at their glorious griddle and suction fan. Well, not here. The wait staff smiles and are asking if you want another drink far before you'd have to flag them down. The chefs have big personalities and they can cook like a mofo. Sure, they all do the same things (volcano, smiley face, shrimp toss, etc). Our chef last night actually made a flower out of rice and sesame seeds, it was pretty clever. I also like how fresh the beef is here, it's bright red. I did the KC Strip and Lobster and for $29 that is actually not a bad deal considering you get soup, salad, rice, shrimp and veggies along with this. Skip Gojo's and the other ancient spots and get your ass out to Kyoto!
(4)Dani G.
The food here was ok the first time I went. The past two times have been horrible. We went for lunch and got charged dinner prices and then some. I added cucumber to my Philly roll and got a tiny tiny cube of cucumber in SOME of my roll for a two dollar up charge. The fried rice was great...when drenched in soy sauce. The fish did not taste fresh and the nigiri was tiny. I suggest eating somewhere else if you want good sushi. Have not had the hibachi grill yet....and probably won't.
(2)Mark Z.
The entertainment was fantastic! Our chef, Roy, was very fun! The food was very good. I especially liked the crab rangoons. Of course they were free for checking into Yelp! My only complaint is that I didn't get the ice tea I ordered. It also wasn't on the bill so it wasn't a big deal. I would definitely eat there again. I tried making reservations through the YELP app, but it could not connect so we called instead.
(4)Aaron R.
Kinda pricey but great sushi and very friendly staff. Japanese steak house very fun.
(4)