Restaurant in Kyoto, Japan

RADICE

Name: RADICE
Address: 50番地 Kagamiyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0002, Japan, Kyoto, JP
Telephone: +81 50-1720-7379

420Pearl Points

Serious Italian in Kyoto, Counter format.

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About RADICE

A 12-seat Italian counter in Nakagyo Ward with a Tabelog score of 4.11 and Bronze awards in 2019, 2025, and 2026. The fish-forward course menu runs JPY 20,000–30,000 per head all-in. Book two to three weeks ahead for weekends. One of Kyoto's most consistently recognised Italian restaurants and a sound choice for a special occasion dinner for two or four.

Pearl Verdict

Twelve seats, a Tabelog score of 4.11, and three Tabelog Bronze wins (2019, 2025, 2026) make RADICE one of the most consistently recognised Italian restaurants in western Japan. At JPY 15,000–20,000 per head listed, with actual spend closer to JPY 20,000–30,000 once wine and the 10% service charge are added, this is a serious commitment. It is worth it if you want Italian cooking with genuine technical focus and a fish-forward menu — but only if you book well ahead and arrive on time, because every table starts simultaneously.

About RADICE

RADICE opened in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, in December 2013 and has held a place on the Tabelog Italian WEST 100 list in 2021, 2023, and 2025 — a run of sustained peer recognition that few Italian restaurants outside Tokyo can match. The format is course-only, running approximately two and a half hours, with eight counter seats and one four-leading. The room is classified as a house restaurant in a quieter residential pocket off Marutamachi, a short walk from Marutamachi Station on the Karasuma Subway Line. Expect a composed, low-noise atmosphere: this is a counter where you hear the kitchen, not a DJ.

The kitchen's stated focus is fish, which positions RADICE differently from the meat-heavy Italian that dominates many European tasting menus. In a city where Kyoto's own seasonal ingredient calendar , spring bamboo shoots, summer ayu sweetfish, autumn matsutake , runs deep in every serious kitchen, an Italian format that leans into fish-forward cooking gives the chef clear seasonal material to work with. The menu will shift depending on what is available, so what you eat in April will differ substantially from what lands in October. If you have a preferred season for Kyoto visits, that is worth factoring into your booking decision. Autumn and spring are when Kyoto's finest produce peaks, and a fish-led Italian course makes good use of both.

A sommelier is on the floor and wine is the only listed drink category, so come expecting to spend on a pairing or at least a bottle. Credit cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners, UnionPay); electronic money and QR payments are not. Children under 10 are not admitted. Men should skip sandals; strong perfume is a dress-code request for all guests. No parking on site, but coin parking is nearby.

For context on where RADICE sits in Japan's broader Italian tier: akordu in Nara and HAJIME in Osaka both operate in the Kansai region at higher price points with more international visibility. RADICE is the more accessible booking and the more focused option if fish-led Italian in a quiet counter setting is specifically what you want. For fish-forward fine dining in a different format, Le Bernardin in New York City is the obvious global reference point , RADICE operates at a fraction of that price and without the white-tablecloth formality.

If Italian cuisine is not the priority and you want to explore Kyoto's full dining depth, see our full Kyoto restaurants guide, plus guides to Kyoto hotels, Kyoto bars, Kyoto wineries, and Kyoto experiences.

Know Before You Go

Address50 Kagamiyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto 604-0002Getting thereApprox. 5-minute walk from Marutamachi Station (Karasuma Subway Line)HoursMon & Thu: 18:30–22:00 | Fri, Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: 12:00–15:00, 18:30–22:00 | Closed Tue & WedPriceJPY 15,000–20,000 (listed); actual spend JPY 20,000–30,000 including wine and 10% service chargeSeats12 total: 8 counter, 1 table of 4ReservationsReservation only; all seatings start simultaneously , arrive on timePaymentCredit cards accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners, UnionPay); no electronic money or QR paymentsPrivate useAvailable for up to 20 people (full venue hire)ChildrenNot admitted under 10 years oldDressSmart casual; no sandals for men; avoid strong perfumeSmokingNon-smoking inside; balcony smoking area availableParkingNot available on site; coin parking nearbyWebsiteradice-kyoto.com

Ratings at a Glance

Tabelog Score: 4.11
Google Reviews: 4.6 (83 reviews)
Tabelog Award: Bronze 2019, 2025, 2026
Tabelog Italian WEST 100: 2021, 2023, 2025

How to Book

Online reservations are available via Tabelog. Booking difficulty is rated Easy relative to Kyoto's most competitive kaiseki tables, but that is relative: at 12 seats with a closed-on-Tuesday-Wednesday schedule, popular weekend dinner slots fill faster than weekday evenings. Book at least two to three weeks ahead for Friday–Sunday. If you have a fixed departure time, declare it at booking , the kitchen cannot accommodate last-minute requests on the day. Counter seat assignments are not guaranteed; you may be moved to the table.

RADICE in Context: Comparable Kyoto Dining

For further Kyoto fine dining context, see: Gion Sasaki, Hyotei, Kikunoi Honten, Mizai, and Isshisoden Nakamura. For Italian in other Japanese cities: akordu (Nara), 1000 (Yokohama). For fine dining beyond Japan: Atomix (New York), Harutaka (Tokyo), Goh (Fukuoka), 6 (Okinawa).

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear to RADICE?

No formal dress code is stated, but the venue specifically asks that men do not wear sandals and that all guests avoid strong perfumes. Given the 12-seat counter format and Tabelog Bronze status, smart-casual at minimum is appropriate. Think neat trousers and closed shoes rather than a suit.

Does RADICE handle dietary restrictions?

The venue data does not specify a dietary restriction policy, so contact them directly before booking — reservations are online via Tabelog or by phone at 050-1720-7379. Note that the kitchen has a stated focus on fish, so pescatarians are likely well served, but confirming any serious allergy in advance is essential given the fixed-course format.

Is RADICE good for a special occasion?

Yes, with caveats. The counter format and simultaneous-start service create a shared-event atmosphere that suits anniversaries or milestone dinners for two. Private rooms are unavailable, but the venue can be booked for exclusive use for up to 20 people, which changes the calculus for group celebrations. At JPY 15,000–20,000+ per head with a sommelier on hand, the price point supports the occasion.

What should I order at RADICE?

RADICE runs a set course — there is no à la carte menu to choose from. The kitchen has a documented focus on fish, so expect seafood to feature prominently. Budget for JPY 20,000–30,000 per head once wine and the 10% service charge are factored in, based on reviewer-reported spend.

Is lunch or dinner better at RADICE?

Both services run the same price range (JPY 15,000–20,000+) and both start simultaneously, so this is less about value and more about preference. Lunch runs Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays only; dinner runs Monday, Thursday, and the same weekend days. If your trip falls midweek, dinner on Monday or Thursday is your only option.

How far ahead should I book RADICE?

Book at least three to four weeks out, and further in advance if you need a specific weekend lunch slot — those fill fastest given the limited Friday-to-Sunday availability. The venue is reservation-only with no walk-in option. Use the Tabelog online system or call 050-1720-7379 directly.

Can RADICE accommodate groups?

The dining room seats 12 in total — 8 at the counter and a single table of 4 — so large groups cannot be split across the room without taking the whole space. Private use is available for up to 20 people, which is the practical route for parties larger than four. check the venue's official channels to arrange exclusive hire.

Location

50番地 Kagamiyacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-0002, Japan

Kyoto, Japan

Also Consider

Gion Sasaki — Kaiseki, Japanese, ¥¥¥¥
cenci — Italian, ¥¥¥
Ifuki — Kaiseki, ¥¥¥¥
Kyokaiseki Kichisen — Japanese, ¥¥¥¥
Kyo Seika — Chinese, ¥¥¥

RADICE's closest direct comparison in Kyoto is cenci, also Italian, also in the ¥¥¥ tier. If you want Italian in Kyoto, cenci is the alternative worth checking first — it has a slightly broader schedule and a different stylistic approach. RADICE has the stronger Tabelog track record (three Bronze wins versus cenci's profile), so if peer validation matters to you, RADICE is the firmer choice. Both are significantly easier to book than the city's top kaiseki tables.

For kaiseki, the comparison set is a different level of difficulty and spend. Gion Sasaki and Ifuki both operate at ¥¥¥¥ and represent the upper tier of Kyoto kaiseki — harder to book, higher spend, and a fundamentally different format. Kyokaiseki Kichisen is among the most formal and expensive options in the city. If the question is Italian versus kaiseki for a special dinner in Kyoto, RADICE costs less and books more easily, but it is a different type of experience — not a like-for-like substitute.

The practical recommendation: if Italian is your preference and you want a serious course meal with consistent awards backing, book RADICE. If you are open to kaiseki and want the definitive Kyoto fine dining experience, Gion Sasaki or Ifuki deliver that — at higher cost and with more lead time required. For value at ¥¥¥, Kyo Seika (Chinese) offers a different cuisine at a comparable price tier if neither Italian nor kaiseki is the priority.