Ryoriya Maekawa

Verdict

Eight seats, two sittings, and a Tabelog score of 4.23 backed by a Michelin star: Ryoriya Maekawa is one of the harder dinner reservations to land in Kyoto's Shimogyo Ward, and the credential stack makes a strong case for the effort. The kitchen operates with a spirit that sets it apart from the city's kaiseki corridor — chef Koichi Maekawa works across Japanese, Chinese, and Western traditions, treating the meal as something genuinely playful rather than ceremonial. At ¥¥¥ pricing (dinner averaging JPY 10,000–14,999 by listed rate, with reviewer-reported spend running JPY 20,000–29,999 once drinks and service are factored in), this is a serious financial commitment. But if you want technically considered cooking in an intimate counter format with fewer formality hurdles than kaiseki, book it.

The Kitchen and What It Does

The editorial angle here matters: Maekawa's cooking earns its Michelin star not by staying inside one tradition but by moving between them with precision. That cross-cultural fluency — Japanese technique applied to Western structure, Chinese influence folded into poultry-forward courses , is harder to execute well than any single-tradition kitchen, and the Tabelog award history (Yakitori West Top 100 every year from 2022 through 2025, Bronze Award in both 2025 and 2026) suggests the kitchen has maintained that standard consistently, not just peaked once. For a first-timer, the practical implication is that you should not arrive expecting a kaiseki progression or a conventional yakitori counter. This is a counter-format restaurant where the chef sets the agenda, grilled preparations feature centrally, and the range of influence means each course may shift register considerably.

The room reinforces this approach. Eight seats around a counter, an all-wood interior with a vaulted ceiling, light jazz on the speakers, and a chef in whites rather than traditional attire. The atmosphere is warm but not stiff. Sake, shochu, and wine are all available, and the drinks pairing options give the evening its full shape. The venue opened in December 2020, making it a relatively recent arrival by Kyoto fine-dining standards , the speed of its award accumulation since then is one of the more telling signals in its favour.

For context on where this sits within Japan's broader dining map: the Michelin star and sustained Tabelog recognition put Ryoriya Maekawa in the same conversation as other tightly run counter-format restaurants like Myojaku in Tokyo or Azabu Kadowaki , venues where the cooking is the point and the room is deliberately small. If you are visiting Kyoto as part of a wider Japan trip that also takes in Osaka, HAJIME occupies a different tier and format entirely, while akordu in Nara offers a useful comparison for cross-cultural cooking at a similar price point. Within Kyoto itself, the closest comparators for intimate, technically focused meals are Gion Matayoshi and Kikunoi Roan, though both lean more squarely into kaiseki structure. For the full picture of what Kyoto offers across every category, see our full Kyoto restaurants guide.

Booking and Logistics

Reservations: Reservation only , walk-ins are not an option. With eight seats and two sittings (first session from 17:00, second from 20:15), availability is extremely limited. Book as far in advance as possible; this is a hard reservation by any measure. Closed: Sundays and additional days on an irregular schedule , confirm directly before finalising travel plans. Budget: Listed dinner pricing is JPY 10,000–14,999 per person, but reviewer-reported spend averages JPY 20,000–29,999 once drinks, service charges, and any supplements are included. Budget for the higher figure. Payment: Credit cards accepted (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners). Electronic money and QR code payments are not accepted. Seating: Counter only, eight seats total. No private rooms. The full venue is available for private hire. Smoking: Non-smoking throughout. Dress: No stated dress code, but the Michelin-starred, counter-format setting at this price point warrants smart casual at minimum , dressy is appropriate and will not feel out of place. Getting there: The address is 405 Nanbacho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto. No on-site parking. Public transport or taxi is the practical approach. See our Kyoto experiences guide for neighbourhood orientation, and our Kyoto hotels guide if you are still deciding where to stay.

Ratings at a Glance

• Tabelog Score: 4.23
• Tabelog Awards: Bronze 2025, Bronze 2026; Yakitori West Top 100 every year 2022–2025
• Michelin: 1 Star (2024)
• Google: 4.6 (34 reviews)

How It Compares

Within Kyoto's fine-dining tier, Ryoriya Maekawa sits at a noticeably different angle from the kaiseki mainstream. Kyokaiseki Kichisen and Kodaiji Jugyuan operate at ¥¥¥¥ and deliver the traditional kaiseki arc in full , seasonal precision, multiple courses, a level of ceremony that Maekawa deliberately steps back from. If your priority is experiencing Kyoto's kaiseki tradition at its most complete, those are the right choices. Maekawa is the right choice if you want technical cooking without the full ritual weight, and at a lower headline price point before drinks. Isshisoden Nakamura sits closer to the formal kaiseki end; worth comparing if you want to weigh counter intimacy against a more structured service style.

Among the ¥¥¥ options in Kyoto, cenci (Italian, ¥¥¥) and Kyo Seika (Chinese, ¥¥¥) give you skilled cooking with somewhat easier booking windows. Maekawa is the harder reservation of the three but has the stronger award record and the more singular cooking approach. For a first-timer choosing between them on pure value-for-effort grounds, Maekawa's Michelin star and consistent Tabelog recognition make it the defensible pick if you can secure the booking. If you cannot, cenci is the most accessible alternative with serious kitchen credentials of its own.

Gion Sasaki and Ifuki both operate at ¥¥¥¥ and represent Kyoto kaiseki at high intensity , correct choices for diners whose primary goal is the kaiseki format itself, rather than Maekawa's cross-traditional approach. If you are planning a multi-stop Japan itinerary, it is worth knowing that Goh in Fukuoka and 1000 in Yokohama offer comparable levels of craft in counter formats, so you do not need to over-concentrate your best-meal budget in Kyoto if the booking proves impossible. Explore the full Kansai and Japan context further via our Kyoto bars guide and our Kyoto wineries guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is Ryoriya Maekawa good for solo dining? Yes , the eight-seat counter format is well-suited to solo guests. Counter dining at this level means you are engaged with the kitchen directly, which works in your favour alone. Solo diners may actually find it easier to secure a single seat than a group booking; contact the restaurant early to confirm availability for one.
• What should I wear to Ryoriya Maekawa? There is no published dress code, but at ¥¥¥ Michelin-starred pricing in a counter-format room, smart casual is the floor and slightly dressy is comfortable. Avoid overly casual clothing , this is not a neighbourhood izakaya. For comparable Kyoto dining at the same tier, the convention is neat, unfussy clothes that do not distract from the counter experience.
• What should a first-timer know about Ryoriya Maekawa? Three things: first, this is not a kaiseki meal , expect a chef-driven counter experience that draws on Japanese, Chinese, and Western traditions, with grilled preparations prominent. Second, the real spend is likely to be JPY 20,000–29,999 once drinks and service are included, so budget accordingly. Third, the room holds eight people across two sittings , the experience is intimate and the pace is set by the kitchen, not by you. Arrive on time for your session.
• Is the tasting menu worth it at Ryoriya Maekawa? On the evidence of a Michelin star, a 4.23 Tabelog score, and four consecutive years in the Tabelog Yakitori Top 100, the answer is yes , provided you are comfortable with the counter-only format and the cross-cultural cooking style. The listed price of JPY 10,000–14,999 compares well against ¥¥¥¥ kaiseki alternatives in Kyoto that charge more for a more conventional experience. The reviewer-reported average of JPY 20,000–29,999 suggests the full evening with drinks is where the real cost sits.
• Can Ryoriya Maekawa accommodate groups? The restaurant has eight seats total and no private room. The full venue is available for private hire, which is the practical route for groups , contact the restaurant directly to enquire. For larger parties who want a shared dining experience in Kyoto without taking over a venue, the ¥¥¥¥ kaiseki options with more seats, such as Gion Sasaki or larger-format alternatives, may be more workable. Also see 6 in Okinawa as a reference point for how counter restaurants handle private bookings in Japan.