Kikunoi

New York chef David Chang lived in Japan before launching his Momofuku empire, and considers this Kyoto kaiseke restaurant one of his world-wide favorites. There are two branches in Kyoto, run by the Murata family for three generations. This is the main location, near the Keomis Temple, a 10-minute taxi from central Kyoto. The restaurant is housed in a traditional Japanese home with a dry garden. Traditional kaiseke is the celebratory multi-course meal relying on seasonal ingredients served in advance of a tea ceremony, a tradition that dates to the 17th century.