Kyoto - Santa Barbara

This place took us in with no wait during peak dinner hours. It’s really cute inside with a couple private floor seated table rooms. We got a booth and enjoyed our food. The agedashi tofu is HUGE. Our sushi roll was fresh and filling. Service was efficient and pleasant. Sake came hot. Would come again.

Great restaurant, but if you want to dine in traditional Japanese, call to reserve one of there rooms at no extra cost.

My first time and I usually base my grades by food first then service then atmosphere. Well overall 4. Cali rolls average, but I had the salmon skin hand roll and was very very good! Also a variety of veggies for the tempura. My son had there steak teriyaki dinner and was very good. I would go again to try other dishes. Service was attentive but not bothersome. Nice waiters and service with a smile. The place typical Japanese decor with a 70's/80's touch. Parking little small and the bathrooms could be a bit brighter. But again overall food was good along with the service. I will go back.

An off night at a quality restaurant. 80% chance you’d love it there, but one dish was awful on November 13, 2022. We ordered five dishes, and the service was great, the mushroom salad was good (avocado was served as a weird garnish but it was fine). The sashimi was tasty and my eel roll delicious; and the ten Zara was pretty good but somebody left the ice cubes in the cold buckwheat noodles. No biggie. The problem was the oyako ju, it was the worst godawful chicken, like it had freezer burn or had been boiled once before they started trying to broil and prepare it, the egg tasted funny, I couldn’t eat it, sent it back. But based on the rest of the restaurant and our dishes, I’d give them another chance someday.

The yakitori was cooked to perfection. Kyoto has been an experience each time that I’ve dined here. Make sure to try at least 3 4 rolls and a hand roll with some warm sake. During these Covid times the spaces are neatly separated for a safe atmosphere. If you’re dining out make sure to call far in advance so that you get your meal right on time.