My boyfriend and I went to Kyoto for Valentine's Day. We decided to eat at the sushi bar since we were definitely in the mood for sushi. We got a couple of rolls along with Nigiri and both of them were delicious. The waiter was very attentive. You will feel a little more tucked in by the sushi bar, but it gave us a bit more time to be intimate with each other. Can't speak about the hibachi, but we will definitely consider Kyoto again in the future for sushi read more

Kyoto Japanese Restaurant - Marilyn Monroll and Valerie and Diane Roll with some edamame - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

I'm going to do my best with this review. I worked at Kyoto's for 16 years with the previous owners. My last visit was in 2022 when the new owner had taken over. That dining experience wasn't the best. Our server was rude. Our chef cross contaminated his cooking utensils with cooked veggies and raw chicken. We had to look for our server for sake bombs. These were just a couple of the few issues with my first initial visit. As horrible our first visit was, I made sure I came in today with an open mind. Our reservation time was for 5:15. They had our table set up and us at the table by 5:10. We did come early so it wasn't really busy at the time. We sat, got ourselves adjusted and our server was ready to grab our drinks. Our server did take a minute to get our drinks to us. We did have a couple different lemonades which could be time consuming and a hot water pot. After drinks were dispersed, or server asked if we wanted to do at starters. We asked her just to take all of our orders at the same time. Some of us wanted sushi for dinner as well as Hibachi. Soups and salads were dropped off while everything was getting prepped. The soup looked really hot but it actually was at a good temp. The soup was on the saltier side but still good. The salad was ok. The salad dressing didn't really hit for me. It wasn't sweet nor savory. This part of the review will be hard for me since my dad was our chef tonight. He's the most amazing chef on the planet so my opinion will always be bias for my dad. But I'll be honest! We started off with the fried rice. The rice was cooked nicely! It wasn't dry and had great bits of onion, egg and carrots. It could have used a little more soy sauce. My husband opted for the side of yakisoba noodles. They were chewy in texture and slightly charred! So good but it was on the saltier side. My meal was shrimp and salmon. The shrimp was tasty! They were good sized prawns and cooked perfectly. I appreciate that the salmon was grilled perfectly! I love when the salmon is crusty from the grill. I like the crispness on the outside and softness on the inside. My chef did a great job! Our server did an ok job. She checked up on us once while the chef was cooking. She filled up our drinks but miss my daughter's drink so we had to fill it ourselves since she left carafes of our lemonades on the fireplace. I had to fill up my drink as well since she was gone for a while. Boxes were passed out when we were done. She gave us 1 bag and didn't ask if anyone else needed their boxes bagged up. I did see bags on a side table so I grabbed a couple. Bagged up my sister's 4 boxes and my mom's 2 boxes. I would leave this at a 3.5 stars but since my chef did such a good job it's a 4. The silverware could be polished. Nothing like eating your meal with a fork with a ton of water spots on it and looks dirty. Soup could have been hotter since it's cold outside. Overall, it was a good meal with decent service. read more

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Had a really great time. Great staff, great chef and my son's 19th B Day was wonderful.

Good food, good service and nice atmosphere. However, the prices are sky rocket. They charge %22 tip for Hibachi table seat! This days best restaurant in Boise is Acero and most expensive is Barbacoa. You get same portion shrimp scampi in Acero $8 cheaper and famous Barbacoa filet mignon in flame and cognac sauce for same price like Kyoto. It's entertaining but the don't charge you %22 tip for the show in Barbacoa read more

We've been coming here on a somewhat regular basis for the past two years. Whenever family comes into town or for a special group occasion. Each time we have such a good time and leave very happy. But this time, we had a BLAST! This time was just out of control fun! Our chef Pedro/Travis was seriously an MVP! He had our party and the other party(the whole table) laughing so hard and he even pulled some new tricks we haven't seen before. Service was awesome and the atmosphere was perfect. Great night!! read more

Based on the great reviews , I thought we should give it a try. I haven't been to a teppanyaki for a long time so this was fun. I ordered the gunkan which is sushi on a little seaweed boat. Crab was real crab and delicious. Spicy tuna was also really good. Impressive! I had the filet and scallops. Both medium rare and cooked to perfection. My fiancé ordered the filet and chicken . Chicken was also flavorful. Food quality was very good and wait staff was very pleasant. Definitely a fun night out and great food. read more

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I got an auto tip charge for 5 adults + 1 toddler. Only 4 of the adults ordered hibachi. The toddler and 1 adult ordered a plate not prepared by the table cook. My check was handed to me for signature with the total dollar amount and 2 blank lines [tip and total]. My bill was for $333.65 so I tipped $66.35 to round the total up to $400. The next day I received an email from Square with my charges explained and I was astonished to learn that a charge of $56.76 was added to our meals before the check was presented to me. I feel duped..... read more

Kyoto Japanese Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

My steak was completely raw and I'm thankful I cut it first or I would have gotten very sick from eating raw meat. You should be embarrassed to serve raw meat read more

This is the ultimate place to go for a celebration. The food is amazing, and watching the chefs grill in front of everyone-while testing shrimp catching skills (thrown directly into your mouth) is fun. I also like sharing a table with others as you get to share stories and an amazing dining experience. Highly recommended! read more

We celebrated our daughters birthday tonight. The food was good and we had a nice time with our family. I was surprised the chef criss contaminated the utensil with the chicken, seafood, rice, veggies and steak. One of my daughters didn't want to eat her food. Hopefully, no one gets sick bc that would totally suck. Shrimp ended up on the floor because our chef was a terrible aim. No one was able to catch h8s tosses. Maybe more practice. 3/5 stars. read more

mid hibachi chef he couldn't even do anything cool and was quiet the whole time. I could do better and i've only ever cooked ramen.

Had sushi so if you're sushi lover you might like. Would like to try hibachi grill next time.

The best Japanese Steak house in the Valley. Reserve a teppanyaki table start with the loaded Sashimi appetizer- sashimi was really fresh. I went with the New York and Shrimp entree. The shrimp was delicious and a high quality. The chef was very entertaining and very nice. Overall a fantastic experience and even better food. read more

This establishment is trying, but there are still quite a few hiccups from our experience. We would like to return, if they can fix the service issues. Pros-  Good amount of parking in the rear of the building. The owner was present, gracious and checking on all the tables. Very proactive, friendly and professional as I spoke with him after and he was genuinely concerned about our experience faults. The place was hopping on a Saturday night and I took that as a good sign. I overheard other guests say that the previously bad bathrooms had been updated nicely. People that were offered appetizers, received them promptly and they looked amazing and generous. The ginger salad dressing was delicious with nice amount of ginger. Chef was fun and went around the table confirming orders. He knew what we ordered. When items were forgotten, he was proactive on getting them quickly. Servers came around frequently for drink refills. Shrimp toss is always a fun part of the show and the chef did a great job. Neutrals-  The grills were much smaller than other Teppanyaki style restaurants. Soup was not bad, but just okay. I ordered the salmon & scallops and my husband ordered the salmon & steak. Cons-  Seating was tight next to strangers. Not sure if they remodeled, but the carpeting didn't appear clean. Tried to order house iced tea, but they only carry Lipton, so we ordered water with lemon. House made tea is easy and cheap, so why not make it? Our water arrived without lemon or straws. We asked again and our server brought out the lemon, but forgot the straws, so we had to get up and go to the bar area to get straws ourselves. Server asked the table if anyone wanted sushi, we did not, but later she brought out appetizers as well for others, but we weren't asked. The fork was not polished, with a large soap stain. No knife provided for proper eating and no steak knife, which was actually needed for the sinewy steak. Salad was the cheapest mix you can pick up from a supermarket, just lettuce, crouton dust and cabbage. No tomato. No cucumber. We were the only 2 to order plain steamed rice, as all others got the fried rice. Guess what was forgotten? The chef called to the kitchen for our rice, twice. Veggies were meager. Usually you get so much veggies that you can't finish, but not here. Again, this is not an expensive item for the restaurant to be cheap. The chef was serving the proteins, but for us, my husband only got his steak, no salmon. The chef called back to the kitchen for a salmon to cook. I only got the salmon and he called the server over for my scallops. She came, didn't understand his request, shrugged her shoulders and walked away! I heard him and knew she made a mistake not asking him to repeat. He called out to the kitchen a 5th time in total for our orders. I finally got my scallops after everything else was eaten. Don't expect much of a show here, there's nothing except the onion volcano and egg tossing. At other restaurants, I've seen egg catching in their hats, grill writing with egg whites and knife tossing. Here they just banged on the edge of the grill as they salted the food. We finally got all of our food and thanked the chef. I've never before left a teppanyaki restaurant hungry, but here the portions are small. I'd definitely recommend ordering appetizers, if offered. At the end, the server asked us what we ordered, odd as she had taken the order in the beginning. She remembered the gyoza for some guests, but then while looking down at her order pad, she said, "no one ordered sushi, right"? Yes, 2 people had, but they choose the opportunity to be quiet. For some reason, everyone's checks were run, except ours, after she picked up our cards, she went back, sat down and was chatting with the other employees, while we waited. Finally, we got our checks. Oh, the sushi bar did tell her of her mistake and the guests did pay for their sushi. Thoughts- I did speak with the owner, privately afterwards and as we were the last table, I didn't want to take up his time, but he was extremely open to hearing our experience. read more

Kyoto Japanese Restaurant - Chef show - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

This is the most customer UNFRIENDLY place I have ever seen, not once not twice but this the third time. It will also be the last time. The reception is rude and disrespectful. read more

I have been to all the Hibachi restaurants in Boise. This one is good. Needs yum yum sauce. The salad isn't the traditional ginger. The rice was bland. But the service was great! The waitress was running keeping everyone filled and checking on us and the cook was great too. read more

Post-update review! Kyoto closed for a bit and they are NOW OPEN with a completely renovated inside! It's beautiful! I sat at the sushi bar and was greeted by the sushi chef and my server and they were all so personable! The sushi chef talked about the sushi menu and asked for any suggestions of any roll that I thought would be good. They can make anything you request! They suggested the Boise Roll and the fresh lemon zest was a game changer! As soon as it was placed in front of me the fresh lemon zest hit me and it was so amazing. Thank you again, Kyoto! Note: the Oyster Shooters are no longer on the menu... :( read more

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I last time I ate in this building, it was still a Shakey's pizza and I may have had a better meal. When will I learn that the show is primary at these kinds of eateries and the food is secondary? Maybe after this experience. The "onion" soup was bland and wasn't helped any by the three pieces of mushroom floating in the broth. And I've never understood Asian restaurants in the U.S. that insist on serving a green salad. That's pretty much a throwaway. The fried rice might have been the worst I've ever tasted. Basically rice drenched in soy sauce with added scrambled egg scorched on the flat top. We had teriyaki steak that had no hint of soy sauce, just soy sauce and added salt (gasp!). With the first couple of bites, the meat tasted on the old side. The other pieces weren't bad, just no flavor. Did I say the show is the star? It wasn't bad, although our chef fumbled a couple of the eggs he was tossing in the air with his spatula. But he was fairly entertaining. The meal was ok, but not something I would long for very often. read more

Kyoto Japanese Restaurant - Watch while I burn the scrambled eggs. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

Came tonight with a couple friends and they were packed, however we had called before and were unable to make reservations so we came in with the hopes of maybe getting lucky. We were greeted by a hostess named Brianna who at first said we would have to wait until 8 which would be 4 hours, but somehow she was able to squeeze us into a table which I thought was super cool. Not to mention the awesome fire guy. The food is to die for. Enough said read more

The food was delicious and the staff is friendly and very good. Hibachi chef was funny and talented. Highly recommended.

Pretty good hibachi place on a busy street not far from downtown. We went with a very large group so we made reservation which was a good idea. They had a dining area that was on a platform that was able to accommodate our group. This is a hibachi place so the seats are wrapped around a grill where your food is cooked in front of you. Our cook was great and all of these hibachi places are similar to a bennihanas. So the good ones try to joke around a bit and kind of make it a show too. Ours was good and did that. The food was very good and it was a great place to spend an evening. read more

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We went for the first time at the request of our daughter who wanted this for part of her birthday. Small place inside, but good atmosphere. We made reservations (highly recommend) and were sat at the time we made. The chef was great and did all the hibachi type of things you would expect. The food was great! My husband had sashimi which he said was generous in portion and one of the better tasting in the valley. My daughter had a child's filet mignon and I had the chicken. Everything tasted great and they were very accommodating of the birthday celebration. We would return and we would recommend! read more

They up charge for fried rice which is always included at good hibachis. Food is mediocre, but the chefs are entertaining as always. read more

With its recent remodel, the ambience is much brighter. Food has always been great (for the last 20 years I have been going). Show is good and servers are very kind. read more

This place is wonderful and the quality hasn't changed much over the year. The service is some of the best in the valley and the food is great. If you're going for a family friendly and light hearted environment, Kyoto's is for you. We are partial to the sushi for sure. The quality is by far the best you'll find. However, with the new all you can eat option, they definitely add more rice to those rolls than they normally do. This is a genius design to have people eat less but definitely makes it sit heavier than it once did. That being said, the fish and sauce mixtures are still on point. I highly recommend this fine establishment. read more

I had the best experience ever in a restaurant. The staff were awesome. My daughter has a lot of different foods she can't eat. The staff couldn't have been any better at making sure they fixed her dinner so it was safe to eat. The chief was incredible. He is so talented, puts on a great performance. I will definitely go back. read more

I had perhaps the most fun birthday dinner ever at Kyoto's! Yes, we had great friends and company, but the chef and the staff along with the delicious food, all made it a night to remember! My only mark against this place is that I made sure to make reservation and call twice the day of our dinner just to make sure they had us down. I noticed from previous reviews that this had been an issue with many in the past and I was trying to avoid this. Well, even with a reservation, we had to wait about 25 minutes to be seated which didn't quite make sense when there were areas that were open. Nevertheless, once we were seated, the fun really got started! I had never experienced a chef at a restaurant come over to your area and cook your food right in front of you! Not only did he cook for us all but he also played tricks and had some hilarious jokes. Man, was this a blast! I told them that we were here for my wife's birthday and the staff treated her extra special which made our experience that much better. Nothing but love for this place. Yummy food, fantastic staff, hilarious and talented cooks, lots of positive vibes. Recommend this restaurant if you want to celebrate with friends or simply come out and have a great time! read more

I have been going here for many years and the new ownership has made this great restaurant even better. Delicious food, especially the fresh vegetables and the entertaining presentation make this popular with everyone. Enjoy. read more

Miso soup and Sushi were the best I've had. Great taste and presentation. Staff we nice and pleasant.

We went to celebrate our 12th anniversary. When you spend $150 on 2 peoples dinner at the hibachi grill, you expect a show. There was no show - just cooking. I also would have been nice to order some sort of alcohol beverage other than beer, wine or something canned. They don't offer any bar made drinks. It's stupid. It's a sit down restaurant - that should be offered. The entry way was dirty. Not because of snow but there was dust and trash everywhere. It needs a good cleaning. The thing that bothered me the most was when they sat us, they put 10 people at a table meant for 8. They crammed us in and it was very uncomfortable. I basically did not have a place to sit. I literally ate at the corner of the table. I had no leg room because they sat us on the corner so we had to sit sideways in order to even sit. The service was bad. They brought the wrong beer and brought our sushi after our meal started. All around I went before and came back. I even told people about it. This time around ruined it. I work too hard for my money to spend $150 if they aren't going to treat customers right. Oh yah, all of our soups were luke warm. We would have told the server if we saw the server at all. The whole table of strangers discussed how annoyed we were. There was one couple that hadn't been back since new management took over and when talking to them they said that was the last time they would ever be back. Go ahead, sit 12 strangers together but when you treat them poorly you better expect them to all talk and now go tell other people. What a shame. read more

Their filet mignon was soooo good!! Great place for hibachi! They were also very accommodating to my 9 month old baby. I recommend making a reservation due to their limited seating read more

Posted a google review about the manager vaping in the kitchen at this establishment. Waited 3 days for a phone call which is why I posted my review. The owner (who wasn't at the establishment) states that me and my wife were arguing and that's why I was upset. I cannot believe how unprofessional this owner is, he is the new owner that took over. I'll just have to follow up with the food inspector to get this settled instead. Instead of getting the vaping in the kitchen problem sorted, the new owner decides to take his anger out on the customer. I wish him well and hope he can keep a steady head. read more

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Just finish a birthday dinner and the food was on point! The service was outstanding and the atmosphere was fun and festive. We would recommend the place for a special occasion. Pricey but hey what is not these days. Not everyday is a birthday! So thank you for the good food and memories with our family! read more

Kyoto Japanese Restaurant - Wonderful and entertaining chef! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

A few weeks ago, my family and I placed a substantial to go order from here, well over $100. Upon returning home with said meal, our order was incomplete AND incorrect. After several attempts of reaching out to the restaurant directly, my concerns were left read but unanswered. $110 is a lot to pay and then not even get a reply from management. They have lost my business and that's really unfortunate. read more

Have been living out of state and heard ownership changed and I was nervous! Ordered to-go and the Ernie roll is not the same as it used to be My boyfriend enjoyed both of his rolls, but they forgot the side of fried rice I paid for. read more

We are traveling and wanted to try a new place. So we checked yelp. This place came recommended so we came here. When we pulled up I was kinda skeptical. It didn't look the greatest. My husband said he had noticed more parking in the back. Then we went inside. We were asked for a reservation and the lady looked down at her spiral bound notebook. I said when we called hey told us it was slow and all the reservations were for 6. When I looked around this place was packed. Every table was full. I thought well this must be a good sign and it was! The food was delish! The waitress was very knowledgeable and congenial. I never needed to request a refill they refilled our cups before we even noticed. The cool had been there for 7 years, and was super experienced. No issues at all. They did a birthday song for the hubs and our table mate. Did the shrimping throwing. All the usual. Our cook was very soft spoken. There is a menu for 12 and under. read more

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Kyoto never disappoints. Their Teppanyaki (think Hibachi) chefs are fun and talented. They never miss the chance to surprise their guests and always ask if anyone is celebrating a special occasion. Our family includes some vegetarians and they also make sure we all leave satisfied. Good portions and cleanliness is well-minded. We have recommended this restaurant to friends and guests looking for a fun place to enjoy good quality dining, solo or with a crowd. They also have the best sushi we have found in town, which can be enjoyed alongside a Teppanyaki grill master or in the other side of the establishment. read more

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We were delighted with the quality of the food and exceptional service! As a devoted sushi lover, I was beyond impressed! The 911 roll was fabulous and spicy!The food was fresh and chef was very entertaining and accommodating- we will definitely be back! read more

Went for my husbands birthday last night. Everyone wore masks, very courteous and the best service. Food was beautiful and so good. I wish them all the best success ever. read more

Kyoto Japanese Restaurant - Kyoto mixed drinks - Sushi Bars Near Me - Boise, Idaho

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Love this place. The food is delicious and I absolutely love their Plum wine. I have gone here twice for to separate birthdays and everyone seems to always have had fun. Prices aren't too bad and they also have great options for kids if you have a picky eater. read more