Tabelog ratingYaki Yasai Isoya (焼野菜 五十家) offers a theatrical dining experience centered on charcoal-grilled vegetables. Seated at a lively counter, guests watch as chefs transform produce from Kyoto's ISO FARM into creative small plates. The menu features unusual items like grilled cucumber and whole shimeji mushrooms, often passed directly across the counter by the chefs, making for an engaging and interactive meal.
Guests consistently praise the remarkable freshness and sweetness of the vegetables, enhanced by the kitchen's skillful grilling. Standout dishes mentioned by many include the grilled cucumber, shimeji mushrooms with a house dressing (tanba shimeji), and a tender daikon radish with crab and yuzu sauce (daikon no kani-an). The restaurant's ebi-mayo (prawns with mayonnaise) and a vegetable quesadilla are also popular. The service is frequently described as welcoming and energetic, with English-speaking staff who are happy to accommodate vegetarian and vegan diners.
A minority of reviewers note some inconsistency, with certain dishes being occasionally too salty, underseasoned, or slightly undercooked. Others experienced slow service between courses, and popular items like tofu can sell out later in the evening. As the restaurant serves small plates, the bill can add up if you order many dishes to make a full meal.
Most visitors find the restaurant offers very good value. A typical dinner costs between ¥4,000 and ¥4,999 per person. For reference, reviewers in recent years paid around ¥650 for the shimeji mushrooms and ¥800 for the daikon with crab sauce. A chef's selection set is also available for about ¥4,000.
- Booking: Reservations are strongly recommended and should be made in advance. Walk-ins may be possible but are often subject to a time limit.
- Getting There: The restaurant is a 1-minute walk from Kyoto City Hall Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway.
- Seating: Seating is at the counter only, making it ideal for solo diners or small groups of two to three.
- Payment: Credit cards (JCB, AMEX, Diners) and QR code payments are accepted. Electronic money is not.
- Language & Dietary: An English menu is available, and many staff members speak English. The kitchen can often accommodate vegetarian and vegan requests.
- Smoking: Please note that smoking is permitted inside the restaurant.
- Parking: Parking is unavailable.
