Monk
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What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Monk
Review
About
Features
CUISINES
Pizza
Meal types
Dinner
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
FEATURES
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Does this restaurant primarily serve Healthy cuisine?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Open until 2:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 am - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
10:00 am - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Wednesday
10:00 am - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Thursday
10:00 am - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Friday
10:00 am - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Saturday
10:00 am - 2:00 pm5:30 pm - 11:00 pm
Contribute
4.8
(54)
Excellent
48
Good
3
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Doc Tenor
Boston224 contributions
Jan 2024 • business
I am SO glad that I had the opportunity to eat at Monk. We were in Japan on holiday last year, but Monk was closed during our time in Kyoto, so we were not able to go. This past January, I was in Japan on business and was able to book dinner at Monk with two work colleagues. The setting of the small restaurant was gorgeous, as was the building. The best word that comes to mind when describing our experience is "serene." The staff was lovely and the food was simply exquisite. The variety of flavors, colors, and textures was amazing, from the bread and pizza, to the local vegetables and herbs. YUM! It was also great to speak to Chef Yoshihiro Imai, who was gracious and welcoming.
Written 2 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sundar V
San Jose56 contributions
Mar 2025 • family
This place has made wood fired pizza a luxury. A cozy place with probably 10 seats and a great ambiance for a wonderful meal. The pizzas were awesome with some unique local ingredients shining bright. The selection of wines were good and the service was impeccable. I love pizzas and the ones here at at the top of the best I have had worldwide.
Written 17 March 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennie A
58 contributions
Jan 2024 • couples
Incredible experience with a delicious vegetable-centric tasting menu. We started with pizza dough and nappa cabbage soup followed by carrots with mozzarella, yellowtail with daikon, sunchokes with mustard flowers, a course of different roasted vegetables, spanish mackerel with spinach, a pizza course (we tried 4 different options: the bait fish, pork ragu, margherita, and chrysanthemum, you get 1 pizza for two people and each half can be a different topping/flavor) and finished with a persimmon dessert with rhubarb mousse and dill sauce.
We enjoyed every course, but our favorite were the sunchokes. They were absolutely delicious and we wanted another portion after finishing ours. The only dish we did not enjoy was the yellowtail. It was a bit fishy and smokey for our liking. The persimmon dessert was a great surprise, we never had dill in dessert before and it was delightful.
Overall it is such a cool and unique dining experience. There are only 14 seats in the restaurant (you need to make a reservation well in advance) and you get to interact with the staff and Chef Imai. Watching them work is awesome (definitely book a counter seat) and the portions and courses leave you full. Definitely worth the price! A unique and delicious dining experience you won't forget.
Written 30 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lori L
California345 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
We had a fabulous 10-course meal at Monk. It was a treat to watch Chef Imai and his staff create these beautiful dishes. Each dish is simple, delectable with a Japanese twist, a true 5+ star experience. We purchased his book and chef signed it.
We watched his Netflix - Chef Table - Pizza before and after. It gives you the appreciation of how Chef Imai success. If you get a reservation, you felt like you won a the ultimate dining experience.
Written 23 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zxypoo
Texas336 contributions
Sept 2024 • couples
A serene experience off of the Philosophers path. After eating a lot of traditional Japanese food options over the week I was in Japan, Monk was a refreshing experience. You won’t leave hungry as even though the menu is vegetable heavy, there’s a lot of food. Finally, the IPA they had on draft paired really well with the pizza.
Written 2 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tera W
Kyoto40 contributions
Dec 2020 • none
Wow. A meal at Monk is a meal like no other. My husband and I booked a dinner reservation here on Christmas and we had no idea it would be a 3 hour dining experience unlike any experience we've had before! It's a stunning interior of a restaurant with a romantic and intimate vibe of limited seating, and it's as though you're on a culinary journey with only a few other guests along for the ride. It's a multi-course extravaganza of flavors and presentation, with each dish beautifully prepared right in front of your eyes. I'm a vegetarian and my husband is not, but Monk was able to accommodate our needs perfectly. We enjoyed the warmth, humor, professionalism, and expertise of the staff tremendously, and they even accompanied us outside after our meal, bowing deeply while saying goodbye. It was the art of food fully perfected in every way and I'm so honored to have had such a divine, pleasurable experience. Thank you Monk!
Written 10 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lee C
39 contributions
Oct 2024 • friends
Great experience. Glad I went. Would I go again. Probably not. The pizza was GREAT..!! Everything else lacked flavour and texture. Their booking system is also rather strange. You have to pay the full amount as a “deposit” then pay again on the night. So just be sure that you’re fine without the “deposit” until it clears some days/weeks later. I’ve sent a email as it still has not cleared. Still to hear back. Oh and be sure to request downstairs so you can soak up the great atmosphere with the fire. Upstairs was nice. Just not as good as downstairs.
Written 26 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andley
Kansas City111 contributions
Dec 2024 • family
My family traveled to Japan to celebrate our daughter’s thirtieth birthday. Getting a reservation at Monk was one of her few requests. I was thrilled to snag a reservation for Christmas dinner! The restaurant is incredibly cozy and our meal was delightful from start to finish. Philosopher’s Path is serene and a nice break from some of the more highly trafficked areas in Kyoto. Reservations are very difficult to get but more than worth the effort!
Written 5 February 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexandra
London42 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
I have been following Imai san from Monk for a long time now.
I love his connection to the land. His vision is not unique, but what makes it unique is the fact that in Kyoto. He harvests from Ohara, just half hour or so the city. You will need a reservation with time. So please come to Monk next trip to Kyoto.
Written 26 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Holly H
Newcastle56 contributions
Nov 2024 • couples
This place was enjoyable, the pizza was amazing, however the other courses are a little tasteless. The experience, restaurant space, and staff are all very lovely, we just found the food a little underwhelming for the price point.
Written 19 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
canadaboy69
New York City16 contributions
Jul 2024 • couples
Disappointed, I do not understand the hip of this place, the food was fresh but compared to what Kyoto restaurants offer , it’s a not worth the waiting list , explore the city delicious other places
Written 22 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kellie P
Perth109 contributions
Oct 2023 • family
Sublime flavours and textures, exquisite presentation, course delivery perfectly timed and detailed by the chef and his staff. This was the perfect way to finish our Kyoto visit.
Written 28 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louise S
13 contributions
Jun 2023 • family
Such a beautiful experience in a lovely quiet part of Kyoto. Really accommodating staff as we had kids with us and they were willing to adapt what was served for them, i.e just serve them pizza instead of the other dishes.
Written 17 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arch Stanton
4 contributions
Mar 2023 • none
This is what food is all about! Thoughtful combinations, excellent presentation, every bite a wonderful surprise.
Written 14 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
suziQIreland
United Kingdom4 contributions
Dec 2019 • family
This was one of the most intimate and amazing meals. Every course (and there are many) was totally delicious. And we were made to feel so welcomed. Would thoroughly recommend.
Written 12 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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