Kien em Akasaka - Kaiseki com Estrela Michelin

Nestled in the bustling Roppongi Hills, this restaurant offers a tranquil escape. There are six counter seats and private rooms available. The head chef appears kind and humble, engaging in pleasant conversation with Japanese guests and even chatting with me briefly, introducing dishes in English. If language weren't a barrier, I'd love to discuss more about the cuisine with him. The male server was incredibly polite, greeting us multiple times even when just clearing plates, which was amusing. This visit's menu featured autumn-themed dishes: crab, somen noodles, tempura, sashimi, abalone – a bit of everything. It offered unique textures within traditional preparations, beautifully garnished with ginkgo and maple leaves (there were even ginkgo-shaped food items in the soup, which had a surprisingly good texture – highly recommended!). The creamy white soup with sea urchin, which I believe contained potato, had a delightful milky flavor that was quite surprising and delicious. The crab dish was presented in a style common to several establishments, served on a shiso leaf. The somen noodles featured fish roe and caviar. The tempura platter included salmon roe, and the white, popcorn-like pieces on the rice stalks were edible – I'm curious how they're made! The tempura also had sweet potato, cod, and shirako (fish milt). The presentation of the rice stalks was impressive! The soup contained fish balls, tofu, shrimp, greens, shiitake mushrooms, and a processed ginkgo item. We also had a fatty tuna hand roll, yellowtail with sweet potato and dried small fish, and a clam shell dish with sea urchin, abalone, and a round meatball-like item (seeming like a processed food) featuring truffle. The 50g beef fillet was incredibly tender and delicious, served with soy sauce, salt, and scallion soy sauce. For the main course, there was ginkgo and shiitake mushroom kamameshi (rice cooked in a pot) and miso soup. For dessert, warabi mochi.

First Kaiseki experience! The food was amazing and the chef and staff were very respectful. I came in solo and I was about 15 min late with my reservation because I got a little lost on the way and they still took me in. Every dish explained to me briefly in English. Loved it! :)

The food was fresh, delicious, and exquisite, beautifully presented. The menu didn't show the contents, so we only knew what we were getting when the food arrived, like a chef's omakase, which was a pleasant surprise, though a bit expensive. The staff introduced the dishes in simple English, and the service was excellent and unhurried. Although there were only two of us, we were arranged in a private room, which was quiet and comfortable, and we enjoyed a memorable lunch.

We arranged for a 2-person room and enjoyed a nine-course kaiseki meal. There was a good interval between each dish, and it truly took two hours to finish, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. The service attitude was excellent, with detailed explanations for each dish.

There's a small bar counter and a private room. We dined with other Japanese guests. The food was delicious and good. The chef introduced the dishes in English. I had one bowl of the claypot rice, and they packed the rest for me to take away.

The service was excellent. They proactively asked about any food allergies, and for each dish, they carefully explained the ingredients and preparation methods. The taste was truly delicious, respecting the natural flavors of the ingredients and using very simple cooking techniques to create layered textures. The ingredients were fresh, and the taste was fantastic! Definitely worth a try!

We had booked our Kaiseki meal well in advance. This Michelin-starred restaurant is tucked away in a very discreet location, about a ten-minute walk from Roppongi. We finally spotted this hidden gem on a very unassuming street corner. Upon entering, a chef greeted us warmly, offering to help with our luggage and store our personal belongings, which was very thoughtful. The head chef patiently explained the ingredients, characteristics, and recommended eating methods for each dish. They also coordinated with the kitchen based on our eating pace to ensure each dish was served at its optimal taste. The first dish was a rich shrimp and crab bisque, with a wonderfully fragrant potato-like sphere at the bottom. I suspect it might have included some fish and cheese, as its texture was much creamier than regular mashed potatoes. The second course was tempura, featuring two random vegetables and two types of fish. The third dish was a fishball soup, which was decent. Next was a sashimi platter, with the squid being quite good. The fifth course was seared salmon with Japanese ginger, accompanied by a fried rice ball and a pea puree base. This dish had a very unique texture, and the Japanese ginger was incredibly delicious, even though there were only two small pieces as a garnish [crying-laughing emoji] (the chef introduced it as 'Japanese ginger,' but I think that might be hard to search for). The sixth dish was duck and egg soup, which was the freshest of all the dishes served today. I'm not sure how the duck breast was made so flavorful. Finally, rice and dessert were served. The rice came in a large clay pot, and I was full after eating less than half of it. Overall, the restaurant has a great ambiance and excellent service. Although there were quite a few soups, the overall taste was very good, and it's definitely worth trying if you get the chance. Just remember to make a reservation in advance!

A very thoughtful experience. The chef explained the ingredients of each dish to us in English, as well as how to enjoy each delicacy. The butler also provided very attentive care. It's worth booking and spending time to enjoy.

Sitting at the bar, being served by the head chef and the experienced older gentleman, was a very warm and friendly experience; I'd love to go again. There were only four seats, which was very comfortable. My husband and I were celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary, and next to us, two Japanese office ladies were celebrating a birthday. The food, service, and atmosphere were all wonderful.

Recommended by a friend, the food and environment are superb. I will definitely come back next time. Booking through Klook was easy.