Kisentei Tokyo Midtown Lunch

Nestled in the heart of Tokyo's vibrant Akasaka district, Kisentei Teppanyaki offers a culinary experience that transcends the ordinary. This exquisite restaurant, located on the third floor of Tokyo Midtown, invites guests to indulge in the art of teppanyaki, where skilled chefs prepare each dish right before your eyes.

It was a little rushed if I’m honest, as I walked in past 2 pm, and they told me they had to close doors by 3 pm. I was the only diner, and that was a plus; the chef, probably in his 70s was jovial and had a quiet charm and confidence about him. The servers however, gave me the a little of the rushed vibe.

Still, the food was impeccable - and the service decidedly Japanese level artisanal. Nothing with the circus we see outside Japan, just quiet poise from muscle memories having done similar for thousands if not millions of times over the decades.

The garlic fried rice with shiso leaves was superb.

The cuts of tenderloin was masterfully cooked ‘medium’ - the first bite without anything, the second with wasabi, and third with ponzu sauce. I really thought not using the sauce was doing justice to the meat quality. Salt if you had to. But not really.