Great for both omnivores and vegans. Local ingredients and the tofu dishes are amazing!! Opt for the dish with 5 diffetent types of tofu. Some of our group had the chef's special menu with 7 courses and loved it. Great value too.

The stars were aligned and we were able to dine here without a dinner reservation. We were shared our tatami room with another couple. The service was attentive and helpful. The 10 courses of tofu and wheat gluten opened our eyes to the whole new...world of tofu and it can be treated differently. Every course was delicious and soulful. You can order al carte items from the menu but I would highly recommend the tasting course.More

We tried the set menu for one and ordered two extra dishes with rice. They had an English menu but it was not that helpful in understanding the dishes. The wait staff did not speak that much English but was very patient and pleasant trying...to explain the dishes and make suggestions. The dishes were very tasty and interesting. We enjoy being able to experience something totally different and this was a definite good experience.More

We were disappointed in our search for a veg option here. After reading other reviews of Mamehachi ("eight bean") that said this tofu -specialty restaurant , though not vegetarian or vegan, was flexible and did have several non-fish, non-dashi, non-meat dishes on the menu, we...heard " No, sorry, all fish, meat" from the server. We spent a while looking for Mamehachi restaurant on the picturesque narrow street in Gion, since it doesn't have a sign in English and Google map was not cooperating. We are vegans; choosing veg-friendly restaurants is important. We also speak basic Japanese , so the problem wasn't communication here. Based on other reviews, I guess whether vegans can be accommodated depends on who's doing the serving/cooking. I recommend Tosuiro restaurant instead for a completely veg tofu meal. The Tosuiro website lists their veg option; they have two locations, one near Kyoto City Hall and the other near Gion -Higashiyama. We went to the Gion location the last time we visited Kyoto; Tosuiro has two in downtown Kyoto. The meal was great, with all the varied courses and ceremonial service of a shojin ryori restaurant . Pricey, but special .More