Tempura Kiku

[buzzgirls&dad]

Hi all, I haven't seen to much about this restuarant and would just like to hear some opinions on it. Would you go for lunch or dinner and where is it located in Japan. We have been to Teppanyaki but I can't place where this would be.

 

[LiteBrite]

I haven't eaten there, so I can't help in that department, but I do know where it is. The lobby and desk where you check in for Teppanyaki also serves Tepura Kiku and the Matsnoma Lounge. As you're facing the check in desk when you first walk in, Matsnoma Lounge is to your right, and Tempura Kiku is straight ahead of you. The Teppanyaki Dining Rooms are to your left.

 

[Cookie Princess]

I am thinking that they don't take ADRs is that correct?

 

[lonegungirl]

I really like the tempura there, and it's never been crowded enough to require an ADR when I've gone.

The seating is a little cramped however, as you all sit around a u-shaped bar. Given that I had the place to myself last time, it wasn't really an issue.

 

[Wazzo]

Hello!

We ate there in February, and the shrimp tempura was amazing! We sat in the dining area which was not crowded, and had a beautiful view of the World Showcase!

Enjoy!

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

Ate tempura in the dining area to the left of where you enter. (sounds like where wazzo ate, cause the veiw of WS was wonderful.) Didn't need an ADR which was surprising for the view we got and the tempura (had some of the chicken and shrimp) and the sushi we got was WONDERFUL! My picky 4 year old got the kid meal and loved it. Our server made him special chopsticks. And my DH loved the Green Tea ice cream.

 

[bookworm61]

Is it on the dining plan?

 

[LiteBrite]

Is it on the dining plan?

According to allearsnet.com, Teppanyaki is the only one of the Japan pavilion restaurants on the dining plan.

http://allearsnet.com/pl/packages06a.htm#rest

 

[housemartin]

It is on the Dining Plan (at least it's listed in the Disney Dining Plan brochure as a table-service option) but it does not take ADRs - I called a few days ago and the reservationist said it was walk-in only.

 

[Ozymoe]

I have eaten there on different occasions over the years (I'm not a big ADR maker) and enjoyed it very much. The meats, shrimp and vegetables are piping hot and lightly encased in pale golden crispy batter for eating as is or dipping in a couple of sauces...the sauce I like is very thin, almost like broth. Next time I'll have to pay more attention to the name of what I am eating! I would do this again in a heartbeat (and have!).

 

[cigar95]

Somehow I've ignored this place for 15 years, even though I knew it was there. Would any of you recommend lunch or dinner? I see the prices are higher for dinner, but are the portions also bigger?

Sounds like the view might give dinner the advantage, since I find WS to be stunning after dark.

 

[Meriweather]

Tempura Kiku doesn't take ADR....I tried

 

[oogieboogie]

There are 2 locations for tempura or sushi - the lounge or the bar. The bar looks like a typical tiny little sushi bar, it's a wrap-around U shaped bar with the chef in the middle. This is straight ahead from the waiting room. You can order tempura or sushi here.

To the left of the waiting room is the lounge. The menu is the same as the sushi bar. You can have tempura and sushi as well here. It's not that big either, but it does have a nice big picture window where you can see the world showcase lagoon.

Both sections are served by the same menu so you can choose to sit in either space, however the check-in desks are different for each section. You can't check in at the bar to sit at the lounge, and vice versa.

I've sat at both and I love both sides. You get a truly different feel in each section. The bar is more intimate, no windows, and you get to see the chef create his masterpieces. Meanwhile in the lounge, there are more kids, it does seem more relaxing, and if you get a seat near the window, a great view to boot.

 

[MelanieC]

I'm going to have to try this place out sometimes.

 

[SarahKate]

We went there for the first time in February - yes, they are on the DDP for sure, No, they don't take ADRs (but they are considered table service).

If you walk through the doors to Teppanyaki, the door to Tempura Kiku is straight ahead next to the hostess's station for Teppanyaki. We went there one evening about 5:30 and when we got there, only a few other people were in there.

I think that people are SO over-eager to eat at Teppanyaki. We have eaten at a lot of hibachi places and so it's nothing special.

The service we received at Tempura Kiku was EXCELLENT. All of the waitresses had not been in the states very long at all and were still sort or getting oriented. But their English was great and they interacted w/ our 3.5 year old DD so well. DH was born in Japan, and so it was a great cultural experience for us and we'll look forward to returning to this restaurant next year!

The previous poster is correct, the seating is pretty cramped. It's very much like sitting at a u-shaped sushi bar - probably no more than 15-20 seats total. The cooking takes place in the middle, so you can watch them - I was really surprised that all the grease didn't overwhelm us but they must have great ventilation.

I definitely would recommend it, especially if you have gone to a teppanyaki place before - I keep hearing the one at WDW is really nothing superior over any others. Also, the counter service Japanese place is great too - Yakitori House.

 

[cigar95]

Can anyone comment on portion sizes? Dinner is more expensive, but are the portions the same?

Thanks.

 

[Dizneydaz]

We've eaten in the dining room and the lounge. We liked both of them. When we ate in the dining room/sushi bar I think the server was surprised that we ordered only sushi-it was very good! We've also enjoyed eating in the lounge-it's a great view of the lagoon and the sushi is very good. (that's all I've seen on the menu.) Also, there is a good (not great) view of Illuminations from the lounge. The only drawback is the Japanese gate thingy blocks parts of it but on a warm night, the air conditioning is great! Also, they dim the lights and pipe in the music.

Happy Dining!

 

[SarahKate]

You will get a TON of food at this place. I recall not being able to finish everything, but it was all very good. Mainly because most everything is deep fried (which is what Tempura is, so no surprises there)!

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

my husband and I split one of the tempura dishes and got a sushi roll each and left very full. This was at lunch.

 

[Aquagirl]

Excellent!!! My dh had sushi and I had chicken tempura. Both were great. The menu is the same at the bar and lounge. We ate in the lounge. We went on a Saturday for lunch and only waited about 5 minutes for a table. The service was excellent. You get a fishy soup with your meal. If you don't like fishy soup you can get a salad for $1 extra.