Tokyo Dining in EPCOT's Japanese Pavilion

[JERSEYDISFAN]

The Japanese pavilion is a great place to get yourself back to center. The gardens are beautiful and serene. Sit, relax and enjoy watching the koi in the splashing, rock-lined pools. It's unmatched for a quick rest period. Dining is an equally settling experience. For this trip we chose Tokyo Dining for dinner, just before Illuminations (ADR of course), and were seated very close to the front windows overlooking the lake. The restaurant is located in the front half of the building and is decorated in a crisp, bare wood manner you would anticipate of a Japanese restaurant. You almost want to take off your shoes (ok, take off your crocs) as you enter. The dining area is somewhat dark with subdued lighting. The wait staff is among, if not the most attentive in WDW.

There are two soups on the menu, Japanese Clear Soup and Miso Soup. The Japanese Clear Soup is aptly named - it's clear of everything, including flavor. Mine tasted like hot water. On the other hand, DW's Miso Soup was delicious.

I had the garden salad with a ginger dressing. So good, I wished I had ordered two.

For an entre, DW ordered Roppong, shrimp and scallops tempura with rice and dipping sauce, which was excellent. That's a seaweed salad in the middle, also excellent.

I ordered the Ginza Gozan, tempura and sushi combination (shrimp, scallops and vegetables) dinner. Also excellent. Delicious fresh sushi and lightly battured tempura, quickly fried, no overcooking here and two distinct dipping sauces.

For dessert we had a pot of green tea and shared a Green Tea pudding. Had some trepidation ordering this but it turned out just great. We sipped tea and shared the pudding (sorry, no picture) and watch Illuminations from what has to be one of the best locations in the World Showcase. Take your time, don't rush, talk to each other and enjoy the ambiance. Great evening, one of the most romantic of the trip!

 

[Mommy2Corinne]

Thanks for posting this! Great pics. My fiancee LOVES sushi and we are considering giving up our Les Cellier ADR for Tokyo Dining. (I know ... GASP! But we did Les Cellier last year, and with the menu changes, we might want to opt for something new.)

 

[pperfectmom]

Thanks for the review and pics. There isn't much info out there on this restaurant yet but I think we might want to try it out in Sept. Was the view of Illuminations pretty good from the window?

 

[JERSEYDISFAN]

The view is excellent, only drawback is they don't pipe the music into the restaurant (at least not on the night we were there). There is an alternative however, the restaurant is on the second floor level and you can go outside on the balcony and watch/hear the program from there without dealing with a crowd.

 

[suzimar57]

the pictures look great of the food!

 

[Minniespal]

Thanks for the review and photos.

 

[NurseJamie]

Sushi is so not my thing - I'm not a picky eater but just one of the things that I cannot handle, so I never really gave a second thought to dining at the Japan pavilion, but the food looks so pretty! Especially that soup - beautiful, sorry that it didn't taste like much... and I think I could handle the tempura. Might have to rethink things a little... Thanks for sharing!

 

[MagiKitty]

Thanks for posting this! I took your advice and made ADRs for a late dinner in time to watch Illuminations! I'm a huge Japanese food fan, and those pictures just made my mouth water. I'm so excited!

 

[BriarRosie]

Did the staff standing near the hostess stand bow to you? And bow again when you were leaving? I found it pretty amusing.

I enjoyed the miso soup and unagi maki when I was there in October. I thought the restaurant was beautiful. They really did a great job gutting out Tempura Kiku and Matsu No Ma Lounge and creating a lovely place to eat.

 

[TigerKat]

WOW - That tempura/sushi combo looks really good. Now I'm re-thinking my plans.

 

[JERSEYDISFAN]

BriarRosie,

Yes, we got bowed to so often by so many, we began to feel like royalty. It's really a very special and different dining experience.

 

[TigerKat]

Is this the place that seats you with other folks?

 

[traci]

What time do you suggest I schedule an ADR at Tokyo if we want to catch Illuminations on the patio after dinner (without the crowd below)! Going in October and Illuminations starts at 9pm.

 

[MagiKitty]

From the looks of the menu, your food shouldn't take too long to prepare, so in terms of making a reservation, it would depend largely on how long it takes for you to eat in order to make it out to that patio. I'd say 7:45 is about right if you're planning on dessert.

We have 8pm, but if need be, we'll go out on the patio before dessert and return to our table after Illuminations.

And no, its not the table with the cooking in front of you. That's the other one. (Why can't I think of the names?)

 

[TigerKat]

Is this the place that seats you with other folks?

Can someone answer?

 

[MagiKitty]

I did! We must have posted at the same time...there are two TS restaurants, one with the center cooking, other off of menu. Tokyo Dining is the one where you sit by yourselves.

 

[iluvdisney01]

And no, its not the table with the cooking in front of you. That's the other one. (Why can't I think of the names?)

It's Teppan Edo!

 

[Liar]

Does Tokyo Dining have a full sushi menu, or just the abbreviated menu listed on AllEarsNet? The reason I ask is that my son loves sushi but he is a vegetarian, so there are only a few things he can get.

Thanks!

 

[BriarRosie]

Can someone answer?

Sorry Kathy. Tokyo Dining is the restaurant you first encounter as soon as you open the door. It's the typical Japanese restaurant with the teriyaki, sushi, tempura. You get seated at separate tables.

If you need to walk to the left, there's an open foyer with seating. Teppan Edo dining rooms are located to the far left. You are seated with other parties there around the cooktop, Benihana-style.

 

[TigerKat]

Thanks guys, DH has a thing about sitting with others.