Pontocho Sushi Ishiya Review Summary

Pontocho Sushi Ishiya
+81 (0) 75-254-1129
210番地 Nabeyachō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto 604-8015
Key Takeaways
What Customers Have to Say
Overall Quality
Favorite Dishes
Price
Ambiance
Vibe
Pontocho Sushi Ishiya Google Average Rating
4.3
3
Google
With the price I paid I was expecting much higher quality in food. The whole dinner was not bad, but with the same price I could get the same level of sushi even in Sweden, not to mention all the other good food I had in Japan at much cheaper price.
The beef was overcooked, the eel was soggy, and the matcha ice cream was plain. The best dish was the uni with salmon roes sushi, both ingredients very fresh and creamy.
The beef was overcooked, the eel was soggy, and the matcha ice cream was plain. The best dish was the uni with salmon roes sushi, both ingredients very fresh and creamy.
1
Google
‼️ Travellers Please stay away. I Am writing this as I’m ill from eating here yesterday. The food tasted ok, but I’ve been up all night sick from both ends after eating here. Use caution! We had oysters and sushi at this location.
5
Google
A five star Japanese foods including sushi, tempura, grilled meat!
You can’t find another place to enjoy this with such a friendly price.
You can’t find another place to enjoy this with such a friendly price.
5
Google
I figured a sushi establishment buried in an alley within an alley would be worth the adventure, haha.
The sushi was a bit expensive, but it was excellent. I had 16 different types of seafood, most of which I've never found in the US, individually prepared with soy sauce and genuine wasabi.
The chef & staff were all friendly, but spoke limited English. Still, we were able to communicate well enough with my limited Japanese, plus Google Translate to help.
I arrived at an off-peak time so there was no one else in the restaurant, I imagine the atmosphere would be better during peak dinnertime.
All in all, it was worth the experience. Props to the chef.
The sushi was a bit expensive, but it was excellent. I had 16 different types of seafood, most of which I've never found in the US, individually prepared with soy sauce and genuine wasabi.
The chef & staff were all friendly, but spoke limited English. Still, we were able to communicate well enough with my limited Japanese, plus Google Translate to help.
I arrived at an off-peak time so there was no one else in the restaurant, I imagine the atmosphere would be better during peak dinnertime.
All in all, it was worth the experience. Props to the chef.
5
Google
Had a great experience here with the omakase set, which was just under 10,000 yen for one person, not including drinks.
Highlight of the menu for me was the ootoro nigiri (fatty tuna). Had about six pieces in total, which also included tai (red snapper), aji (horse mackerel), and ikura (fish roe) with uni (sea urchin) on top.
Note that they serve some meat dishes among the many appetizers before the main nigiri course (which were delicious, but it may not be your thing if you're looking for a primarily sushi-focused course).
Also served in the omakase set that I can recall: some tempura, kaki (oysters -- my partner really liked these), daikon, sashimi, and miso soup, which had a particularly hearty, deep flavour. There's also a good selection of sake and cocktails (had some mikan-sake that was pretty refreshing).
Service-wise, chef and kitchen staff were friendly and accommodating. My Japanese speaking ability is pretty poor but the chef seemed pretty conversational, and they also spoke some English, so it wasn't a struggle.
One key thing to mention is that the directions to this place on Google Maps can be a bit misleading. You need to enter this place from the backstreet, and go down a narrow alley, at the end of which Ishiya is located. If you're not familiar with the Pontocho area before visiting, give yourself a little extra time to find the spot!
Highlight of the menu for me was the ootoro nigiri (fatty tuna). Had about six pieces in total, which also included tai (red snapper), aji (horse mackerel), and ikura (fish roe) with uni (sea urchin) on top.
Note that they serve some meat dishes among the many appetizers before the main nigiri course (which were delicious, but it may not be your thing if you're looking for a primarily sushi-focused course).
Also served in the omakase set that I can recall: some tempura, kaki (oysters -- my partner really liked these), daikon, sashimi, and miso soup, which had a particularly hearty, deep flavour. There's also a good selection of sake and cocktails (had some mikan-sake that was pretty refreshing).
Service-wise, chef and kitchen staff were friendly and accommodating. My Japanese speaking ability is pretty poor but the chef seemed pretty conversational, and they also spoke some English, so it wasn't a struggle.
One key thing to mention is that the directions to this place on Google Maps can be a bit misleading. You need to enter this place from the backstreet, and go down a narrow alley, at the end of which Ishiya is located. If you're not familiar with the Pontocho area before visiting, give yourself a little extra time to find the spot!