The story
ima brings French cuisine to a quiet corner of Kyoto’s Nakagyo ward. The restaurant operates on a tasting menu format, with lunch and dinner seatings at a counter. The atmosphere is intimate and direct: guests watch the kitchen work, and the meal unfolds in a measured sequence of courses.
Michelin has recognized ima with a Recommended rating in 2026, a nod to the restaurant’s consistent execution of French technique and its clear, focused offering.
Lunch is served Thursday through Saturday, with a six-course tasting menu at ¥9,000. Guests can add a wine pairing (four glasses, ¥14,500) or a non-alcoholic pairing of four housemade beverages (¥13,500). Dinner runs Tuesday through Saturday, with nine courses at ¥16,500. The dinner wine pairing stretches to seven glasses (¥25,500), and the non-alcoholic option includes five drinks (¥22,000). Drinks are ordered separately on the day.
The kitchen notes that it cannot accommodate specific food allergies or dietary restrictions, particularly regarding seafood, dairy, or wheat. Children are welcome but receive the same menu. The policy is straightforward: the restaurant prepares ingredients and staff per reservation, and cancellations incur fees starting five days out.
Reservations open on the first of each month for the following two months. A credit card is required to hold the booking (payment is collected after the meal). Corkage is ¥4,000 per bottle. There is no parking on site; nearby paid lots are available. The course starts promptly at 12:00 for lunch and 6:30 for dinner, with a fifteen-minute grace window for entry.
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