Old school Japanese recipes in the heart of Scottsdale
Kyoto has been bringing classic Japanese dishes to Old Town Scottsdale since 1982
SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — Not many restaurants last through the decades, especially with a lot of turnover and new builds around the Valley. One restaurant in the middle of Old Town Scottsdale is proving that good food and unique experiences can outlast the years.
Kyoto has been bringing together locals and out-of-towners since it began in 1982. The original owner, Masa Kudo, wanted to open a place with old, seasoned family recipes.
He chose the name “Kyoto” to signify the capital or heart of a place. Forty-three years later, the restaurant’s location remains in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, right next to the waterfront.
Since then, Masa’s original recipes have remained the same.
Owner Erik Yee says, “All of our food, if it’s not soy sauce, sriracha, the regular condiments, we make everything in house.”
That includes the teriyaki sauce, which takes three days to make. The house ginger dressing is also popular, and some customers come in just to buy it.
Yee considers Masa a close mentor who taught him every part of the restaurant since he joined in 1997. He then took over as the new owner when Masa retired nearly nine years ago.
“It really is a legacy and I’m very proud to be able to carry it on,” Yee said.
Kyoto offers a decent-sized menu including sushi rolls and potstickers to tempura, dynamite scallops, garlic shrimp, and teriyaki chicken or salmon.
The bento box is one of the most popular dishes for the lunch crowd.
It comes with miso soup, salad, rice and a choice of entree which includes tempura, chicken or salmon or steak teriyaki, crispy chicken or pork katsu, tofu, cod, or a sashimi platter.
“My favorite dish at lunchtime is the white fish bento, sauteed,” Yee says, because it’s “just nice and crispy and fresh and it hits a spot in all the right places.”
The bento boxes currently range from $10 to $16, but are transitioning to a flat rate for the summer.
What really sets Kyoto apart from other local Japanese spots is its teppanyaki. Also called hibachi, teppanyaki features large, flat grills where chefs grill your food right in front of you.
Each teppanyaki meal includes a house salad with the restaurant’s signature ginger dressing, miso or beef soup, vegetable stir fry, rice, shrimp, and a dessert. Additional proteins include a choice of tofu, salmon, steak, chicken, scallops or lobster tail.
The teppan tables aren’t just for cooking, but also for a show.
The teppanyaki chefs at Kyoto showcase some quick knife work and are great at entertaining the table. Each chef has their own style and humor, like chef Armando’s squawking rubber chicken or chef Ricky’s “egg slide” that gets a laugh from the kids.
“Teppanyaki’s always great for birthday parties, get-togethers, bachelor, Bachelorette parties are really popular,” Yee said.
Kyoto also serves a variety of noodles. Yee’s travels to Japan inspired him to add fresh ramen and open his “Ramen Express” food truck. Right now, the ramen truck is mainly used to bring to local festivals, but they are looking to make it more permanent next to the Scottsdale Waterfront canal.
Kyoto wouldn’t be a Scottsdale staple without a sizeable drink menu including beer, wine, sake and cocktails.
One of the most popular drinks is the Dragon Drop.
“It’s a Dragonberry vodka, triple sec, lemon, lime, simple syrup and a splash of Grenadine,” Yee said.
For as long as it’s been around, Yee says it’s the locals who keep coming back that make the restaurant successful.
Kyoto
Location: 7170 E Stetson Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Hours:
- Sunday- Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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