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Restaurant Reviews for Kyo-Ya

Kyo-Ya

2 New Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94105

Kyo-Ya is San Francisco's premiere Japanese restaurant. Kyo-Ya serves traditional Japanese cuisine and jewel like sushi in a modern elegant setting.

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Price: $31 to $50
Parking: Valet
Cross Street: Jessie St.

See more Kyo-Ya details

Average Diner Rating
Overall Rating		3.4 out of 5 (46 Reviews)

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

Summary of Special Features

Diners classify this restaurant as:

great for lunch (12)
fit for foodies (10)
good for groups (7)
special occasion (5)
kid-friendly (1)
neighborhood gem (1)

Kyo-Ya Reviews List

Overall Rating

(Fair)

"Way, way, way too expensive for merely mediocre sushi.

However, do go to Cefiore, the frozen yogurt place directly across the street. Magnificent!"

Food		(Fair)
Ambiance		(Poor)
Service		(Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 10/26/2009

(review submitted 10/29/2009)

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Review 2 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Good)

"The food was good, but the restaurant seemed to be thrown by a large party in the main dining area. We were seated in the bar despite reservations and our sushi took well over an hour (at lunch!). It took over an hour for another lunch group as well, who booked out of there about 5 minutes after receiving their sushi.

I wouldn't go back for lunch - who has 2 hours?"

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 10/27/2009

(review submitted 10/29/2009)

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Review 3 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"We tried the special - 15 piece of sushi for $15.
Kind of disappointed as the quality of sushi was not very good."

Food		(Fair)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 10/15/2009

(review submitted 10/17/2009)

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Review 4 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"Our server was exceptional! She took time to understand what we wanted and made prudent recommendations without being intrusive. She was enthusiastic and pleasant without being effusive or annoying. The food was good too."

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 10/12/2009

(review submitted 10/14/2009)

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Review 5 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"The food itself was presented beautifully. It was fresh and very good. The service was excellent. The server really took her time to explain each roll, even down the garnish. It was a great dining experience"

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 10/09/2009

(review submitted 10/11/2009)

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Review 6 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Fair)

"My expectations were not met.
Gyoza - really bad.
Wafu Beef - good but warm when it came to the table."

Food		(Fair)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 10/02/2009

(review submitted 10/06/2009)

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Review 7 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"good spot for a business lunch."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem

Food		(Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 09/29/2009

(review submitted 10/01/2009)

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Review 8 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Outstanding)

"Spectacular sushi and the best miso I have ever had. Limited menu, but everything is exquisite. They are very strict about start time so that the chefs and waiters are not overloaded. If you arrive early, you will wait."

Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion

Food		(Outstanding)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 09/25/2009

(review submitted 09/28/2009)

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Review 9 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Fair)

"A soul-less hotel restaurant; too bad, because the food is good. When I arrived, the host pointedly told me that "he didn't do this normally," then at the sushi bar, the chef said he didn't take the orders; my wine came long after the appetizer; nobody cared."

Food		(Good)
Ambiance		(Poor)
Service		(Poor)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 09/23/2009

(review submitted 09/27/2009)

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Review 10 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Good)

"Went there for the 15 pieces for $15 special that they have on the 15th of the month. The food was OK and the service was good. I'm going to try this place again for happy hour and dinner."

Special Features: good for groups

Food		(Fair)
Ambiance		(Very Good)
Service		(Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 09/15/2009

(review submitted 09/17/2009)

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Review 11 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Good)

"Food quality is excellent but the price point are well above the market. Only a place for business lunches"

Special Features: great for lunch

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Fair)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 08/24/2009

(review submitted 08/26/2009)

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Review 12 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Good)

"we went during peak lunch hour and it was packed. service a bit slow, food was good though. not enough staff although friendly. not the best of layout of ambience as felt like being in a hotel lobby. which is sort of like it."

Special Features: fit for foodies, great for lunch

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Fair)
Service		(Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 07/14/2009

(review submitted 08/04/2009)

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Review 13 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Poor)

"I have never experienced a more ridiculously over-priced restaurant in my life. 4 draft Sapporos, 4 miso soup, 2 "large" saki (= 8 saki shots total!) and 1x edamami = $85. Combine this with slow / bad service, and we walked out."

Food		(Fair)
Ambiance		(Fair)
Service		(Poor)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 07/24/2009

(review submitted 07/26/2009)

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Review 14 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Good)

"While the sushi was pretty good (certainly not the best I have had) the service was terrible. Our waitress had to keep coming and offering us things like edamame or soup, because the sushi chefs were incredibly slow. The place was not all that crowded. So I have no idea why they were so slow. Anyway, between the price, the lackluster food and the very slow service- I won't be back."

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Poor)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 07/15/2009

(review submitted 07/20/2009)

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Review 15 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Poor)

"We booked a lunch reservation because of a special advertised "15 pieces of sushi for $15". No ordering off the menu, just a box of inferior pieces of stuff I wouldn't even call sushi. Because I've eaten at this restaurant before, I know they can make a mean roll, but I doubt I'll go back again after this experience. There are too many other options nearby."

Food		(Poor)
Ambiance		(Fair)
Service		(Fair)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 07/15/2009

(review submitted 07/19/2009)

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Review 16 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"I went for lunch one of their summer 15 pieces of sushi for 15 dollars on the 15th deals. It was definitely quantity over quality, but still good and a great deal. I went with a group of 9 people from the office and our group number kept changing but they were very accommodating. Our waitress was very rushed and a little rude, probably because of the huge number of people there for the special deal. Even though it was so crowded, we could still hear each other at the table. Each of us ate so much, especially we who took advantage of the special, that we all suffered food comas when we returned to the office."

Special Features: good for groups, kid-friendly, special occasion, great for lunch

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Fair)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 07/15/2009

(review submitted 07/19/2009)

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Review 17 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Fair)

"Terrible service and too pricey. I would rather pay slightly more and go Ozumo or Chaya for sushi."

Food		(Good)
Ambiance		(Fair)
Service		(Poor)

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 07/14/2009

(review submitted 07/16/2009)

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Review 18 for Kyo-Ya

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

"good food and service. tables are very close together though, my only concern. I also don't think a California Roll should be $13.50."

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level

By an OpenTable.com user

who dined on 07/13/2009

(review submitted 07/15/2009)

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Ratings-Only Reviews for Kyo-Ya

Based on the average of (28) ratings-only reviews

Overall Rating

(Very Good)

Food		(Very Good)
Ambiance		(Good)
Service		(Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level