Review: Omakase Tasting Menu at Takumi Tei Restaurant
Takumi-Tei’s Omakase Tasting Menu is absolutely a Walt Disney World bucket list-worthy experience. The Japan pavilion’s Signature Restaurant is unquestionably expensive, but it’s worth saving for to experience as the memory will last a lifetime. In this WDW dining review, we’ll share food photos and thoughts on our experience at this Epcot fine dining restaurant.
This is the World Showcase restaurant’s premium multi-course dining experience featuring sushi, wagyu steak, dessert, a tea ceremony, and more. This is not the Chef’s Table or kaiseki meal, which are served separately in the private Water Room. Rather, the Omakase Tasting Menu can be ordered from any table at Takumi-Tei.
Due to the high price tag for this meal (it’s even more expensive with wine & sake pairings, which we did not do), we opted to split the Omakase experience while also ordering from the regular menu. This appears to be pretty common, and we’d definitely recommend the same if you don’t want to break the bank…
Aside from the price, the only real downside to the Omakase Tasting Menu is that it doesn’t offer any discounts. While we used Tables in Wonderland for the rest of our meals, this was full price. That made it sting a bit more.
This Omakase Tasting Menu review won’t fixate on theme, atmosphere, or service; if you’re concerned with those things (and you should be!), be sure to read the first half of our Takumi-Tei Restaurant Review before continuing here…
We will compare and contrast our experience with the Omakase Tasting Menu at Takumi-Tei to some of our dining experiences in Kyoto and beyond, but our aim is not to be pretentious about it. Rather, we share some of this because Takumi-Tei is perhaps the closest Epcot has to an educational dining experience. (Is edutastement a word? If not, it should be.)
Beyond that, all of Epcot’s restaurants are reinterpreted for a broad theme park audience. We don’t want to be nit-picky commentators who decry the inauthenticity of this or that. Even traditional Japanese restaurants that have been operating for centuries (literally) are constantly reinventing themselves and chasing trends. Many Japanese chefs at high-profile restaurants train in Europe, and French cuisine (among other styles of cooking) is hugely influential in Japan.
With that in mind, the first thing we’ll point out is that, as great as it is (and it’s great!), the Omakase Tasting Menu at Takumi-Tei isn’t an omakase experience. In Japan, omakase means that what’s served is left up to the discretion of the chef.
Typically, this means counter seating and the chef preparing items based upon fresh ingredients and what the restaurant happens to get on a particular night. In Kyoto, seasonality is huge. Many restaurants serve omakase menus comprised of seasonal vegetables and fish obtained from the wholesalers around Nishiki Market.
At Takumi-Tei, the Omakase Tasting Menu is printed in the menus and posted online, and remains largely unchanged for months at a time. Takumi-Tei does have a chef’s table (the Water Room), which sounds like it’s a cross between an actual omakase experience and kaiseki-ryori.
The one thing that does seem to change daily on the Omakase Tasting Menu is the otoshi course, which is “imagined daily by the Chefs at Takumi-Tei.” On each of our two visits, we were served something different.
In our full Takumi-Tei review, we already covered the Nikomi Wagyu: Roasted Bone Marrow, Braised Wagyu Short Rib, Yuzu Kosho, Wasabi Shiso Bavaroise, Warishita.
Suffice to say, this is one of the best appetizers we’ve ever had at Walt Disney World. It seems a tad incongruous with the rest of the tasting menu, but it’s so phenomenal that we’ll absolutely overlook this.
Next was the Temari Sushi: Chef-selected Assortment of Oceanic Delicacies.
This has become somewhat trendy in the Gion district of Kyoto, and is spun as being served in round, bite-size portions so geisha don’t mess up their makeup and lipstick, and also because they couldn’t open their mouths widely. There are no geisha at Takumi-Tei, so it seems like a pretext for using smaller portions of fish.
It would’ve been one thing if the fish wrapped around the rice, but most didn’t even cover the top. That made the Temari Sushi course a disappointment. (Besides, everyone knows that the favorite food of geisha is…egg salad sandwiches?!)
Following that comes the Hashiyasume: palate cleansing course.
This consists of cucumber jelly and ginger, two things we love. The flavor is crisp, clean, and refreshing. Does the trick and gives your taste buds the clean slate necessary to enjoy the delights that await!
And oh what a delight is to come with the Wagyu Tabekurabe: Japanese A5 Wagyu Strip Steak paired with Jackman Farms Wagyu Strip Steak, Roast Cipollini Onion, Curried Potato, Seasonal Mushroom, Daikon and Watermelon Radish Tsukemono, Yuzu Kosho, Fresh-grated Wasabi, Arima Sansho Pepper Reduction, Matcha Maldon.
Tabekurabe is a culinary comparison, and not an uncommon one when ordering wagyu in Japan. Here, I think it’s a chance to dunk on America and say, “see how your fake wagyu stacks up to the real thing?!” There truly is no comparison, as the A5 wagyu is buttery both in flavor and tenderness. Words don’t even begin to do it justice, and the Omakase Tasting Menu is a great introduction to the Wonderful World of Wagyu.
It’s worth noting here that a comparable amount of wagyu on the normal menu is going to run you about $100 (averaging the cost of the American and Japanese beef). I think the strip steak is the perfect cut for Japanese A5 Wagyu–making this a better option than ordering the Makiba no Megumi — Gift of Ranch and Ushikai no Shukaku — Cattleman’s Harvest, and splitting those between two people.
Instead, we’d recommend splitting this Omakase Tasting Menu between two people, and also adding the Sea Bass, possibly the Agedashi Tofu (if you want another distinctly Japanese dish), and one of the other two desserts. That would help provide balance to this meal, which is arguably a tad beef-heavy. (HERESY!)
For dessert, we have the Shizuku: Water Cake, Yuzu Crumble, Black Grape, Blackberry Sake.
This is a trendy dessert in Japan (where it’s primarily known as “raindrop cake”), but mostly for the sake of Instagram. Your mileage may vary, but I find this disappointing as compared to traditional mochi covered with kinako. As is, this looks pretty, but is rather bland. The crumble doesn’t do nearly as good of a job of adding flavor to the water cake as kinako powder would. The other two desserts on the normal menu are far superior to the Shizuku.
Finally, the Omakase experience ends with a Tea Ceremony. This is a traditional ceremony featuring matcha green tea prepared in front of the guest.
We’ve done a couple of tea ceremonies in Kyoto and they are…not my cup of tea. In my estimation, this is the perfect example of a cultural experience adapted for American audiences. It condenses and skips most of the tedious steps, distilling it to the important and interesting elements. The end result is something on par with what you’d encounter at Ippodo, an excellent tea house in Kyoto that’s over 300 years old.
So many things we all do at Walt Disney World happen at a frenetic pace, and we often don’t relish each individual moment or experience. However, this night remains etched in our minds because we did savor it and did not take it for granted. It was a multi-hour meal with friends, ending as Epcot Forever started.
Afterwards, we bought a Bonsai tree at Mitsukoshi Department Store to remember the night (which Yossarian now “loves”), watched the fireworks, and then let our meals settle with a long lap of World Showcase before wandering out of International Gateway.
Overall, the Omakase Tasting Menu ends up being a great edutastement experience in Epcot. It’s a lengthy meal (plan on spending 2+ hours at Takumi-Tei) providing ample opportunities to learn about Japanese culture, various regions in the country, and the Cast Members who double as ambassadors. As with any meal at Takumi-Tei, this tasting menu offers the height of omotenashi hospitality, with service that’s unrivaled anywhere else at Walt Disney World.
In terms of cuisine, the Omakase Tasting Menu balances trendy and eye-catching dishes with traditional ones. While slight liberties are taken, these are pretty reflective of what you’d actually find at restaurants in Japan. Even the dishes that aren’t delicious (like the raindrop cake) are fascinating and beautiful, which is half the fun.
There are three courses that are unequivocally exceptional: the Nikomi Wagyu, Wagyu Tabekurabe, and Tea Ceremony. The cumulative cost of these dishes would be over $150 (if they were available on the regular menu–and 2 of the 3 are not), making the other four courses essentially “bonuses.” When viewed in that light, the Omakase Tasting Menu is an exceptional pick for anyone wanting to splurge and wander into the Wonderful World of Wagyu.
While it’s obviously not cheap, we’d argue that the Omakase Tasting Menu is actually a solid value by Disney standards and a truly magical Walt Disney World memory that will last a lifetime–one that you can savor while you’re stuck at home (in our case, quite literally) long after your trip has ended. I don’t know when we’ll be able to get back to Takumi Tei, but I’m already looking forward to our next visit.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
Your Thoughts
If you’ve done the Omakase Tasting Menu, what did you think of the experience and meal? Did you feel it was worth the money or not? Is this something you’d like to do, or is it too pricey? Do you agree or disagree with our review? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Anyone gone since it reopened?
I heard $250pp then when I look at the menu online it says $150
The online menu is not clear, do you choose from options or multiple smaller bites….
Oh interesting–it looks like they changed the menu. Not in substance, but to make the prices more vague.
I think “starting” is the operative word. In all likelihood, the plant-based menu is $150 and the other is $250. I love Takumi-Tei, but that’s more than I’m willing to pay.
Where’s our updated review?? 😉 Your readers DEMAND that you try the new menu and compare them for us! Is it worth an additional $100?? 😉
Your are right about the magic of moment shared and savored. We have had a precious few such moments in WDW while dining and sometimes just watching something that connects us in a special way. The trick is not to rush the experience so the moment is not missed. AS Floridians and AP holders we have been to WDW numerous times. But the moments that are truly magical are forever embedded in our hearts and minds.
Why wont you address the questions of the total cost of meal? How much was the meal in total?
Am I missing it. What did the meal come to in total? I see adding on and other prices in comparison.
Thanks
The current pricing for Takumi Tei can be found on DisneyWorld.com’s menu page, here: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en-eu/dining/epcot/takumi-tei-restaurant/menus/
I second the motion for the Casey’s story. I bet you have some great photos of the last night too.
Thank you for giving us all something else to think about if even for a few minutes each day.
Thank you for all your stories and photos! They are delightful.
Interesting I just saw yesterday that Disney is RASING food prices even while they are closed!
I’m allergic to seafood – is there an alternative to the sushi or should I just skip because it wouldn’t be worth the cost?
In that case, I’d probably just order a la carte–or split this meal with someone who isn’t allergic to seafood, if that’s a possibility.
You have a cat named Yossarian? 😀 Hahaha!! How did I miss that before? Love it. And bonsai seem to draw cats in…good luck with that. Back to the meal, are there non-beef options? I wouldn’t partake of all that beef but the seafood looks amazing.
Both Yossarian the Cat and Walter E. Dogsney have made several appearances on the blog over the years–mostly in photography reviews as a test subject.
The tasting menu is what it is, but there are seafood and other options on the a la carte menu.
In the Real World, there actually can be a difference between a $20 steak and a $100 steak. Mr. Bricker is comparing costs AND quality.
We visited Takumi-Tei in January and agree with you about the sushi. Beautiful presentation, but disappointing. That Japanese Wagyu beef….. best I’ve ever tasted. Really looking forward to getting back!
So went to book my Fast passes this morning for our trip in June. Was wondering why there was little to nothing left…then I realized that despite only having a 2 day ticket, I could make fast passes for everyday of my 6 night hotel stay! Surely Disney is going to fix this, right? Anyone else see this issue?
We did the Omakase tasting menu and split the drink pairing way back when it opened in July. One of the best meals ever! I loved that it was well paced and authentic and of course the Wagyu was amazing. Agree about the water cake, though. Thanks for the review! My May trip with Victoria & Albert’s just got canceled, so I will have to just reminisce about previous Disney food experiences.
Thanks for this! I’ve been a few times, but am still on the fence about whether the Omakase menu – already uncharged – is worth a further 20% upcharge due to TiW ineligibility. The food appears to be similar to items available on the a la carte menu, but obviously there’s a value in presentation and experience. I guess the killer question is whether you’d do Omakase again, or stick to a la carte going forward?
I’d do it again if the menu changes, but otherwise would stick to a la carte.
However, a big part of that is cost–and how much of that is attributable to the wagyu beef. We can get even better cuts in Kobe for less money, so it’s hard for us to justify spending so much on the meat at Walt Disney World. However, for most people “traveling to Japan to get cheaper wagyu beef” is not really an option.
“an incredible experience for very different reasons—perhaps I should share that one, too?”
I, and many other readers, wouldn’t complain =)
Well, I am running out of ideas for topics, so perhaps it’d be worth covering…
I would love to see a return of the resort and/or restaurant comparison articles. I know on the resort side you feel that you have run through most of the easy comparisons, but as for restaurants I have a few I would love to see a breakdown between.
Tokyo Dining vs Morimoto Asia
Saana vs Restaurant Marrakesh
Rose and Crown vs Raglan Road
Whispering Canyon vs 50’s Prime Time Cafe
Tiffins vs Jiko
I know most of these are in-park vs out-of park, which makes the decision automatically in some cases, but I feel these could be fun and informative in terms of deciding between restaurants with similarish cuisine and themes.
Just wanted to say I seriously miss your updates and regular Disney posts! You’ve done a wonderful job posting throughout this but I can’t wait till things are back up and going again. I always count on you for my “dose of Disney”!
This is Exactley what I cannot find plausible, While it’s obviously not cheap, we’d argue that the Omakase Tasting Menu is actually a solid value by Disney standards
Given the money behemoth Disney Is, Should Not they be judged by Real World Standards, and Not given a pass on overcharge because they are Disney ???