Takumi-Tei Restaurant Review
Takumi-Tei is a Signature Restaurant tucked away on the first floor of the Mitsukoshi department store in Epcot’s Japan pavilion. In this Walt Disney World dining review, we’ll share food photos, thoughts on the atmosphere, and whether this expensive meal is worth the money.
Many of you probably haven’t heard of Takumi-Tei, which is understandable. The restaurant is a hidden gem in both the literal and figurative senses of the word. It isn’t on the Disney Dining Plan, not even as a 2-credit option (and hopefully won’t ever be–it’s not a venue that lends itself well to the Disney Dining Plan). Perhaps consequently, Takumi-Tei hasn’t received a ton of enthusiasm among Walt Disney World fans.
We weren’t around when Takumi-Tei opened, and in the months that followed we were hesitant to give it a try over fears that the menu would change, rendering any reviews obsolete. We finally tried Takumi-Tei a few weeks ago with friends, and were so impressed that we immediately returned with another couple…
Walt Disney World’s restaurant scene is constantly changing–evolving, declining, and reinventing itself. The last several years have seen the addition of several excellent in-park table service options, with great new dining in Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom.
Top options added in recent years include Tiffins Restaurant in Animal Kingdom, Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen in Magic Kingdom, and Monsieur Paul in the France pavilion at Epcot. We’d argue that Be Our Guest Restaurant also belongs on that list, so long as you can set aside the hype–that too often leads to disappoint–and do as late of an ADR as possible.
Considered by many fans as the culinary epicenter of Walt Disney World, World Showcase has always boasted a formidable and diverse dining lineup. It improved with the reimagining of Bistro de Paris into Monsieur Paul, which we raved about in our review last year. Now, there’s another new World Showcase restaurant that challenges its crown…
Admittedly, we are biased here. Regular readers of the blog likely know that we love Japan. In the last couple of years, we’ve spent several months in Japan. Most of that time has been in Kyoto, which is the ancient capital of Japan and the cultural heart of the country. Kyoto is also our favorite city in the world.
Much of Epcot’s Japan pavilion is modeled after Kyoto–either specifically (like Katsura Grill, which is modeled after Katsura Imperial Villa, an exemplar of traditional Japanese architecture and design) or in an evocative sense. Takumi-Tei falls into the latter category. Its menu is also somewhat comparable to what you’d find in the city’s Gion District or Pontocho Alley.
With that out of the way, let’s start with a look at the theme.
Takumi-Tei means house of the artisan, and the interior celebrates the relationship between Japanese craftsmanship and the natural world. Takumi-Tei’s food is inspired by the wonderful collaboration between nature and takumi, the artisan.
Upon entering Takumi-Tei, you walk through an entrance corridor that introduces the premise of the design via displays in the wall. Each of the 5 dining rooms is inspired by a natural element: water, wood, earth, stone or washi paper.
Essentially, it’s styled after a traditional Japanese restaurant, with nods to various influences and those motifs defining the look and decor of each individual room.
Japanese design often reflects strong connections to the surrounding landscape, both in terms of the materials used and how the structures work with the natural environment. For instance, Katsura Imperial Villa’s buildings are situated in a stroll garden with dramatic reveals as you walk the grounds, and meticulously-planned views from the structures themselves.
Takumi-Tei doesn’t have any views into Epcot due to its location, but it’s arguably better for that. It instead hangs its hat on using forms and materials to create a strong connection to nature. The self-contained serenity makes for a more transportive dining experience–you totally forget you’re inside a theme park.
One of the hallmarks of Japanese design is simplicity imbued with a sense of tranquility. We’re happy to report that Takumi-Tei absolutely excels at this. No matter how busy and loud Epcot is, that melts away when you enter the restaurant.
The interior provides a welcoming calm with a mix of textures and subtle touches work really well together. There’s no pretension, but the simplicity is deceptive. Upon closer inspection, details and careful design elements reveal themselves and the intrinsic qualities of the natural materials on display.
For example, several of the rooms have carpet that simulate the look of tatami mats, exposed beams mirroring their respective styles, and recessed lighting accentuating the aesthetic. The Earth Room features layers of strata in the walls, punctuated by rich wood-framed alcoves showcasing art pieces.
The Wood Room features literal wooden art pieces, which are themselves quite pretty. However, it’s the details here that define the space. The decorative ranma (transom) above the wall panels that itself showcases juniper trees.
The Washi Paper Room showcases beautiful panels depicting Mount Fuji during sakura season on what resembles decorated fusuma paper screens.
To complement the artwork, this room utilizes a lighter color palette.
My favorite area of Takumi-Tei is the Stone Room, which is highlighted by a gravity-defying karesansui, or Japanese Zen garden.
While this piece steals the spotlight, it’s the details like the simulated shin (formal) stone path on the ground that elevate the look.
Suffice to say, Takumi-Tei might not be the pinnacle of Imagineering’s themed design, but don’t let the simple and clean aesthetic fool you. There’s a lot of subtle beauty here. The elemental motifs offer a conduit for showcasing various aspects of traditional Japanese design, with each room having its own unique qualities and appeal.
Takumi-Tei is a pretty close approximation to what you might find in an actual high-end restaurant in Japan. Most importantly, the style works perfectly for the serenity of the venue. Viewed holistically, Takumi-Tei is a top tier Walt Disney World restaurant in terms of atmosphere.
A huge element of what defines the atmosphere at Takumi-Tei is the service. It’s a very different vibe from Victoria & Albert’s or even Monsieur Paul–and one we think more Walt Disney World guests will appreciate. Unlike other fine dining restaurants that can be stuffy, the service at Takumi-Tei is attentive, comforting, and heartfelt.
Omotenashi is the Japanese term for this, which means that service is honest and unpretentious, from the bottom of the heart. This is the guiding principle for Japanese hospitality with great attention to detail. (Read more about omotenashi.)
Even before eating anything, we were pretty well sold on Takumi-Tei. Fortunately, the food also thoroughly impressed…
For our first meal at Takumi-Tei, we did Omakase Tasting Menu in addition to a regular entree.
This review is already getting long and we have a lot to say about that quasi-kaiseki experience, so we’ll save that for its own post in the near future. Suffice to say, the Omakase experience was exceptional.
Our friends who dined with us the first time at Takumi-Tei ordered a couple of drinks to start the meal.
Above is the Kami: Roku Gin, Sayuri ‘White Lilly’ Nigori Sake, Calipco, Lychee.
Next, the Sakurajima: Kaiyo Japanese Whisky Sour with Smoked Cherrywood.
This drink is presented table-side in a glass case with cherrywood inside, and when opened, smoke billows out. During our second meal, someone a few tables away ordered this and that smoky smell wafted through the air over to us. It was delightful.
Moving to the appetizers, we begin with the Nikomi Wagyu: Roasted Bone Marrow, Braised Wagyu Shortrib, Yuzu Kosho, Wasabi Shiso Bavaroise Warishita.
This is phenomenal–we both agreed that it’s literally one of the best things we’ve ever eaten at Walt Disney World. The bone marrow provides a rich, creamy, and fatty flavor that helps enhance the shortrib. The type of Wagyu isn’t specified here, but it’s safe to assume that this is American Wagyu. Nevertheless, it’s tender and delicious–and taken to the next level by the marrow. We would’ve liked wasabi with a bit more kick, but how it’s presented will make this a crowd-pleaser. It’s an absolute must-order for anyone dining at Takumi-Tei.
Then there’s the Mozaiku Sushi: Tuna, Yellowtail, Asparagus, Tobiko, Red Shiso Rice, Lemon Grass Ponzu. We both love sashimi, but opted against ordering that.
Instead, we ordered this because it’s the most popular sushi on Takumi-Tei’s menu. Our expectations were low for this, and it didn’t even manage to meet those. The presentation is beautiful, but it’s otherwise just an average roll with meager portions of tuna and yellowtail. At least everything tasted fresh and reasonably high quality. The Lemon Grass Ponzu foam is actually the highlight here, with an addictive and gingery tang.
Moving along to our entrees, we first ordered the Ochazuke: Misoyaki Sea Bass, Karikari Sushi, Shirasu, Tsukemono, Toasted Nori, Shimeji Mushroom, Ocha Dashi Broth.
This sea bass is one of the best seafood dishes I’ve ever tasted. I was concerned that this would essentially be “fish soup,” but that (fortunately) was far from the case. Instead, the dashi broth gave the fish a deeper umami flavor, which was also given a nice assist thanks to its fatty quality. The shimeji mushrooms were also fantastic and further enhanced the dish. Highly recommended.
Next, the Kamo: Marinated Duck, Kabocha Squash, Edamame Beans, Japanese Mizuna, Cured Duck Egg Yolk, Grape Reduction.
During both meals, I was hoping to be the one to order this. Both times, someone else ordered it and raved about it. Everything about this sounds and looks fantastic to me, and hopefully after our next meal at Takumi-Tei, I can report back with a firsthand assessment.
For my second meal, I ordered the Tempura Ebi: Tempura Tiger Prawns, Crisped Silken Tofu, Green Tea-smoked Black Rice, Caramelized Togarashi Cream, Sea Beans, Shimeji Mushroom.
I’ve had a lot of tempura in my day–ranging from fast food (Tenya is one of my guilty pleasures) to Michelin-rated restaurants. I’ve never had tempura this dense. Part of that was the tiger prawns, which themselves were really thick (so no complaints there) and part was the batter.
The flavor was nonetheless delicious, and they were perfectly prepared…just different. I also didn’t anticipate having to remove the head myself, and didn’t appreciate that hassle. (Your mileage may vary on that–I seldom order lobster for this same reason.) Even though I liked the tempura, the green tea-smoked rice was the highlight–incredibly unique and the smokiness added a ton to the flavor. I personally wouldn’t order this again, but I wouldn’t recommend avoiding it, either.
We round out the entrees with Sarah’s pick for our second meal, the Tataki: Misoyaki Salmon, Citrus Curry, Asparagus, Baby Shiitake Mushroom, Black Sesame Tofu, Ikura.
Another winner on the seafood side of the menu. The sweet taste of the miso stood out, and worked well with the crispness and zest of the curry. The salmon was perfectly-prepared, too. The end result is a nicely-executed Japanese twist on a familiar twist. I think the sea bass is way more interesting, unique, and delicious–but this is a solid pick if you’re ride or die with salmon entrees for some reason.
We’ll cover the Shizuku (Water Cake) in the Omakase Tasting Menu Review, but you don’t want to order that.
Instead, choose one of the other desserts–both are flavorful and fantastic. Above is the Hachimitsu Castella: Castella Cake, Honey Meringue, Sesame Brittle, Hojicha Custard, Honey Caramel.
Finally, the Kumo: Japanese-style Cheesecake, Caramel-Miso Ice Cream, Kinako, Pumpkin Meringue, Wakamomo Plum Wine.
We absolutely loved this, and would rank it highly among all of the Walt Disney World desserts we’ve ever had. The sheer variety of textures, flavors, and consistencies is impressive, making the dish engaging and fun. The pumpkin, caramel, and soybean flavors are most dominant, and are spectacular together.
Kumo is the perfect way to end a meal at Takumi-Tei, and a stark contrast to the Shizuku. The Nikomi Wagyu for a starter, followed by the Ochazuke/Sea Bass as an entree, and this as a dessert makes for an unbeatable meal–arguably the best “regular” dinner you can have in World Showcase. With that said, there’s an even better option at Takumi-Tei, which we’ll cover in our next post about the Epcot eatery.
Price-wise, none of this comes cheaply. That “perfect meal” would cost nearly $100 (before discount), which is on par with other Signature Restaurants around Walt Disney World. The Omakase Tasting menu is more expensive than Monsieur Paul’s “Prix Fixe Menu Dégustation” while still being significantly less than Victoria & Albert’s. Nevertheless, it’s worth it–and that’s something that cannot be said of all Signature Restaurants at Walt Disney World.
Overall, Takumi-Tei is our new #1 restaurant not just in World Showcase or Epcot, but inside all theme parks at Walt Disney World. From the understated but serene atmosphere to the superlative service to the sumptuous cuisine, Takumi-Tei is truly something special. Suffice to say, this belongs on your short list for a date night dinner or special occasion splurge. It’s not even remotely intimidating, and deserves far more hype and accolades than it has received thus far.
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Your Thoughts
Have you dined at Takumi-Tei? Do you agree or disagree with our review? Would you consider it one of the best (or the best) in-park restaurants at Walt Disney World? If you haven’t dined here, does this sound appealing to you or not? 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!
YAY! I’m so pleased to read your review 😀 I was looking forward to it because of your varied experiences in Japan and your love of Kyoto. The Stone Room is stunning but with Fuji-san AND Sakura, the Washi Paper Room is the clear winner here 😉
I booked a reservation here for my brother and his girlfriend shortly after it opened during our trip this past September. They spent around $500 but he could not speak highly enough about the experience and insisted we all go on our next trip. Looking forward to checking it out for myself next time!
This sounds fantabulous. We’re huge fans of Tepan Edo, always making sure to eat there at least once. Will definitely try this one next time as well! Thx!!
I’ve been waiting to hear more about this to see if the price was worth it! Thanks for this!
My family probably wouldn’t be adventurous enough for the entrees, but I might be able to convince them to try the desserts.
When we went in January, we went all in and ordered the Japanese Wagyu entree. Even though it was pricey, it was probably the most delicious meal I’ve ever eaten.
I agree with many that the staff seemed a little less then “Disney-level” of friendly. But honestly, it could be due to a number of cultural factors. For example, while we waited outside for our table to be ready, a woman kept arguing with the hostess that she should be allowed to eat there because “she saw an open time in the app but it wouldn’t let her book.” The hostess said if she could show the open time in the app, she would honor it. She could not, and the hostess was patiently trying to direct her to Tokyo Dining upstairs. Japan has good customer service, but they do not follow “the customer is always right” mantra of the US. In fact, it’s considered a bit rude in Japan (especially in a high end restaurant) to ask for off-menu adjustments to your meal.
I do have to say that once they realized we spoke above beginner-level Japanese, the staff became much more friendly and excited to speak to us.
Perhaps it comes down to service expectations? I do not subscribe to the belief that the customer is always right, and prefer the attentive type of service offered in Japan as opposed to the accommodating-if-pressed service that typifies American establishments. (I even prefer the brusqueness of French service to the superficial/faux-nice of American service.)
Then again, I never request substitutions (I don’t know better than the chef) and never utter the words, “let me speak with your manager.”
The Be Our Guest restaurant does not belong on that list. Last year we had a family vacation at the art of animation hotel with 13 people in our party. Seven of these for children. We made a reservation at BR Guest. Called in food ahead as they said to do. And when we got there they tried to split our 13 person party into two tables not even next to one another. By the time they found us a suitable area for the 13 of us to sit our food which was being kept in those rolling carts was ice cold and hard. If they couldn’t accommodate us with our number then they should not of taken the reservation. My husband and I have been coming to Disney World for 45 years. And now our kids are bringing their kids. We know great service. We’ve had it. And this wasn’t even mediocre.
Thank you for your fantastic review! I decided to change my Spice Road Table reservation to Takumi-Tei next month, based on your review, and am excited to try it! My one question is…can you decide upon arrival whether to order from the regular menu or choose the tasting menu or does the tasting menu reservation need to be made ahead of time? Looking forward to your review of the tasting menu also. Thanks!
The Omakase chef’s choice menu is printed in the main menu, you do not need to reserve that option separately.
I called to reserve a spot at Takumi-Tei the minute the reservations officially opened, and was able to eat there a few weeks later. I had just come back from a 9 day food tour of Japan (with time in TDR and TDS) and was already missing the excellent food. Takumi-Tei transported me back to Japan and I loved every moment of it. I agree with the reviewer that it isn’t as intimidating as some of the other Signature restaurants. I came and ate by myself and no one batted an eye; in contrast, I don’t know that I would eat at Remy alone because that has a more formal atmosphere and is clearly designed for parties of 2 or more. I can’t wait to have an occasion to go back to Takumi-Tei 🙂
I have been there twice – I particularly liked the “Water cake” dessert and the unusual take on nigiri. Worth noting that it is on TiW, but only for the standard menu.
My issue, to the extent it is one, is that the portions are pretty small. I would also say I think the sushi is bested by California Grill, though that’s more personal preference about the ratio of raw ingredients to chef’s creative license. The other issue I’d raise is that it isn’t characteristically Disney service (to be clear, the quality is higher, but arguably a bit colder) – I think that might catch some people off guard!
Agree with you regarding the sushi, disagree on the Water Cake.
(Both of which will be covered in greater depth in our Omakase Tasting Menu review.)
Thanks for the reviews.
Just a little editing fix needed (sorry)
‘Kyoto is also our which is our favorite city in the world.’
I suspect you went back to edit it a different way than you first wrote it but forgot to take out the original wording. I’m guilty of that too.
I’m assuming you meant ‘ Kyoto which is also our favorite city in the world.’
Thanks for catching that!
I have heard that this meal takes a lot of time to complete? Is that true?
For the normal menu, it takes no longer than any other Signature Restaurant. For one of the multi-course tasting menus, it’s around 2 hours…which I think anyone ordering that would expect and desire.
I think most of the complaints about it taking too long came from reviewers who dined there opening day. It’s not realistic to think the opening day experience is going to be smooth, perfect, or representative of how things are in the weeks, months, and years that follow.
Is it on the deluxe dining plan?
The review says they take no dining plans at all.
How would some allergic to seafood fair? My daughter loves it but her boyfriend is allergic to all seafood. It’s just an eating allergy so being in the restaurant is fine but is there enough options for him? Thanks!
Glad to see you finally went here. Agree that it is the best park restaurant at WDW. I would argue that it is neck and neck with Magellan’s for the #2 Disney restaurant worldwide (V&A #1)
We were pretty stunned with the theming and how authentic it was to actually being in Japan, and rivaled some of the place we have eaten in Kyoto and Tokyo.
Eager to hear your thoughts on the Omakase dinner
Magellan’s definitely takes the cake thematically, but we’ve never done the most expensive meals there. We also have a huge blind spot for the high-end hotel restaurants in Tokyo.
I’d put Takumi-Tei behind Victoria & Albert’s, and probably Remy’s (Disney Cruise Line). I’m not sure what else, if anything, though.
Yummmm
I am so excited to try. I also love Kyoto and all things Japanese.
Tom, any sense of how a vegetarian would fare at Takumi-Tei? Any other readers know? Thanks!
Not very well. That’s definitely one of the menu’s blindspots (which I suppose makes it even more authentically Japanese).
I’m surprised they don’t have a more elaborate yudofu dish (which is also huge in Kyoto), but the Agedashi Tofu (appetizer) is going to be your best/most interesting option for now. I don’t know what else you might do to make a full meal out of it.
Might pricing have been an element to include while you were gushing about the shimeji mushrooms? With entrees running from $42 to $120 and the Omakase dinner at $150/pp, that might be important information to give park goers as context to your new favorite restaurant at DW.
Prices are constantly changing (several have already gone up since Takumi-Tei opened) so that info would be obsolete within a few months. I assumed indicating that it’s a Signature Restaurant would be sufficient, but I’ve added some additional info at the end to make it abundantly clear.
When I saw the title to this post, Disney World’s New Best In-Park Restaurant, I was just waiting for you to rave about Regal Eagle Smokehouse! I’m not sure if it opened yesterday like it was supposed to, but I was really hoping for a full on epic review. 🙂
It didn’t open yesterday…or today.
Rest assured, we will be there on DAY ONE. Probably for more than just one meal!
I have no doubts! 🙂 I’m sure it’ll be delicious, but we’ll probably do flametree bbq in AK for our BBQ stop that week. I would do BBQ every day, but I don’t think the rest of my group would eat it that often, lol.
I saw the regal eagle is opens up today!!!! Please eat some ribs, brisket and cornbread for me! I hope it’s well worth the wait!
Alright, my minds made up, I will definitely be eating at my local bbq joint in honor of the opening of Regal (Sam) Eagle
Completely agree. I ate at Takumi-Tei a few days ago and absolutely loved it.