Sushi Sei

Sushi Sei offers a truly authentic Kyoto sushi experience. The fish was incredibly fresh, expertly prepared, and beautifully presented. Every piece felt like a small work of art. The staff were kind and attentive, though English is limited, so be prepared to point or use a translation app if needed. Overall, a wonderful spot for high-quality sushi in Kyoto—simple, elegant, and memorable.

Excellent choice for simple sushi. Good range of fatty and lean fish and the standard selection of tuna. The level is high but at the same not a fine dining experience. The price is about right.

ordered the seasonal nigiri - comes with miso soup, chawanmushi, and matcha mochi dessert (with honey). overall nice meal, fish was very fresh, rest was standard fare to me. tea was quite mild but standard for complimentary tea i suppose. note: having some japanese ability will probably be helpful, spoke in japanese to order and pay.

Visited in October 2025. Japan 🇯🇵 Kyoto. Tucked away on a quiet street, the space is mostly wood-paneled, giving it a warm, authentic feel, though there’s a faint smell of fish lingering in the air. Besides the sushi counter where the chef works, there are also a few tables, making it comfortable for both solo diners and small groups. FOOD: Sushi Sei serves nigiri and sushi by the piece, along with a few small Japanese appetizers — something we had long been searching for, as most places only offer omakase sets. Being able to choose our favorite pieces was a real plus. We tried a wide range: the fatty tuna was pleasantly rich with a sweet undertone, though a few pieces had sinew; the amberjack also had some tough fibers and was rather bland; the octopus was unfortunately too chewy. Our favorite bites were the abalone, eel, salmon, scallop, and horse mackerel — all fresh and of excellent quality. The fish itself was undeniably good, though the pricing reflected that. The real disappointment, however, was the rice. It was plain, overly sticky, and poorly seasoned — as if no vinegar had been added at all. The rice completely overpowered the delicate flavor of the fish. In hindsight, sashimi would have been a better choice. SERVICE: Service was minimal. Our order was taken and the dishes were served promptly, but plates were left uncleared for most of our meal. There was little interaction or warmth from the staff, which made the experience feel impersonal. VERDICT: Overall, Sushi Sei offers fresh, high-quality fish and the rare freedom to order nigiri by the piece — something sushi lovers will appreciate. However, the poorly prepared rice truly lets the experience down. For the price, the flavor balance just isn’t there. Still, it’s a decent spot for casual sushi without a reservation, but I hope they reconsider their rice recipe — it’s what keeps this place from being great.

Came for dinner around 5pm before it got busy. Was seated in a four people table and the ambiance of the overall space was nice. All the fish tasted fresh and the ingredients were nicely portioned. Fish pieces were great size and we ended up being very full from it. The set items also came with dessert in the end. It was about $16 which was a great price for so many pieces.