Evening notes / Kawaramachi
A table to knowWOW WOW
TONIGHT
魚々鶏夜
Fish, fire and an evening
in a Kyoto townhouse.
For a dinner with a little theatre: seasonal fish, an open kitchen and three distinct ways into the menu.
Start with the menuLeave a little room in the itinerary for dinner. WOW WOW TONIGHT is a renovated machiya in central Kyoto, with a counter around the kitchen and a menu that makes room for both seasonal fish and the hot plate. The appeal is an evening built plate by plate: straw-seared fish, something from the teppan, then another dish if the table still has an appetite.
An editorial guide to what to order and what to notice, based on restaurant-published information and the designer’s account. These are menu recommendations, not personal tasting notes.
The order
Three plates
to start the story.
Ask what is available tonight. These individual dishes are highlighted in the restaurant’s own introduction; they are not a fixed set or a promise of what will be served.
Fish + fire
Straw-seared
seasonal fish鮮魚の藁焼き
The kitchen highlights fish seared over burning straw, with the catch changing through the seasons.
Ask about: today’s fish and the serving size before choosing the rest of your order.
The hot plate
Teppan
potato salad鉄板ポテサラ
Potato and egg absorb oden broth, then are broken up and cooked on the iron plate. It is the menu’s hot-plate take on an izakaya staple.
Why order it: to make the teppan part of the meal, alongside the fish.
Chicken + Kyoto greens
Seseri with
Kujo spring onionせせりと九条ネギの炒め
Stir-fried seseri, the meat from around the chicken’s neck, with Kujo spring onion.
Why order it: to put chicken and Kyoto spring onion beside the straw-seared fish and broth-rich potato salad.
Menu descriptions: the restaurant’s Tabelog introduction ↗. Confirm availability and prices when ordering.
Beyond the plate
Look up.
There is a story here.
The room gives you something else to notice. In its 2021 account of the project, design studio TILT describes an L-shaped counter, a custom teppan and a straw-grilling hearth made from an antique hibachi.
The calligraphy on the red noren was written by the owner’s father, a ceramic artist. The stained-glass pendant lights were made for this restaurant, each with its own combination of colours.
The hearth and iron plate belong to the cooking as well as the interior. A counter seat, when available, brings those two stories together: the room’s design and the preparation of dinner.
The designer’s story & photographsFrom their Instagram
A window into
their world.
A post from WOW WOW TONIGHT’s Instagram. The original post stays with its publisher.
The useful details
Before
you go.
- Where
- 400 Daijucho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto.
- Getting there
- The restaurant lists a two-minute walk from Kyoto-kawaramachi Station, Exit 11.
- Language
- An English menu is listed. Our Kyoto contributor says the owner speaks English; who is available on a particular evening can vary.
- Ordering
- Check portions, prices and any dietary requirements with the restaurant. The three plates above are separate ideas, not a package.
- Planning
- Check current opening days and reservation options before travelling. If counter seating matters, confirm it with the restaurant.
Make an evening of it
Find your table.
Choose your date and party size on TableCheck. Before confirming, review the full price, any cover charge, the selected menu and cancellation terms.
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Sources & editorial note
Checked 12 October 2026. Restaurant and dish information: restaurant-managed Tabelog listing. Design history: TILT, 3 July 2021. Reservations: TableCheck.
This independent editorial feature is separate from our affiliate-eligible experience index. No restaurant-specific affiliate arrangement is confirmed. Menu details and opening arrangements can change. How we research and write our notes.