Takumi-Tei Dining Review in EPCOT's Japan Pavillion

A Bucket List Dining Experience

Tucked off to the side in the Japan pavilion of EPCOT, Takumi-Tei is a multi-course fine dining restaurant hidden in plain sight for foodies looking for a unique culinary experience at Walt Disney World. Join us as we uncover the exquisite options of Takumi-Tei in our dining review.

Takumi-Tei means house of the artisan, and design details throughout the space highlight the natural elements of stone, water, wood, earth, and paper. Each dining room's theme is focused around one of these elements, and we were seated in the Earth room which had a tranquil feel and subtle theming.

After reopening this year, Takumi-Tei's menu has shifted to an Omakase-only menu, which is the Japanese version of a price-fix meal, though you do get a few options to choose from. Keep in mind, that the chef's selections may change based on seasonal ingredients and availability of the freshest possible seafood, so your exact selections may vary a bit from what we were served.

Takumi-Tei's Menu

• Three versions of Omakase (price fix) Menu:
  • Kiku - $250
    • seven courses with a choice between three entrees and three desserts
  • Hasu - plant-based - $150
    • six courses with a choice between two desserts
  • Himawari - children aged 8-12 - $100
    • five courses with a choice between three entrees and three desserts
• Sake pairings, beer, wine & cocktails available

Course by Course Review

For our meal, my husband and I both chose the Kiku menu. We also both ordered extra beverages, with him choosing a sake that he had enjoyed earlier this summer when we visited Japan. I chose to revisit the Kami cocktail, which was Gin and sake-based with light flavors of Lychee. It was delicious and refreshing!

The Zensai Moriawase course was the chef's selection of appetizers, including a snow crab salad with Japanese plum and ginger dressing, vinegar-marinated sea urchin, edamame, a soft tofu dumpling topped with gold leaf, and marinated seaweed and salmon roe. My personal favorite was the crab salad, which was light, and buttery and contrasted well with the acidic dressing.

The sushi course consisted of three super fresh pieces of nigiri and one complex sushi roll. The fish was all very tender and light, especially the mackerel that was topped with a dab of scallion.

The next course was Agemono which consisted of lobster tempura with a ponzu sauce and yuzu salt. The tempura batter was light and didn't overpower the lobster, and the addition of the sauce and salt really put this dish over the top!

My husband was a huge fan of the sashimi course which included toro with caviar and radish, sea bream with shiso, and scallop with lemon.

The Yakimono course gave us a choice of three different entrees. I chose the roasted duck with garlic sautéed spinach, pumpkin puree, and black grape reduction. This came in a smoke-filled dome which infused the whole dish with a savory flavor. I wasn't surprised at all that my husband chose the Japanese A5 wagyu steak with curry-roasted potatoes, roasted seasonal mushrooms, and a black garlic sauce. We shared both dishes, and we both preferred the steak, but the duck was also very tasty and tender as well.

We were both getting very full by this point in the meal, but the Shirumono course was the perfect break, with one of the best bowls of miso soup that we have ever had. It was full of creamy tofu, and beech mushrooms and topped with fresh scallions.

Finishing out our meal was the Ocha to Kanmi course (tea and sweets). Our server prepared tableside green tea and we had our choice of three desserts. My chestnut crème brûlée came inside an adorable ceramic owl and was topped with fresh raspberry and edible flowers. My husband ordered the Monaka daifuku with black sesame ice cream and kinako cookie crumble. It came with a wafer shell that you could fill with sweet rice paste, ice cream, fruit, and red bean paste. Both were great endings to our meal, but we both preferred the chestnut crème brûlée.

Should you get a reservation for Takumi-Tei?

Takumi-Tei takes advance dining reservations, and if you are planning a special meal like this a reservation is definitely recommended. Let your Be Our Guest Vacations agent know that you are interested and they can help you build this experience into your vacation!

Is this a dining experience for me?

This multi-course fine dining experience is a great way to get a taste of lots of different aspects of Japanese cuisine. Additionally, I would certainly recommend it for a date night or special occasion meal. Another item to consider is that the Kiku tasting menu was fish heavy, so you might want to pass if you aren't a seafood fan, but you could also choose the plant-based menu. Does this meal sound like something you would want to try?