muroi
むろい

Chef Shigeru Muroi is a vastly-experienced and respected English-speaking chef who first earned his stripes at Kyoto Kitcho and later became the head chef of NOBU in the United Kingdom, Italy and Hungary, as well as the Executive Chef for the Ambassador/Consul-General of Canada and Germany.
Despite his advancing career abroad, Chef Muroi returned to Japan and established his own restaurant in Kyoto.

Located near Kinkaku-ji, Muroi is dedicated to the finest ingredients. In particular, vegetables are carefully selected: fresh produce sourced directly from local farmers, as well as the highly prized “Ohara vegetables” grown in the Ohara Sanzen-in region, just a 30-minute drive away.

The restaurant is housed in a renovated 140-year-old traditional Kyoto building, creating a dining environment that evokes the charm of old Japan, as if stepping back in time.

Without being bound by conventional notions of Japanese cuisine, Chef Muroi combines techniques and cultural knowledge gained from his experiences around the world to create dishes unique to Muroi. By generously using Kyoto-grown vegetables, he seeks to express the essence of Japanese cuisine while delighting every guest.

The restaurant is also highly regarded for its vegetable dishes, offering course options thoughtfully designed so that vegetarians and vegans can enjoy them just as much as any other guest.

This philosophy and culinary skill have earned recognition from the Michelin Guide, making Muroi one of Kyoto’s most notable restaurants today.

Additionally, Muroi was selected among the Top 100 in Belgium’s We’re Smart Green Vegetables 2023.