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View Full Version : Dining Review: Tokyo Dining



brewcrew26
03-17-2009, 09:37 PM
We originally were supposed to eat at Narcoosee's on Saturday night after the 5k. But we were tired and didn't want to spend as much money with the current state of the economy. So we decided to insert an alternative table service in its place on our last day. Well, we managed to fit two TS in its place and probably came about even if we had gone with our original plan.

One of the restaurants we decided to try was Tokyo Dining for sushi. We've recently been on a huge sushi kick and enjoy finding new places that have exciting, experimental choices.

None of us had ever actually been to the Japan pavilion at World Showcase, so there were a lot of firsts. There are beautiful ponds and gardens in the pavilion. The large ceremonial temple still has scaffolding and a huge tarp around it due to renovations. The CMs in the entire area were the nicest I have encountered.

Tokyo Dining is located on the second floor above the Mitsokoshi shopping area. It shares the space with Teppan Edo. There were definitely more people trying the teppanyaki-style dining experience where the teppan chefs prepare your food in an entertaining way for you.

The CMs at the entry all wore traditional kimonos. They bowed as they greeted you (your servers did as well). A large picture window overlooks the lagoon (it must be great for Illuminations.) A center dining area has tables and gives a front row seat of the sushi chefs and a large plasma screen that plays calming images of flora and fauna.

Our waitress was so sweet! She bent over backwards for any needs. First, she brings a warm wash cloth and instructs you its to refresh your hands. The menu isn't extensive as some places but there are a few new sushi items that we haven't seen elsewhere.

We each end up trying something different. I tried the Bento box (a mix of tuna sashimi, seaweed salad, steamed rice, teriyaki beef and tempura veggies). It was fabulous. The fish had a great flavor. The seaweed salad was a nice surprise. It was very refreshing. The tempura batter was one of the lightest I have ever tried. It actually stuck to the veggies well and had a great crunch.

DH had a Spicy Philadelphia Roll, yellowtail sashimi and salmon roll. DB had tempura shrimp, squid sashimi, and yellowtail. Everything was amazing. The Spicy Philly roll was something we haven't seen anywhere else. I normally don't like cream cheese in my sushi, but the smoothness of the cream cheese provided a great cooling effect to the spicyness of the rest of the roll.

Tokyo Dining also provided us with a special anniversary dessert slice of chocolate ginger cake. It was really good! I love ginger so much and never thought it would be such a great compliment to chocolate. It wasn't too decadent. (Photo (http://brewcrew26.shutterfly.com/1212))

Overall, Tokyo Dining is now one of my favorite Disney dining destinations and one of the hidden gems at World Showcase. The entire experience was fabulous. The only downside was the price. It wasn't quite as competitive as other choices you could make at the world or in comparison with other sushi restaurants, but service and ambience more than make up for it. We will definitely be back!

Natazu
03-18-2009, 12:56 AM
Thanks for a great review. I love their bento box. I've never met the contortionist waitress though.

mouseketeer mom
03-18-2009, 07:55 AM
We were there the same week as you for the first time. This is a hidden gem. I say hidden because we had ADR's but others were simply walking up at prime dinner hour and being seated. We were seated in the center dining room right in front of the female sushi chefs. Very entertaining to watch. The service was perhaps the best we've had in WDW aside from some signature dining. Our server had a long Japanese name but it began with the letters Hei, so he asked us to call him Hey. He was beyond accomodating. I felt so very welcome in this restaurant. The food was delightful. My husband had both sushi and tempura, I the tempura, the girls panko deep fried chicken, my son the teriyaki kids meal that came in a plastic monorail as a dish!! (pic in my trip report) This is a keeper for us. I completely agree with the original poster about the quality of this place. They served my DD the chocolate ginger cake for her BD dessert. Delicious.

brewcrew26
03-18-2009, 10:37 AM
I've never met the contortionist waitress though.

Do tell...I haven't heard about this... :confused:

Natazu
03-18-2009, 01:07 PM
Do tell...I haven't heard about this... :confused:

You said she bent over backwards to meet your needs. :D

brewcrew26
03-18-2009, 03:47 PM
You said she bent over backwards to meet your needs. :D

Ha ha...I thought you meant there was a server there who was actually a contortionist. I need another vacation.... :)

Crow
03-18-2009, 07:33 PM
great review
glad you discovered TD. I ate there twice last trip & its going to be my first meal for my next vacation in a few wks.
the CMs do bend over backwards there.

SandmanGStefani24
03-19-2009, 02:17 AM
i will never go to Epcot without eating at Tokyo Dining! Both times i've been there both the food and service have been stellar!:number1: