La Cuisine Enju

Restaurant Details

The name “La Cuisine Enju” weaves a story spanning four decades, and it goes like this: Enju, or the Japanese pagoda tree, was the name of the first restaurant in Miyako Hotel where the chef had worked in 1988. In 1993, he went to France for two years to join the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants — hence, “la cuisine.”

“Like the base of the Enju tree, I wanted to take root and grow here,” the chef reflects on his sentiment when opening the now-lauded restaurant in Hikone, a small yet historic city overlooking the stunning Lake Biwa and home to the renowned Hikone Castle.

Perhaps it's his impressive career (stints as executive chef at Espoir, caterer for former President Obama at the G7 summit and World Culinary Olympics bronze medalist) but more likely, it’s the confidence with which La Cuisine Enju has established itself that makes it feel like a fixture in Hikone. Today, La Cuisine Enju brings a new wind of gourmet air to the city— the kind of place that out-of-town visitors seek out and locals cherish.

Not to be mistaken: La Cuisine Enju is still about teppanyaki and all its trimmings, but there is the projection of a particular Gallic precision (and recipe) that the chef remains steadfast to. You can see through the galettes and the French terrines constructed from vegetables, or the potato pancakes mounted with caviar. The open kitchen adds to the experience, where the sizzle of proteins serves as a captivating opening gambit.

Using cooking techniques he cultivated throughout the years, he grills scallops over the teppan grill and basks it in sea urchin sauce; Alaskan king crab is transformed into a delicious seafood cocktail; vibrant red Omar shrimp is served with American sauce. The crown jewel, as it often should be, is the highly marbled Omi beef, prepared as shabu-shabu or kissed by the iron griddle with remarkable temperature precision.

There’s an undercurrent of cool European luxury about the place, evident in both the plates and the decor. Within those stone-clad walls, diners enjoy name-brand beef, seafood from Shima and Kyoto, and abalone. This is teppanyaki by way of the French and the seasons.

La Cuisine Enju Remarks

• Guests with dietary restrictions and/or food allergies should inform the restaurant beforehand. The restaurant might not be able to accommodate guests who make same-day requests.

• The restaurant reserves the right to refuse reservations to guests who have excessive dietary restrictions, particularly those of fish or vegetables.

• The course menu content listed below is an example, and is subject to change based on seasonal availability.

• While the restaurant will do its best to reserve guests’ preferred seating options, it may not always be possible due to availability.

• The pictures provided are for illustrative purposes.

La Cuisine Enju Business Days

La Cuisine Enju Address

8-13 Funamachi, Hikone, Shiga 522-0072　Japan

La Cuisine Enju Access Info

• La Cuisine Enju is a 7-minute walk from Hikone Station.

La Cuisine Enju Phone Number

La Cuisine Enju Cancellation Policy

Cancel your reservation at least 2 days before the dining start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.