Ippuku Tea House Reviews Summary

Authenticity of Cuisine

Pros:

• "An absolutely wonderful little gem serving authentic and thoughtful prepared Japanese food."
• "AMAZING and authentic food!!"
• "Incredible food. I can't praise this place enough. Small & cute, but the menu is varied."
• "As a Japanese person, I had been CRAVING authentic Japanese home-cooked style food for so long."
• "What a great surprise, not only was the food vegan but it was the most authentic Japanese food I have ever had in the UK."
• "The food was fresh and seemed simple but was packed with flavor."
• "Authentic Japanese food served by Japanese people."
• "Very lovely atmosphere and with the set meal, the portion size was brilliant for the price."

Cons:

• "The Gyudon beef was very lightly seasoned, and the rice was very very bland."
• "The onigiri's were very disappointing. The rice did not have any mirin or sushi rice seasoning."
• "The soy onigiri was quite dry and a bit overdone. The flavour was ok but I don’t think I’d order again."
• "The food was heavier than I'm used to with Japanese style food so I guess it's from a region I'm less familiar with."

Service Experience

Pros:

• "Super friendly & attentive waiters, and such a lovely vibe."
• "The staff are very very friendly and easy to talk to."
• "Staff could not have been friendlier or more accommodating."
• "Service prompt and staff very friendly."
• "Staff know their stuff too."
• "The staff were so kind and welcoming."
• "The girl who served us was fantastic, she was helpful and friendly."
• "Very friendly and welcoming staff and serving excellent authentic Japanese meals."

Cons:

• "Lost out on a perfect 5 stars as the staff seemed more interested in debating tea brewing temperatures than actually serving customers."
• "The staff were all lovely and friendly but they were definitely understaffed which meant service was slow."
• "However the service was underwhelming. They were really slow but more importantly inattentive."
• "I was shocked and inquired as to why this isn’t mentioned anywhere on the website."
• "The staff wasn’t too friendly."
• "Underwhelmed. Was hoping for fresh, zingy flavours. In the ginger pork dish, the meat was fatty."

Vegan and Gluten-Free Options

Pros:

• "Really tasty vegan options with a tofu domburi and veggie gyoza."
• "The menu is quite small with extra specials inside but that's good thing, smaller menu means better overall food, a great selection of vegan options."
• "Great vegan opinions throughout the menu."
• "The overall quality of food is EXCELLENT."
• "Brilliant for Vegans."
• "Vegan reviewer: An absolute hidden gem in York. Great vegan opinions throughout the menu."
• "The food was fresh and seemed simple but was packed with flavor. I had a rice bowl with tuna, edamame and avocado and it was delicious."
• "Everything is gluten free (except for the gyozas) and mostly vegan."

Cons:

• "I’ve given these guys 4/5 because I didn’t love some of their side plates but this could easily go to a 5/5 on my next visit."
• "The rest was neither here nor there really- the pickle wasn’t very pickle-y and the cabbage was just very bland limp cabbage."
• "The soy onigiri was quite dry and a bit overdone."
• "We preferred the GMM onigiri which was nice, but also wouldn’t rush to reorder."

Ambiance and Atmosphere

Pros:

• "One of my favourite places to visit in York, atmosphere is calming and relaxing."
• "Delicious spot for a Japanese lunch. We were seated outside as they were full inside, no problem with us."
• "The atmosphere was just as incredible as the food too and the studio Ghibli and plant decor just tops it off!"
• "I love the atmosphere here, nice Japanese music playing in the background as well."
• "The atmosphere was just as incredible as the food too and the studio Ghibli and plant decor just tops it off!"
• "It was very cozy, quiet and pretty despite it being outdoors in late-October."
• "I love Japanese food, this place had excellent vegan options. The food was heavier than I'm used to with Japanese style food."
• "Great atmosphere, with knowledgeable and friendly owners that can't wait to share all they know about Japanese food culture."

Cons:

• "Only downside is they close very early, kitchen shut at 3pm, so I was only able to get their dessert to take away."
• "However I did still have room for dessert! They come and sit the dessert board on a chair next to you, which is a bit odd especially given how small the restaurant is."
• "No accessible seating though unfortunately - you have to go up a few steps to get to the eating area."
• "Lovely concept, great selection of teas. The food looks amazing. Only niggle was the squashed together seating arrangement."