Some of the best sushi I’ve had anywhere is from this 'hidden' restaurant in ... Epcot
It's logical to think that experiences at theme parks like Disney World are all just simulated fun.
A ride makes you feel like you are flying. A piped-in scent makes it smell like you are in an orange grove. A replicated fairy-tale castle features actresses playing princesses. You get the idea.
That is why it may be shocking to learn that sometimes you're actually getting a taste of the real deal, especially in areas like Epcot's World Showcase. Many of the shops, restaurants and shows in that part of the park are run by people and companies from the countries that the pavilion represents.
Sure, it's great to travel to Morocco, Italy or Japan and sample the local cuisine, but it's often easier to get a small taste a little closer to home.
Enter: Takumi-Tei.
Nestled in Epcot's Japan pavilion, this small, easy-to-miss restaurant transports you thousands of miles across the Pacific when you cross its wooden threshold. Any trace of a theme park is shut tight on the other side of the impressive door.
First opened in Epcot in 2019 but only in operation for a few months before the coronavirus pandemic caused its doors to shutter for more than two years, this Japanese establishment with less than 100 seats recently reopened. Despite reemerging with a new menu and a largely new staff, the intimate venue retains the same magic it had when it originally opened. In fact, you'll be hard-pressed to believe you're still in Florida when dining at this beloved restaurant.
Whether you've walked past it a dozen times without realizing it or you've been dying to know if it is worth the (high) price, here's what it is like to spend close to three hours enjoying wagyu, sushi, tea and more at Takumi-Tei.
Related: The best restaurants at Disney World
What is Takumi-Tei?
Takumi-Tei is a small restaurant that sits just to the right of the large Mitsukoshi department store in Epcot's Japan pavilion. It is operated by the same Mitsukoshi group.
This eatery is not the kind of place you visit to grab a California roll and enjoy a hibachi show featuring a flaming onion. Takumi-Tei means the "house of the artisan" in Japanese. As such, you can expect an exceptional meal accompanied by top-notch service.
Each dining room has a theme inspired by a natural element: water, wood, earth, stone and paper. Before you enter one of the dining rooms, you'll receive a brief introduction to the restaurant and its concept in an entry corridor where the design elements are described.
If you have a preference for which room you'd like to dine in, you can make that request upon arrival, though it isn't guaranteed. For the most part, they're similar enough and all share a unified, calming vibe.
Related: Why Epcot is now Disney World's must-do park
The Takumi-Tei menu: 2 pricey options
When you decide to dine at Takumi-Tei, you'll have a big decision to make: Should you choose the $150 or $250 menu?
Unfortunately, there are no budget-friendly a la carte options — a change from the restaurant's pre-pandemic service — so come hungry, as you'll need to pick from the two multicourse offerings. Both draw inspiration from Japan's omakase dining concept and are designed to serve as culinary tours of the country.
You won't find many details about the specifics of some of the courses because they vary based on what the chef deems the best choice for that day. However, there are two main differences between the menus: The $250 Kiku option includes meat and seafood and has seven courses, while the $150 Hasu option is a plant-based menu with six courses.
Highlights from the Kiku menu during our recent visit included:
- Sashimi (specifically the toro with caviar).
- Sushi, which for us was golden eye snapper with lime juice and sea salt, Shima-aji (a warm-water fish) and akami (lean tuna).
- Wagyu with seasonal mushrooms.
Highlights from the plant-based Hasu menu were:
- Vegetable sushi (specifically the shitake mushroom sushi with karashi su miso and the red pepper sushi with ginger sauce).
- Tempura-fried vegetables with soba noodles.
- Fried tofu with black rice, carrots and seasonal mushrooms.
Our favorite dessert was the chestnut creme brulee, which is only served on the Kiku menu and comes inside an adorable owl.
Related: The best credit cards for your Disney vacation
What to expect beyond the food
Yes, the food at Takumi-Tei is amazing, and you should come hungry to savor every bite. But it's the service, setting and atmosphere that work together to make this an unforgettable meal.
You'll have a hard time believing you enjoyed this experience within the boundaries of a theme park. For example, staff members make the matcha tableside, and your server will happily make notes with details of your courses. Each plate is presented with a level of detail that makes it seem like a piece of art — not a plate of food — is being described.
From the conversation to the origami cranes, it's clear that this is more than just a meal — it's an immersive multihour experience. As a result, you'll want to allot close to three hours for dinner here if you want to savor each course and not feel rushed.
Is dinner at Takumi-Tei really worth it?
I'd been to Takumi-Tei once before the 2020 closure and always hoped it would reopen so I could experience it again. Now that I've visited a second time, I feel confident saying it can hold its own when compared to other highly regarded sushi restaurants in major cities.
Yes, it's inside Disney World, but that doesn't mean it isn't authentic. It's a hidden gem that offers some of the best sushi and service I've had outside of Japan. Frankly, it's even better than many of the meals I had while in Japan.
But remember, kids 7 and younger aren't old enough to dine at Takumi-Tei, and this isn't the type of meal you squeeze in between rides and shows. This restaurant is the star of the evening.
Know, though, that unlike Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridan Resort & Spa, Takumi-Tei requires paying park admission to visit, as it sits within Epcot. While that isn't a big deal if you have an annual pass, visitors buying regular park tickets will want to time this one carefully. Consider going on a day when you can fit in all your must-do rides early and want to have a leisurely evening.
You may have to save for this one-of-a-kind Disney experience, but trust me: It's more than worth the effort to feel transported to the other side of the world without leaving the U.S.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.