Disney Eats: Discover the New Spring Menu at Takumi-Tei in EPCOT. Fellow foodies, do I have an experience to share with you. I recently had the pleasure of attending Takumi-Tei at EPCOT and it was a truly memorable (and delicious) experience. This location nestled within the Japan Pavillion features an omakase, which means “leave it up to the chef,” menu.
This two-hour omakase dining experience is a special occasion that is perfect for those celebrating or those wanting a foodie outing, all nestled within a theme park. And what makes it even more unique is that this menu changes with each season, meaning you’ll never have the same experience twice. I was able to enjoy the new spring menu, which just premiered at the location, and it did not disappoint.
Meet the Team
The team at Takumi-Tei has brought their passion and culture to the plate with a delicious selection that transports visitors with each and every bite.
Led by Chef Shingo in the kitchen and Yuki in the front of house, this ever-evolving menu encourages repeat visitation, as it continues to change with each and every season. The storytelling can be seen with each course that makes you truly feel like you’re immersed within the Japanese culture.
Inside Takumi-Tei
But before we get to the food, I simply must talk about this space. As you walk through the doors, you’re instantly transported into a tranquil environment.
The name of the restaurant means “House of the Artisan” in Japanese, and the space around you brings that to life. With five rooms inspired by a natural element – water, wood, earth, stone, and washi paper – each has a unique look and feel. From the chairs to the décor on the walls, and even the coasters, each room is filled with meaning that allows you to truly be immersed into this culture.
The New Menu at Takumi-Tei
And now for the best part, the food. Guests have the choice between the full omakase menu, with a vegetarian option, as well as a semi course menu for a slightly lighter experience. As a foodie, I opted for the full menu which features seven courses of delightful dishes.
Our First Course
The brand-new Spring menu is inspired by the season in both look and flavor. For the first course, we got the Ichiju Sansai, which comes with three seasonal dishes, including a soup that was a highlight. These options included:
- Sea Bream: Kombu–cured Sakura style accented with edible gold leaf
- Lightly Fried Tofu in Silken White Miso Broth served with Japanese mustard and pickled cherry blossom
- Salmon Roe & Spring Vegetables dressed in white sesame dressing garnished with silver leaf
Before beginning the course, along with our server, we all took a moment to enjoy being together to share this meal, and revealed our items at the same time, lifting the lid off the bowls. It was a simple, yet special moment, kicking off a memorable meal.
These bites were a fantastic start to the meal, with fresh flavors that tasted like spring. My personal favorite, the soup, was truly a delight with the lightly fried tofu being a surprising star.
And the silver leaf on the Salmon Roe & Spring Vegetables was something I had never seen before but an eye-catching finishing touch. For those indulging in the vegetarian menu, the salmon roe is swapped for spring vegetables in a silken white sesame dressing and also accented with an edible silver leaf.
Our Second Course
For course number two, we had the chilled seasonal appetizer. This course features a Charcoal-Grilled Razor Clam & Tataki-Style Spanish Mackerel that is one of the most visual items on the menu, served in an actual clamshell. It’s accented with sea urchin, wasabi jelly, egg yolk vinegar emulsion, fine myoga julienne, and edible blossoms.
As someone with a shellfish allergy, I could not try this dish but can attest that my fellow foodies loved it. I got the vegetarian dish with Assorted Seasonal Vegetables served with silken wasabi jelly, julienned myoga ginger, and edible flower buds.
Our Third Course
And with course three, we were treated to a truly spring-themed delight – the Spring Hanami Huassun Platter. This dish was adorned with cherry blossoms that truly embodied the season. The small bites included in this platter on the omnivorous menu are:
- Saikyo Miso–Grilled Flounder
- Horse Mackerel “Kosode” Sushi
- Squid & Komatsuna Greens with toasted sesame dressing accented with edible blossoms
- Nanban-Style Marinated Fish accented with paprika amber gelée
- Traditional Tamagoyaki
- Delicately Simmered Prawn
- Broad Beans in Jade-Tinted dashi broth
The hit from this one among the table was the flounder, with my fellow foodies delighting in this bite. I tried the vegetarian version of this course, and it did not disappoint. These bites included:
- Char-Grilled Daikon Radish Dengaku glazed with aromatic yuzu miso
- Spinach Temari Sushi served with silken egg yolk vinegar sauce
- Grilled Eggplant & Paprika served with amber jelly
- Komatsuna Greens with Vinegar Miso Dressing garnished with edible blossoms
- Simmered White Konjac accompanied with cherry tomatoes marinated in sweet vinegar
- Simmered Broad Beans in jade-colored broth
Our Fourth Course
Next up, the simmered dish course. This was one of my absolute favorites of the entire evening. It features a lightly coated greenling, lotus root dumpling, petal-carved daikon, and season greens accented with plum sauce and fresh yuzu. The greenling, which was cooked to perfection, and the broth were an absolutely delicious combination that I couldn’t get enough of.
Our Fifth Course
For the main dish, you get the option of the following:
- Crisp Tempura of Japanese Black Waygu with Sakura-infused mashed potatoes, tender broccolini, sweet sake velouté, and toasted egg crumble
- Char-Grilled Japanese Black Wagyu Sirloin with Sakura mashed potatoes, tender broccolini, velvety sweet sake sauce, and toasted egg crumble (This option is available as an upgrade)
- Crisp Fan-Shaped White Shrimp Tempura with egg yolk vinegar emulsion, fine spring onion, fried eggplant, and tender broccolini
I got the char-grilled wagyu, and I am not exaggerating when I say that I am still dreaming about this dish. The wagyu sirloin melted in your mouth like butter, and the Sakura mashed potatoes were phenomenal. You truly can’t go wrong when it comes to wagyu.
We did try the vegetarian main course, which also was a hit with crisp deep-fried assorted vegetable skewers that also featured the delicious Sakura-infused mashed potatoes and caramelized onion ponzu sauce.
Our Sixth Course
The penultimate course is the rice course with pressed eel sushi and shredded egg atop subtle Japanese Sasho pepper and a spinach and silken tofu in a red miso soup. It was a delightful bite before we jumped into the awaited dessert. And to top it off, it was joined by an origami hat, which serves as a lovely keepsake to remember the night.
The Seventh and Last Course
Last, but certainly not least, we have the dessert course that comes with matcha tea made tableside and a selection of seasonal sweets. The server hand-mixes the matcha right at your table.
We all took a moment of silence to take in the meal we just had, commemorating the experience before indulging in some sweets. As a tea lover, this was such a special touch that added to how unique this restaurant is.
For desserts, the three seasonal selections are:
- Strawberry Baked Cheesecake accented with milk caramel, whipped cream, and viola flower
- House-Made Strawberry Daifuku served with Sakura crystal jelly
- House-Made Sakura Mochi with Sakura crystal jelly-salt-pickled cherry blossom
As a self-appointed dessert aficionado, each of these were delicious. My personal favorite was the cheesecake, but I would gladly indulge in any of the three.
Drink Pairings
For those wanting beverage pairings for your visit, you’re in luck. The team at Takumi-Tei has expertly selected offerings with each dish. You can choose between wine and sake pairings that bring out the flavors of both the food and beverages. Along with cocktails, and even still and sparkling water imported from Japan, this beverage menu completes the overall dining experience with each sip.
While located within EPCOT, this elevated restaurant is a part of the Disney Signature Dining experiences. It’s encouraged to dress accordingly, knowing that you’ll be coming through the park to attend this location.
This truly was one of the best meals I have ever had. The overall experience, with the meaning behind the space and menu, and the intention behind the food made it such a special meal. Whether you’re wanting to try a new cuisine or celebrate a special occasion, Takumi-Tei is not one to be missed. I cannot wait to come back and try the new summer menu, masterfully crafted by Chef Shingo. Be sure to make your reservations to try this location for yourself!
With these tasty adventures, the possibilities are endless when you visit Disney Parks. To stay in-the-know on all the yummy items on the way, check out our Disney Eats topics page and follow us @DisneyEats on Instagram and Facebook.
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