A SLC Institution That Forgot About Wine
Sugar House · Salt Lake City · Japanese (Sushi & Teppanyaki) · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 31, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Kyoto has been an SLC staple for years, and the wine list looks exactly like it hasn't been touched in just as long. You open it expecting something — anything — that matches the care that goes into the food, and instead you get a short lineup of names you'd find at a gas station fridge. The prices are at least honest, which is the nicest thing we can say.
The list is thin and squarely aimed at the path of least resistance: Kendall-Jackson dominates with a Pinot Gris and a Merlot, Cupcake shows up with a Sauvignon Blanc, and Schmitt Sohne represents Germany with a Riesling that technically makes sense next to sushi but lands with all the excitement of a participation trophy. There's no real regional story here — it's California grocery aisle plus one German import and nothing from Japan, France, or anywhere that would make you lean forward in your seat. Gaps are everywhere: no Champagne, no rosé, no interesting whites from Alsace or Austria that would actually sing with teppanyaki. For a restaurant with this kind of food heritage, the wine list is a missed opportunity of the highest order.
Six-plus pours by the glass, ranging from $5.50 to $7.99, which is genuinely cheap and the one bright spot in this whole program. The problem is you're choosing from the same short roster of mass-market brands — quantity of options isn't the issue, quality of the field is. There's no rotation to speak of, and nothing here suggests anyone has revisited the list recently.
Schmitt Sohne Riesling — $7.99
It's the only wine on this list that actually makes sense with the food. Off-dry Riesling next to spicy tuna rolls or ginger-heavy teppanyaki is a legitimate move, and at under eight bucks a glass you're not taking much of a risk.
Schmitt Sohne Riesling
Most people at a Japanese restaurant grab the Merlot on autopilot. Don't. The Riesling is the only bottle here that shows any awareness of what's being served in the kitchen — it's light, slightly sweet, and cuts right through rich tempura or salty soy-based sauces.
Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc
Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc is fine at a backyard cookout. In a Japanese restaurant with nuanced fish and umami-forward dishes, it brings nothing to the table — and the branding alone should give you pause.
Schmitt Sohne Riesling + Tempura
The slight residual sugar in the Riesling plays perfectly against the savory, crispy tempura batter, and the wine's acidity cuts the oil cleanly. It's the one pairing on this list that feels intentional, even if it wasn't.
❌ The Bottom Line
Kyoto is a genuinely good restaurant that deserves a better wine list — but until someone there decides to care, stick to the Riesling by the glass and spend your energy on the food. Don't come here for wine.
Sugar House · Salt Lake City · Steakhouse and Seafood with Scandinavian/European Influences
Kimi's earns its reputation as one of Salt Lake City's better nights out, and the wine program has real bones — a sommelier, a thoughtful Italian-leaning list, and proper glassware. Just go in knowing the markups are aggressive on the bubbles, anchor yourself to the Riesling if you're watching the spend, and let the room do the rest of the work.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
9th & 9th · Salt Lake City · Middle Eastern
Mazza isn't a wine destination, but it's doing something genuinely interesting by building a list around Lebanese producers that actually belong on the table with this food. If you're in Salt Lake City and want to drink something you won't find anywhere else in town, this is worth a detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Japanese and Sushi
Takashi is a great restaurant with a wine list that's just along for the ride — functional, safe, and a little overpriced relative to what you get. Go for the sushi, order the Cloudy Bay or the Oregon Pinot, and don't expect the wine program to keep pace with the kitchen.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Raw Bar
Market Street Oyster Bar is a reliable spot for wine if you calibrate your expectations accordingly — this is a crowd-pleaser list built for a crowd-pleaser room, and it mostly delivers. Send a friend here for oysters and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, not for a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cottonwood Heights · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse
Market Street Grill Cottonwood is a dependable neighborhood anchor with a wine list that does exactly what it needs to — nothing more. Send a friend here for the oysters and the Sonoma-Cutrer; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse
Market Street Grill is a solid, dependable restaurant that deserves a more adventurous wine list — the oyster program alone could support something far more interesting than what's here. Come for the seafood, order the Sonoma-Cutrer, and don't spend too much time staring at the bottle list hoping it changes.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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