A SLC Institution That Forgot About Wine
Sugar House · Salt Lake City · Japanese (Sushi & Teppanyaki) · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed March 31, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Kyoto Japanese Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
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A short, Greek-focused list (with one bottle from Cyprus) that is easy to scan from light to full. Start with the Skouras Moschofilero or the St. George Agiorgitiko at $15 a glass, then ask about the rotating glass; if you bring your own bottle, the list posts a $15 corkage fee that is waived when you buy a bottle in house. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
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A small wine list tucked behind a bigger sake list: 14 wines, most posted at $12 to $16 for the first number, with Veuve Clicquot at $130 on top. Start with the Simonet Blanc de Blancs or the Redhawk Riesling alongside nigiri, and ask which of the two numbers is the glass price. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
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A California-leaning list with glass pours from $17 to $55 and bottles that run from $60 to a $900 Opus One. Start with the $60 André Brunel Côtes du Rhône white, or go for the $185 Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir, and confirm prices because the restaurant says vintages, pricing and availability change. This unrated guide covers the posted drink list, not service, storage or markups.
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A long list organized by style and region, with two-number prices running from 8 | 40 to 19 | 97 and a $17 flight of any three by-the-glass wines on Sunday through Thursday. Start with the 8 | 40 Aichenberg Grüner Veltliner or the 11 | 53 Giraudon Aligoté, and ask which number is the glass price before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Italian
A bin-numbered list with Italian reds up front and a 20-pour glass page behind it, judged only on what is posted. Start with the $15 Cascina Vèngore Arneis by the glass, or the $58 Simčič Pinot Grigio if you want a bottle, and confirm prices because the wine menu is linked as 9-16-26. This unrated guide covers the posted wine menu, not service, storage or markups.
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