Gonpachi: Kill Bill Restaurant

Gonpachi or more popularly referred to as the "Kill Bill Restaurant" is visited by thousands of tourists and locals alike not only for its ambiance but also for its good food. Kill Bill is a Hollywood movie starred by Uma Thurman in 2003. A sequal, Kill Bill Volume 2 was released in 2004. Although the iconic fight scene between The Bride (Uma Thurman) and Yubari Gogo (Chiaki Kuriyama) was not exactly shot in this location, this restaurant inspired the setting for that particular scene.

The restaurant is found in Azabu Juban, a high end district in Tokyo where mostly expats live.To go to Gonpachi, you can take either the Oedo Line or Hibiya Line to Roppongi Station. Take Exit A2. You will find Meidi-Ya, a large supermarket, outside the exit. Go down the road towards Roppongi Hills and walk for around 8 minutes. Gonpachi is found in an intersection, a block away from Roppongi Hills.

Outside the restaurant at night

I have to say though that the exterior of the restaurant looks more badass without the glaring lights around the trees. If you want to take good photos outside, better visit earlier when the lights are still turned off. If it's winter, it gets dark in Tokyo as early as 4pm. 

The interior of the restaurant will not disappoint you thought. It exudes an authentic Japanese traditional feel to it. This restaurant is classified as an izakaya, meaning a local Japanese bar, so it serves not only traditional Japanese food but alcohol as well.

For bigger groups of people, there are tatami rooms on the second floor of the restaurant that can be reserved for special occasions. Take note that you have to remover your shoes when entering the tatami room. There are also large taiko drums on the second floor, which make me wonder whether these drums are actually used for live performances or are just placed there for aesthetic purposes. The restaurant also plays traditional Japanese music that gives an additional authentic Japanese feel to the place. You'll feel like The Bride in her yellow track suit is going to come out any minute with her sword.

A traditional Japanese set meal for Y3,500.

Prices might hike a little during dinner time but for lunch, the restaurant offers affordable set meals. Lunch menus are served until 3pm. Prices of the set meals range from Y1,500 to Y3,500. We ordered the 7-course meal and shared it. At first, my friend and I thought that the food was quite little for sharing but it was just right! It doesn't look much but once you start eating it, it does fill you.

Quentin Tarantino visited the restaurant in 2003.

At the entrance of the restaurant, there is a shelf that shows Kill Bill memorabilia. It even displays a photo of Kill Bill's director, Quentin Tarantino when he visited the restaurant Circa 2003.