I spent $180 dining solo at Disney World's sushi restaurant Takumi-Tei, and it wasn't worth the money

I've been to the Japan Pavilion at Epcot dozens of times, but I've never really noticed the building that houses Takumi-Tei.

At first, I was walking around in circles trying to find the restaurant, which is tucked into a small corner on the right side of the pavilion.

Outside, there are relaxing wind chimes, waterfalls, and benches to enjoy while you wait to be seated. I found this to be a pleasant escape from the hustle and bustle of the rest of Epcot.

There are five rooms inside Takumi-Tei each inspired by a natural element: water, wood, earth, stone, and washi paper.

I was only able to take a peek into two of the rooms, but from what I saw they were superb. I sat in the stone room, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Inside the dining room, the tables were spread apart, making for a very relaxing environment. I was at one of four tables seated during my reservation time.

Since the restaurant was so empty, I was able to take in the music and artistic decor in all of its glory without worrying about disturbing other patrons. The music was extremely relaxing and added to the overall ambiance.

There are two versions of an Omakase ("leave it up to the chef") menu: Kiku and Hasu. There aren't any à-la-carte options on the menu.

Hasu, which I opted for, contained six plant-based courses for $150. Kiku is seven courses of meat and fish offerings for $250. Kids aged 8 to 12 also have a $100 five-course option.

Normally when I dine out at Disney World, I tend to skip fancy drinks to save some money. But I figured I'd splurge because I likely wouldn't be coming back to this expensive signature-dining experience anytime soon.

I ordered the Okinawa Sunshine, which was a combination of Calpico, pineapple juice, orange juice, yuzu juice, and Sprite.

The meal started with the Zensai Moriawase course, which included edamame, seaweed, and tofu. This was a satisfying appetizer that was refreshing for my palate after a day of eating Mickey bars and pretzels in Epcot's Germany Pavillion.

Next came the hand-pressed nigiri sushi and sushi roll with seasonal vegetables. As someone who loves vegetables, I loved how flavorful they were and how they weren't too mushy from the rice.

The following course was Shusai, which was deep-fried tofu, black rice, carrots, seasonal mushrooms, and Tsuyu dressing.

This was a delightful combination of sweet and savory. I also liked the crunch of the tofu. The dressing added a hint of sweetness that was the cherry on top.

The next course was the yuba roll: bean-curd skin rolled with daikon, cucumber, and yuzu-koshō dressing. It left me feeling refreshed with its crisp and cool flavor and tangy dressing.

Lastly was the Yasai Tempura course, which was seasonal-vegetable tempura served with warm soba noodles.

Out of all of the dishes, I thought this one tasted most similar to something you'd find at a fast-food restaurant. It was pretty greasy and delicious, in my opinion, but not something I'd assume would be served at a signature restaurant at Disney World.

For dessert, there was monaka (a traditional Japanese sweet) with dairy-free ice cream and kinako (roasted soybean flour) crumble. It wasn't particularly satisfying since it was more simple than sweet, but it was still creamy and flavorful nonetheless.

Similar to most dining experiences at Disney World, the meal took about 90 minutes.

The courses were brought out as I finished them, so I didn't feel rushed at all, which I appreciated. If they were all given at once, it definitely would've been overwhelming.

My favorite dish was the sushi followed by the tofu and tempura. But honestly, there was nothing I didn't like. I think the dessert could've been better, but for what it was it was decent.

Although I dine alone often, it can still be a bit awkward. But when I entered the restaurant, the staff was lined up waiting to greet me with a smile and a bow.

They made it a pleasurable experience by sitting me at a corner table and checking in on me every so often.

There was a final tea course that was made by a member of the staff right in front of my table. And before I left, my server handed me a small origami swan as a "wish for happiness." This was a sweet touch after a pleasant meal.

My bill was under $200 because I went alone and opted for the plant-based option. But if you go with the more expensive menu, the bill would be over $500 for a party of two. That's not even including the tip or additional alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages.

After applying my 10% annual-passholder discount, the bill for my party of one came out to $180, including tax and tip.

Despite the great food and positive experience, I don't necessarily think it was worth the high price. I probably won't be coming back to Takumi-Tei often.