5 restaurants in Kobe to eat beef
Enjoy the best beef in Kobe
Known for its excellent wagyu, or Japanese beef, Kobe boasts a large number of restaurants where you can enjoy this delicacy. If you're passing through the city, here are 5 places we recommend.
Kobe beef is simply unique. It comes from the Tajima breed of cattle, which itself belongs to the wagyu breed, the name of the famous Japanese beef. Wagyu is a particularly marbled meat, meaning that the meat is streaked through with fat. The result? Extremely tender meat that melts in the mouth with an excellent flavor.
If you are visiting Kobe or the surrounding area, a visit to a restaurant to taste this famous, internationally renowned beef is a must... Here are 5 of our favorites and recommendation, for an unforgettable culinary experience.
- To read: Culinary specialties of Kansai
Mouriya Honten
This restaurant founded in 1885 is well known as one of the best wagyu restaurants in Kobe. The cheapest menu starts at 5,500 yen ($48/43€) for lunch and dinner, including a round steak, soup, rice, and tea. To have a filet of their finest meat, expect to pay at least 10,000 yen ($88/78€). The restaurant, with its modern and European-inspired decor, has limited seats, so it is strongly recommended to book ahead on their website. If you sit at the bar, the chef will explain the process as he prepares the meat on teppanyaki (hotplate) in front of your eyes.
- Address : Mouriya Bldg., 2-1-17 Shimo Yamate Dohri, Chuoh-ku Kobe-shi, Hyogo-ken
- Open every day 11:00 am to 10:00 pm
Steak Aoyama
This small, family-run restaurant with just 8 seats offers a particularly warm welcome to enjoy Kobe beef in a great cozy atmosphere. With a front-row view, the chef will explain the process as he cooks, from the origin of the ingredients to the cooking technique. For the basic menu with 100g of meat, a starter, soup and coffee, it will cost 5,200 yen ($46/40€) per person. The atmosphere is relaxed in a family environment, offering the best of Kobe wagyu at a reasonable price.
A wagyu steak ready for cooking
- Address : 2 Chome-14-5 Shimoyamatedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture 650-0011
- Open Thursday to Tuesday from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm. For reservations, call the restaurant at +81 78-391-4858.
Misono
Misono is a chain of restaurants founded in Kobe in 1945. They are, more or less, the creators of teppanyaki - or cooking on a hot plate in front of the customer. In other words, Misono is the benchmark when it comes to Kobe beef restaurants. This chic establishment offers a true dining experience, to try at least once in your life, with top-quality food and service. The price of the classic menu, around 16,000 yen ($140/123€), is not cheap, but well worth it!
- Address: 7&8F Misono Bldg., 1-1-2 Shimoyamatedori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0011
- For reservations call 078-331-2890.
- Open every day 11:30 am to 10:00 pm
Wakkoqu
In this elegant restaurant near Shin-Kobe Station, cuts of meat are on offer from 9,000 yen ($80/70€) for sirloin, and prices can go up to almost 15,000 yen ($132/116€) for the finest cuts of meat. The chef prepares the fresh meat in front of your eyes, with perfect seasoning. The lunch menu is recommended as it includes a small piece of Tajima beef as well as the accompaniments such as rice, soup, vegetables, plus dessert and coffee, for a very reasonable 5,380 yen ($47/42€).
Wakkoqu restaurant in Kobe
- You can reserve online here.
- Address: 3F Shin-Kobe Oriental Avenue 1-1-Chome Kitano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-City
- Open every day from 11:45 am to 10:00 pm.
Kobe Beef Steak Ishida (Kitanozaka)
This Kobe beef chain is located in Kobe's Sannomiya district. It's best to go there for lunch - the menu, including a 130g ribeye steak is offered at 8,800 yen ($77/68€), while a dinner will cost you at least 12,900 yen, or ($114/101€). The restaurant also offers prime cuts, such as A5 quality tenderloin - the best cut in the market. It will, however, cost you 17,000 yen ($150/132€) to taste this exceptional cut of meat...
- To make a reservation, visit their website.
Beef being prepared for cooking
- Address : Pare Kitanozaka 1F 4-7-11 Kanocho, Hyogo, Kobe, Chuo-ku
- Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:30 am to 10:00 pm.
