Kobe Beef in Kobe, Japan: My Kobe Beef experiences.

Updated on 01/31/16

Only the specific breed of cattle, processed in specific areas in Japan, raised by special methods, and graded by strict Japanese beef rating system, are qualified to be the real "KOBE BEEF" Real Kobe Beef are rarely exported outside of Japan, and when they are exported, they are usually served at very expensive restaurants overseas.

Nicely marbled intramuscular fat Kobe beef steak.

- To read about my latest Kobe Beef Experience in 2016, visit: Kobe Beef in Kobe 2016 - Ishida Kobe Beef Steak Restaurant
- To read about my recommendations of affordable, Reasonable, Convenient hotels in Tokyo, visit: Affordable Cheap Reasonable Hotels in Tokyo

- To read about my recommendations of affordable and reasonable hotels in OSAKA, visit: Osaka Reasonable Affordable Hotels

- To read about my recommendations of reasonable, affordable, and convenient hotels in KYOTO, visit: Kyoto reasonable, affordable, and convenient Hotels

- To read about the most famous ramen franchise in the world, visit: The origin of Ippudo Ramen: Quest for world's first Hakata Ippudo restaurant
- To read about my Wagyu Japanese Beef Experiences, visit: Wagyu Japanese Beef
- To read about how to plan your trip to Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, visit: Planning your trip to Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe in Japan
- To read about where you can find the best Ramen in Tokyo, visit: Best Ramen in Tokyo



Creations of American/Australian Kobe beef, Kobe-style beef, or American/Australian Wagyu were made to supply the increased popularity for the consumption of tender/juicy beef at fine dining and Japanese restaurants throughout the world.

USDA Beef grading is mainly based on the beef's intramuscular fat content and its tenderness, highest grade of USDA rated beef (Prime, which consists of only the top 3% in the US) are typically served only at high end restaurants in major cities in the US. Kobe beef is typically rated far above the highest USDA Prime grade, in both its intramuscular fat content and tenderness.

My Kobe Beef in Kobe experiences:

*Mouriya Beef Steak Main Restaurant Honten, Kobe Japan (Tripadvisor page)

Mouriya beef steak restaurant, Kobe, Japan.

Mouriya beef steak restaurant, Kobe, Japan. Established in 1885.

My first experience with real Kobe Beef in Kobe was in 2010, when I took my first independent travel outside of the Tokyo area. First time using the Japan Rail Pass, I spent a few days in the Kansai area, visiting  Osaka, Nara, Kyoto and Kobe areas. I did my research online and decided on visiting a very well established Kobe beef steak restaurant, Mouriya (est. 1885). Phone-in reservation was probably not necessary. I was seated at the teppanyaki counter right after I enter the restaurant during lunch time. I chose the highest A5 grade sirloin beef steak set, the chef recommended to have it cooked medium rare. The chef also offered me to take some pictures of the meat and the certification before he started cooking. 

Cattle breed certification. Mouriya beef steak restaurant, Kobe, Japan..

Restaurant counter seats. Mouriya beef steak restaurant, Kobe, Japan.

The beef was tender and juicy, it was not like anything I have had in the past in the US. Special flavors in the beef's intramuscular fat and the chef's meticulous skills of cooking made my first Kobe beef experience memorable. The chef cuts up the steak into bite-size pieces and cooked few pieces at a time to match my pace of eating the food in my plate. 

Highest grade A5 Kobe Beef steak. Mouriya beef restaurant, Kobe, Japan.

The A5 grade steak lunch set cost me around $95 USD. I believe the price is mid-range in the Kobe area for such high grade steak at a prestigious restaurant. The price would have been much higher if I chose to visit the same restaurant during dinner time.

Marbled Kobe Beef  Steak. Mouriya beef restaurant, Kobe, Japan.

*Steakland Kobe-kan, Kobe Japan (Tripadvisor page)

Red color billboard sign, Steakland Kobe-kan, Kobe, Japan. 

Red color billboard sign, Steakland Kobe-kan, Kobe, Japan.

My second experience with real Kobe Beef was in 2012 when I visited Kobe again. My friends and I chose Steakland Kobe restaurant based on her online research. The restaurant was at a much easier to find location (30 seconds walk from the nearest train station) and there were many more customers than my previous experience at Mouriya during lunch hours. Another superb dining experience by watching the skillful chef pan-frying one of the most precious, and highly prized beef in the world. This restaurant offers a slightly thicker cut at a more reasonable price. The beef was equally juicy and flavorful. The lunch Kobe Beef set cost around $60 dollars during my visit. I would recommend this restaurant's "Kobe Beef" set to readers as the price was more reasonable and the restaurant was much easier to find. Remember to order the steak set that is labeled as "Kobe Beef," other cheaper options are not labeled as Kobe Beef and they might not qualified by the strict Kobe Beef grading system.

Skillful chef and large cut of Kobe Beef steak. Steakland, Kobe, Japan.

Skillful chef and large cut of Kobe Beef steak. Steakland, Kobe, Japan.

Tender, juicy, and highly marbled Kobe Beef steak,. Steakland, Kobe, Japan.

*Kobe Beef Nigiri Sushi
My third experience with Kobe beef in Kobe was in November 2015, when I was traveling in Japan using the Japan Rail pass. Instead of visiting a steak house or a sukiyaki restaurant, I went to a authentic sushi bar for the infamous Kobe Beef nigiri sushi in Kobe near the train station. The few pieces of Kobe beef nigiri sushi cost me about 2000 yen. The beef melted within a few seconds in my mouth after I put them in. There was no weird or gamey taste. It was nothing but light beef flavor and aromatic buttery taste. The sushi chef was very particular about how he wanted to serve his Kobe beef nigiri sushi. He lightly salted the raw Kobe beef and he emphasized that I should not dip the Kobe beef sushi in soy sauce because it was simply "the best meat."

Kobe Beef Nigiri Sushi in Kobe Japan

Some sushi bars in Kobe serve Kobe Beef Nigiri Sushi

Kobe Beef can also be enjoyed in other forms of Japanese cuisine such as Sukiyaki, Shabu-Shabu, and self-service Yakiniku. My recommendation is to enjoy Kobe Beef as steak, teppanyaki style, so you can watch the wonderful skills of the chefs in front of you.

Enjoying Kobe Beef. Sukiyaki or Shabu-Shabu Style.

Enjoying Kobe Beef. Yakiniku, BBQ Style.

Best Kobe Beef and Wagyu Beef in Tokyo

Wagyu beef nigiri sushi. Best Kobe beef and Wagyu beef in Tokyo

If visiting Kobe is not on your itinerary, perhaps Roppongi Seryna Honten steak house would be  a good choice for you for Kobe Wagyu Beef while visiting only Tokyo.

You can also check out The Original Teppanyaki Steak Misono. Tokyo branches are in Shinjuku and Ginza.

There is no reasonable price for high quality Kobe beef, especially outside of Kobe. A course teppanyaki Kobe steak dinner could go around $150 to $200 per person in Tokyo. Please be aware of the cheaper versions and choose only the selection that states "KOBE BEEF" on the menu.






INFORMATION
Mouriya Honten (Tripadvisor page)
2-1-17 Shimoyamatedori, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0011, Hyogo Prefecture
TEL: 050-5799-0386
モーリヤ 本店 (official page in Japanese language)
〒650-0011 兵庫県神戸市中央区下山手通2-1-17
TEL: 050-5799-0386



Kobegyu Steak Land Kobe (Tripadvisor page)
1-8-2 Kitanagasadori, Chuo-ku | Miyasako Bldg. 1-2F, Kobe 650-0012, Hyogo Prefecture
TEL: 078-332-1653
神戸牛ステーキ専門店ステーキランド (official page in Japanese language)
〒650-0012中央区北長狭通1-8-2宮迫ビル1~2F
TEL: 078-332-1653






To read about my latest Kobe Beef Experience in 2016, visit: Kobe Beef in Kobe 2016 - Ishida Kobe Beef Steak Restaurant

Kobe Beef in Kobe 2016. A5 BMS 10-12 Grade Steak