10 Restaurants Experience the Finest Kobe Beef in Tokyo

1. Ginza kappou ukai nikusho (銀座 kappou ukai 肉匠) / Japanese / Ginza

Ginza kappou ukai nikusho is a kappo (traditional Japanese fine dining) restaurant that specializes in meticulously selected beef and high-quality ingredients. Here, you can savor some of the finest Japanese Wagyu, including Kobe and Matsusaka beef. The restaurant offers seasonal courses that showcase various cuts of beef, with the main dishes expertly grilled over charcoal to enhance the meat's natural flavors. To ensure the charcoal aroma complements rather than overwhelms the meal, they source their beef from reputable farms known for their exceptional quality. The courses also feature seasonal delicacies like abalone and matsutake mushrooms, as well as fresh seafood and vegetables. This specialty meat kappo experience is an opportunity to truly indulge in the exquisite flavors of beef.

2. Matoi Ginza (まとい銀座) / Japanese, Yakiniku / Ginza

Matoi Ginza is a kappo restaurant in Tokyo that offers carefully selected Wagyu beef and seasonal ingredients from both the mountains and the sea. Guests can savor exquisite dishes prepared with the freshest Wagyu, seafood, and vegetables available each day. The menu features several monthly omakase courses, with branded Wagyu, including Kobe beef, sourced directly from producers through exclusive channels. The drink selection boasts over 400 varieties, including wines curated by a sommelier and rare, limited-edition Japanese sakes like Juyondai and Kokuryu. An English menu is also available.

3. Niku kaiseki Rinzen (肉懐石 凜然) / Steakhouse / Shinjuku, Tokyo

Niku kaiseki Rinzen is a restaurant that specializes in kaiseki (traditional multi-course meal) cuisine centered around meat. The beef is sourced directly from Ohtaya, a registered Kobe beef supplier known for its rigorous selection of domestic cattle, exclusively using female cows. The restaurant takes pride in its exquisite dishes, including red meat sashimi and yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), which are made from female cattle known for their tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. They also highly recommend the rare beef tongue and chuck flap shabu-shabu. Committed to using seasonal ingredients, the menu features fresh vegetables and fish, with offerings that change throughout the year. An English menu is available.

4. IDEA Ginza (イデア銀座) / Steakhouse / Ginza

Japan Restaurant Award, Bronze (2018 - 2022)

Japan Restaurant Award, Silver (2017)

Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2021, 2022, 2024)

Idea Ginza, a restaurant recognized three times as one of the top 100 restaurants by a well-known Japanese gourmet review site, specializes in steak. The chef meticulously selects the finest Kobe beef and ages it for several weeks before grilling it in a charcoal oven. The expertly prepared steak, crafted with the chef's deep understanding of meat, is truly exceptional. An English menu is also available at the restaurant.

5. RISTORANTE Il figo Ingordo (イル フィーゴ インゴルド) / Italian / Roppongi

Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2021)

RISTORANTE Il figo Ingordo is an Italian restaurant that was featured in the Best 100 Restaurants list of a well-known gourmet review site in Japan in 2021. Chef Hatanaka, who has refined his skills at prestigious establishments both in Japan and abroad, presents a diverse array of dishes that capture the authentic flavors of Italy. Rather than offering set-course meals, the restaurant allows customers to select their preferred ingredients and cooking methods in a custom-made Italian style known as 'alla moda.' The à la carte menu also provides options for adjusting portion sizes and salt levels. An English menu is available.

6. JO (上) / Japanese / Nishi-Azabu

One Star

Michelin Guide, 2025

Japan Restaurant Award, Bronze (2019 - 24)

JO, a meat-focused kappo restaurant, has earned one Michelin star for seven consecutive years. Situated in the culinary hotspot of Nishi-Azabu, it enjoys immense popularity among meat enthusiasts. The restaurant serves only an omakase menu, showcasing a range of cooking techniques, including grilling, frying, and sushi, to highlight the rich flavors of Tajima beef. A standout dish is the premium steak, cooked in a custom-designed kiln. Additionally, JO offers a curated selection of drinks that pair perfectly with the meals. Diners can indulge in an exceptional meat dining experience that tantalizes all the senses.

7. GINZA KOKORO (神戸牛炉釜ステーキ GINZA KOKO炉) / Steak / Ginza

Japan Restaurant Award, Bronze (2020 - 2022)

Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2021, 2022, 2024)

GINZA KOKORO, a steak restaurant in Tokyo, has been recognized three times as one of the top 100 restaurants by a renowned gourmet review site in Japan. Chef Katsunori Hirata, who has refined his skills at prestigious restaurants both in Japan and abroad, specializes in steaks cooked in a unique oven. The carefully selected Kobe beef is simply seasoned with salt and pepper and roasted at 180 degrees. Guests can enjoy a tasting of premium cuts, including sirloin, chateaubriand, rump, and rump cap. An English menu is also available.

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8. Towa (常) / Japanese / Azabu

Michelin (2020 - 25): One Star

Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2021, 23)

Towa is a kappo restaurant where the owner has honed his skills at the Michelin two-star restaurant Akasaka Kikunoi and the three-star restaurant Kanda, making him a true professional in Japanese cuisine. The omakase course offers around 12 dishes that showcase seasonal flavors, with a primary focus on Wagyu beef. One standout dish is the charcoal-grilled Kuroge Wagyu beef tongue, which is thick and highlights the sweetness of its premium fat. You won’t want to miss the chance to savor exquisite Wagyu in an authentic kappo setting.

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9. Bifuteki no Kawamura Ginza (ビフテキのカワムラ 銀座店) / Teppanyaki / Ginza

Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022, 24)

Bifuteki no Kawamura Ginza has been recognized twice as one of the top 100 restaurants by a renowned Japanese gourmet review site, specializing in Kobe beef. Established in 1972, the weight of the steaks listed reflects the weight of the lean meat after the fat has been trimmed away. A must-try dish is the seared premium Kobe beef. The chef, who is an expert in Kobe beef, employs a precise searing technique that results in a dish that melts in your mouth. You can savor the unique tenderness, richness, and beautiful marbling that Kobe beef is known for. An English menu is also available.

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10. Kobe Beef DAIA (神戸牛ダイア) / Steak / Nihonbashi

Kobe Beef DAIA is a premier restaurant specializing in Kobe beef, renowned for handling the highest volume of this delicacy in the world. With over 40 locations across Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka, and other regions, it offers both teppanyaki (dishes prepared on a large, flat iron griddle) and traditional dining experiences. The Nihonbashi location features a restaurant-style setting. The Kobe beef is sourced whole, processed at their central kitchen, and delivered fresh to each restaurant. The menu includes classic sirloin and tenderloin, as well as special rare cuts and premium lean meat. English-speaking staff are available to assist guests.

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