What is Kobe Beef? 12 Restaurants o Experience the Finest Kobe Beef in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Kobe

What Kind of Wagyu is Kobe Beef?

Kobe beef is the most renowned type of Wagyu in the world.

Wagyu has gained popularity not just in Japan, but globally. It specifically refers to four breeds that have undergone extensive selective breeding in Japan: Black Wagyu (Kuroge Washu), Brown Wagyu (Katsuge Washu), Japanese Shorthorn (Nihon Tankaku Washu), and Polled Wagyu (Mukaku Washu), as well as their crossbreeds.

One of the finest grades of Japanese Wagyu beef

Among these, Tajima beef is regarded as the highest quality. Produced in Hyogo, it is celebrated for its exceptional marbling, known as "Sashi," which results in incredibly tender and flavorful meat. Both Kobe beef and Matsusaka beef come from this premium breed.

Furthermore, the rare and selectively bred Tajima beef is specifically labeled as Kobe beef. It meets the most rigorous grading standards among Japan's three major Wagyu types, excelling in marbling, color, meat quality, and fat quality. Kobe beef is highly prized for its rarity and is considered the finest Wagyu in Japan.

Need to be certified to serve in the store.

To serve Kobe beef in restaurants, establishments must receive designation from the Kobe Beef Marketing & Distribution Promotion Association. Only registered restaurants are permitted to offer Kobe beef, and they display membership certificates, designated certificates, and bronze statues as proof of authenticity. Enjoying genuine Kobe beef at a designated restaurant in Japan is sure to be a highlight of your trip.

The Story Behind Kobe Bryant's Name

"NBA legend Kobe Bryant got his name from 'Kobe beef' - which his father spotted on a Japanese restaurant menu - and went on to become one of the most famous basketball players in the world."

How to Enjoy Kobe Beef

Kobe beef ranks among the finest Japanese Wagyu, alongside Matsusaka and Omi beef, making it one of the most expensive types of beef in Japan. Certain cuts can exceed 10,000 yen per 100 grams, especially when prepared as steak.

Steak

When it comes to enjoying Kobe beef, steak is the most popular and luxurious choice. Because it’s of the highest quality, Kobe beef is best experienced with simple seasoning, enhancing its sublime flavor. Each slice features melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, rich flavor, and exquisite marbling, allowing you to fully appreciate its complex taste that shines through its simplicity.

Yakiniku

Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) is a luxurious dish that offers a variety of dining experiences based on the thickness of the meat. Thinly sliced cuts let you sample different parts of the beef, each offering unique flavors and textures with every bite. At select registered restaurants, you might even find rare cuts available for an extra treat.

Shabu-Shabu

Shabu-shabu is a refined hotpot dish that showcases the exceptional flavor of Kobe beef. Its rich and delicate taste is ideal for this cooking method. Briefly dipping the meat in hot water beautifully changes its color, allowing you to enjoy its luxurious appearance as well as its taste.

Sukiyaki

The tender and flavorful Kobe beef is also perfect for a sukiyaki hotpot. It pairs wonderfully with a soy sauce-based broth known as “warishita.” Whether you enjoy it straight or dipped in raw egg, it’s delicious either way. There are two main styles of sukiyaki: Kanto (the eastern region) and Kansai (the western region). Since Kobe beef comes from Hyogo in Kansai, it’s recommended to enjoy it in the Kansai style.

Meat Sushi

Meat sushi is a supreme dish that allows you to savor Kobe beef in its raw form. Carefully selected and skillfully prepared, fresh Kobe beef offers an exceptional taste experience. Its delicate flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture create an unparalleled sense of luxury. Because cooking it at home can be challenging, it’s best enjoyed at high-end Japanese restaurants that truly highlight the allure of authentic Kobe beef.

Kobe Beef Fine Dining

In Tokyo, many fine dining establishments include Kobe beef in their omakase (chef’s choice) courses. Of course, in Kobe, Hyogo—the home of Kobe beef—you’ll find numerous restaurants where you can indulge in this delicacy.

We’ll now introduce some fine dining options in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Kobe where you can enjoy Kobe beef.

12 Restaurants in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Kobe Where You Can Savor Kobe Beef

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

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, Tokyo

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, Tokyo

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Bronze (2018 - 2022)
2. Japan Restaurant Award, Silver (2017)
3. 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. The course menu features various cooking methods for Kobe beef and includes over 80% meat dishes, making it quite substantial. 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, Tokyo

1. 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. Private Room Wagyu Yakiniku Gin Namba Branch (個室 和牛焼肉 吟 難波店) / Yakiniku / Namba, Osaka

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022)

Private Room Wagyu Yakiniku Gin Namba Branch is a yakiniku restaurant in Osaka that earned a spot in the Top 100 Best Restaurants on a renowned Japanese gourmet review site in 2022. The restaurant features premium Wagyu beef, carefully selected by skilled chefs, which guests can enjoy as steaks, seared sushi, and more. The signature yakiniku course includes a beautifully presented dish called "Gin Hanazakari," which incorporates fresh flowers for a visually stunning experience. Guests can choose to grill the meat themselves using a roaster or have the staff cook it for them right at the table.

7. baron (バロン) / Steakhouse / Hyogo

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Best 100 (2022, 24)

The steakhouse baron, twice named one of the Best 100 Restaurants on a popular Japanese gourmet review site, is located in Hyogo. The owner personally selects the Wagyu at the market, including a rare, top-grade Kobe beef—only one in every 100 cattle meets this standard. The steaks are expertly grilled, with the type of charcoal carefully chosen to match the meat’s texture, cut, and size, resulting in an exceptional dining experience. Here, guests can savor the finest Kobe beef, perfectly cooked, offering a quality that’s hard to find even in the Tokyo area or abroad.

8. JO (上) / Japanese / Tokyo / Nishi-Azabu

Japan Restaurant Award, Bronze (2019 - 24)

JO, a meat-focused kappo restaurant, has earned one Michelin star for six 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.

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

1. Japan Restaurant Award, Bronze (2020 - 2022)
2. 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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10. Towa (常) / Japanese / Azabu, Tokyo

1. Michelin (2020 - 24): One Star
2. 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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11. Bifuteki no Kawamura Ginza (ビフテキのカワムラ 銀座店) / Teppanyaki / Ginza, Tokyo

1. 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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12. Kobe Beef DAIA (神戸牛ダイア) / Steak / Nihonbashi, Tokyo

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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