I’m taking a quick stop at Kobe today on my journey to Osaka. My friend had already departed for Kobe the day prior, and I’m heading there to meet up with him before we continue on the rest of the trip. So after an early morning rise in Tokyo, I made my way to Kobe via the Shinkansen with one thing in mind – Kobe Beef. Even in Kobe, Kobe Beef isn’t cheap (still way cheaper than elsewhere, of course), but I’ve been recommended to try out Steakland and their lunch specials for some affordable Kobe Beef. I’ve tried a few varieties of Wagyu before, but I’m pretty sure Kobe wasn’t one of them. Now that I’m finally at Kobe, let’s see if their beef is truly as great as they say, and whether or not the whole experience was worth the train ride from Osaka. Let’s find out. How Good is Steakland Kobe Actually?
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🥩 Lunch Sets 🥩
Steakland’s Lunch Specials are available from 11A.M. to 2P.M. There’s a few options to choose from, but let’s jump straight to why you’re probably here – their Kobe Beef Lunch Set. For the Kobe Beef sets, there’s the choice between the 150g Kobe Beef Steak Lunch set for ¥3,500, and the 150g Kobe Beef Tender Steak Lunch Set for ¥4,500.
Like I mentioned above, even in Kobe, Kobe Beef is not cheap. For both the Steak Lunch and Tender Steak Lunch options, the Kobe variety costs twice as much compared to the standard beef set (¥3,500 vs ¥1,700 for the 150g Steak Lunch set, for example). It’s a big difference, I know, but I’ll end this segment with some advice my friend gave me when I was deciding on what to order. “If you’re gonna travel all the way to Kobe, are you really going home with no Kobe Beef to show for?”
That being said, we both went for the Kobe Steak Lunch set instead of the Kobe Tender Steak set. Tenderloin isn’t our favorite cut of beef, and since the standard one is cheaper, we got to order our preferred cut AND save some money. A win-win!
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🥩 Kobe Beef Steak Lunch Set (150g)(¥3,500) 🥩
Steakland Kobe is a Teppanyaki restaurant, so the steak is prepared on the grill right in front of you.
Once you’re done marvelling at the Kobe steak (or until the chef’s ready to cook your meal), the dish starts off with an infusion of toasted garlic chips, butter, and oil.
Right from the get go, the smell here is absolutely fantastic, and the slight note of toasted garlic really shines in the final product.
When the oil gets to temperature, the steak then gets seared on the grill. After some seasonings, the steak will be sliced into bite-sized cubes and cooked to your desired doneness.
Once ready, the steak is served on your plate alongside the toasted garlic chips.
So, how’s the Kobe Beef here? I’ve had Wagyu from many regions of Japan before (both locally and in fancy restaurants back home), but I’m pretty sure this was my first try with Kobe Beef.
The first thing that I took note of was just how tender the beef was. It’s a nice mix of melt-in-your-mouth goodness while also being firm enough to remind you that this is a piece of high quality beef. (I’d say it’s bouncy, but that’s probably not the most appetizing term to use, isn’t it?) The flavor profile wasn’t as ‘beefy’ or intense as some of the other Wagyu varieties, but it does have that touch of sweetness from the fat unique to Wagyu.
Does the milder flavor mean Kobe Beef is inferior to the other breeds of Wagyu? Absolutely not. Each variety of Wagyu in Japan has its own balance of desirable qualities (Kobe is famous for its tenderness, for example), and it’s really up to personal preference to which Wagyu you prefer. I happen to focus more on the flavor profile when rating my Wagyu, so Kobe Beef doesn’t get that top spot on my personal list. Don’t get me wrong, though. I’m still extremely impressed by how tender the Kobe Beef was, and I think the Teppanyaki style of cooking really plays to its strengths here.
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🥩 Lunch Set Contents 🥩
Now, back to the lunch set. This set also comes with a few side dishes. There’s the sauteed bean sprouts – prepared on the grill after the steak is served – a bowl of rice and miso soup, pickled veggies, a little side salad, and two different types of sauces.
The first one is a teppanyaki steak sauce, while the other is a dashi sauce. (Or so I think it was) I only remembered to try it after I already finished the meal).
You could go without the sauce and just have the steak with the garlic chips and rice, but I think the sauce here pairs really well with the dish, so try both options and see what you like. (The teppanyaki sauce was really nice, and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t care for steak sauces most of the time.)
Oh, and you also have the choice between coffee and orange juice after finishing the main course.
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⭐VERDICT⭐
So how good is Steakland Kobe actually? Kobe Beef is really good, let’s get that out of the way. I was really impressed by how tender the cut was, and the overall flavors here with all the sides make this dish a quite the great lunch set. The price is also quite affordable, from the quick look-around during my short stay at Kobe. There’s probably more premium stores around here that serve better Kobe Beef (since this place is Kobe, after all). But at this price point, I say it’s tough to beat what Steakland has to offer.
Now, if you’re like me and are only visiting Kobe for a day, the question becomes “Should I bother travelling here for Kobe Beef?” Well, that question has a few external factors to consider. Steakland is located right around Sannomiya, so it’s only 5-15 mins away from stations that begin at Osaka. (see below for details) There’s also Sannomiya Gai Shopping Street if you want to explore Kobe for a little while. So if you want to experience some amazing, but affordable, beef, as well as spending an afternoon exploring a new city, then a trip to Kobe and Steakland is the way to go.
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🚗HOW TO GET THERE 🚗
Steakland Kobe is located right around the Sannomiya and Kobe-Sannomiya stations. If you’re like me and are visiting from Osaka, there’s a few options you can take. From the metro at Osaka, take the Kobe line from Osaka-Umeda station to Kobe-Sannomiya station (30-40 mins), and the restaurant’s about a minute’s walk away. And if you’re taking the Shinkansen route, once you’ve reached Shin Kobe station (13 mins from Shin Osaka), take the Seishin-Yamate line to Sannomiya station (1 station). From there, Steakland’s about a 5 minute walk away.
There’s also quite a few things to do around the area once you’re done with the meal. If you have a free afternoon, Sannomiya Center Gai Shopping Street is right around the station. There’s a bunch of shops around, from branded goods to local products and street foods. I personally spent around two hours there just wandering around, before taking the Shinkansen back to Osaka for the night.
Steakland Kobe
🌏 Location: Japan, 〒650-0012 Hyogo, Kobe, Chuo Ward, Kitanagasadori, 1 Chome−8−2 1F･2F 宮迫ビル
🗺 Map: https://goo.gl/maps/xe2RBP5tCALnU77M8
⏰ Opening Hours: 11A.M. to 9P.M.
💻 Website: https://steakland-kobe.jp/en/
📖 Online Menu (English): https://steakland-kobe.jp/en/publics/index/22/
