Kobe Beef HAKATANOOUKA honten — Restaurant in Fukuoka

I made a reservation on Google so the reservation process was easy.

I went for lunch on Sunday at 11:30 (when they open). I believe that at this time you can just walk in with little to no wait. The restaurant is located on a fun street full of shops and restaurants. It's covered so it's a nice place to visit if it's really hot or rainy.

Most of the others at this time were ordering off a lunch menu. The hamburger steak seemed to be the most popular thing at this time.

They didn't give me a lunch menu...only the full menu. I wanted to order kobe beef anyway so it wasn't an issue but they probably should have given me a lunch menu in case I wanted it. But I don't know...maybe the reservation was such that the lunch menu wasn't an option?

I wanted the best kobe beef that they have so I opened for the chateaubriand. If price is what determines their best cut, this was the most expensive meat on the menu.

Since it's lunch time and I had more things to eat later I opted for the smallest (120g) portion. I also opted for an upgrade in rice to a rice bowl with egg and beef (rather than plain rice or fried rice) which was an extra 800 jpy. I thought it would come with more of a raw beef (which is what the picture looked like) but it was cooked so I wouldn't recommend this upgrade.

They brought out the beef so that I can take a picture. They asked for temperature (I said medium rare) and they cooked it on the teppanyaki.

I was seated off to the side so I couldn't really get a good view of the teppanyaki. Also, unlike places like Benhana in the USA, there wasn't any type of "show" or anything like that. But maybe it's because it was lunch and not dinner? Not sure...

The beef itself was pretty good but not mind blowing. I was actually hoping for a more fatty and more marbled cut of beef. Maybe that's not the chateaubriand and it's more the sirloin or tenderloin (one of the slightly cheaper cuts?) Either way, the chateaubriand was good but not any better than meat that I've had many times before.

Service was excellent. The cooked half the beef and then when I finished it, they cooked the other half and served it. Excellent way to serve beef.

There were 2 women sitting next to me and they were friendly and nice. One spoke good English and she said that she's taking English classes and she welcomed the opportunity to practice her conversation with me. She was...

Food was expensive for its quality. But the service was the worse. While I was paying my bill (Y67,870.00), I took out 7 ten-thousand notes and I gave them to the cashier/waiter and signaled to him that I'm going to get some coins by reaching into my pocket to pay the 870 yen that was part of my bill so he can easily just give me a 3 thousand yen change. While I was doing this, he just ignored me and proceeded to punch-in my payment to the cash register and then gave me a change of Y2,130.00. Since I have already come up with my 870 yen coins, I just took the 130 yen that was part of the change that he gave me and I asked him to change the 1000 yen coins to a 1000 yen note. Easy right? No. He said he can not do that. I asked him "Why?" He then got out his phone and google translated. It read, "We are not the money changer!" I said, "What? Are you serious?" I told him I was not changing money. I had the intention of paying the part of my bill with coins (which most other stores/shops would gladly accept) so it will not be too heavy to carry so much coins. Also, I am not some random dude that appeared out of thin air from the street trying to change money. (But if someone asks me to help them I would gladly do so) He then impolitely waved me off several times saying no. I have been to Japan more than 10 times but I have never encountered a Japanese as obstinate, unbending, unaccommodating and as disrespectful as him. He should be taught proper courtesy, manners and respect especially to foreigners because he represents his country most of the time with his work. He is a shame to his country and its people who for the most part are very courteous, polite and helpful. In the end, he refused to do this simple task and I could not do anything anymore but to tell him to be more respectful to people the next time. I would give a negative 5...

From start to finish, my dining experience with Sho-San and Sora-San was truly memorable. The atmosphere of the restaurant was warm and inviting, creating the perfect setting for a special meal.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the Kobe beef. Sho-San and Sora-San showcased incredible skill in its preparation, paying close attention to every detail. Watching them at the teppanyaki station was a treat in itself—their precision and expertise were clear with every movement.

The Kobe beef was cooked to perfection, with a beautiful sear that brought out its rich, buttery flavor. Each bite was tender and full of depth, with just the right balance of seasoning to enhance the natural taste. The accompaniments were thoughtfully chosen, adding subtle but complementary flavors to the dish.

What made the evening even more special was the hospitality of Sho-San and Sora-San. They were approachable and engaging, sharing insights about the meal and ensuring every diner felt welcome. My child was especially delighted by the experience—watching the chefs in action was exciting, and the care they showed in explaining the dishes made it even more enjoyable for them. It’s rare to find a dining experience that impresses adults and children alike, but this one delivered.

Overall, this was a dining experience to remember. The combination of expertly prepared Kobe beef, the warm presence of Sho-San and Sora-San, and the joy it brought to my family made it truly...