Kobe Beef Yakiniku Okatora Sannomiya — Restaurant in Kobe

We got a set menu that we booked from tabelog. The set menu came with 90 minutes all you can drink which was a nice bonus and the food was incredible. The kimchi and side dishes were better than I expected and the beef that came with the meal were amazing. They do have an English menu if you are ordering a la carte but if you got the set menu, it's only in Japanese. If you booked on tabelog, remember to let them know once you get there because we forgot to and this caused some confusion on both ends. We were 5 minutes late because we were coming from Osaka and got a bit lost trying to find the restaurant so we were a little frazzled once we got there. We sat around for a bit before calling our server and it seems like they may have got us mixed up with a different reservation and by the time everything was figured out, we were 30 minutes or so into our reservation. Our server was very friendly and tried her best given the circumstances and language barrier. The only reason I took off a star is because of this other gentleman who worked there. He came by and asked us for a Google review in exchange for a free drink. We were planning to give it 5 stars anyway without accepting a drink since we had all you can drink, but we ordered 1 last drink before our time was up (we realized after we ordered, that we were close to the end of our time) and he came back telling us our service was up. Our server came and dropped off our drink anyway, which we appreciate because we weren't expecting it. However the mood and atmosphere had been a bit soured because we felt a bit rushed and unwelcomed at that point. I acknowledge that we were wrong for 1. being late and 2. not remembering to tell them about the type of reservation we had when we arrived I still strongly encourage anyone who is interested in this restaurant to give it a try because the food was amazing, decently priced and it was a nice experience (minus our little situation but I understand that we were also to blame and it's not easy for the servers given the language barrier. It could also very well be a "one off" type...

Firstly, I very rarely post negative reviews, but really felt like I had to on this occasion.

My partner and I have been in Japan for over a week now and during that time have tried some very nice Wagyu. I think we have eaten Wagyu around 10 times in total including before this trip. Granted, we have not tried the very best, 10,000 Yen plus cuts yet such as sirloin but, I think we have tried most of the rest. So, this meal marked something we were really looking forward to - Kobe Wagyu for the first time. Unfortunately, we were a little disappointed by the cuts given to us. We ordered three in total - Premium Kobe beef chuck rib, a flat one (forget the name), and the Superior Kobe beef loin, but we are fairly certain that for the Superior beef loin, what we were given was not that. If you look at the menu picture and compare it with what we were first given, there was barely any marbling, the meat was chewy and it was not melt in the mouth like so many other times we have tried Wagyu. When we asked the server if this was truly Wagyu loin, the chef quickly offered us a replacement of our order, that looked MUCH different to our original. You can see the difference between our original Superior Kobe beef loin order, and the new one in one of the pictures. As you can see, the marbling is better, and this time it did taste less chewy and more melt in the mouth (however, to be honest still not as good as some other places we have tried where it was all you can eat!). In the end, we left feeling a little disappointed, and I really hope that they got the order wrong and didn't try to trick us by giving us a lower quality cut. Other than that, the order process was easy, and they did manage to find a table for us without a reservation. Also, the cuts were fairly thick compared with others we have eaten. Hoping that our experience is...

A Life-Changing Yakiniku Experience at Kobe Beef Yakiniku Okatora Sannomiya!

We just had the most incredible dining experience of my life at Kobe Beef Yakiniku Okatora Sannomiya! This unassuming restaurant in the heart of Sannomiya is a MUST-VISIT for any meat lover, foodie, or anyone seeking a truly unforgettable culinary adventure.

Ambiance: 5/5 From the outside, Okatora might look like a humble, local eatery, but trust me, the moment you step inside, you'll be transported to a world of sophistication and elegance. The partitioned room, complete with a traditional charcoal grill counter, sets the tone for an exceptional dining experience.

Service: 5/5 The staff at Okatora are absolute professionals, providing attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely friendly service. Our server took the time to explain the different types of Kobe beef, offered expert grilling advice, and ensured our glasses were always full.

Food: 6/5 (yes, you read that right!) The Kobe beef at Okatora is, without a doubt, the most exquisite, melt-in-your-mouth, umami-rich culinary experience I've ever had. We opted for the ala carte Kobe beef selection which included an assortment of expertly selected cuts and the sizzling beef was cooked to perfection on the grill, with a beautiful char on the outside and a tender, juicy interior.

Value: 5/5 While Okatora might not be the cheapest yakiniku option in Kobe, trust me, the quality, service, and overall experience make it an absolute steal. You get what you pay for, and at Okatora, you're paying for a truly unforgettable culinary experience.

In short, Kobe Beef Yakiniku Okatora Sannomiya is a MUST-VISIT destination for anyone traveling to Kobe.

Reservations: A Must, especially on weekends or during peak...