Steak Iwasaki — Restaurant in Kobe

Wonderful lunch on a Friday (after)noon. We had reservations, but those weren't needed as we had the place to ourselves - private dining experience! The owner and his wife run a lovely restaurant (started only 1 year ago, so not many Google reviews yet, but it's truly a hidden gem, so get here fast before it gets too popular!).

The lunch set (we chose Kobe Beef 110g tenderloin) comes with many, many trimmings and side dishes - a full course meal worth the trip especially to Kobe. The meat was impeccably marbled and melt-in-the-mouth tender (almost no need to chew). The owner is kind, friendly, knowledgeable and will give tips on which condiments (salt/ponzu/wasabi/etc.) go well with which vegetables etc. Also recommend the garlic rice over white rice, watching the chef make it is already good, but the taste is also great!

Note: The red wine is served chilled so it's easier to drink (for Japanese?) at first, in amazing glasses. As it warms up, it unlocks more and more flavours to match the different courses, so it keeps surprising you.

When we told him this was our honeymoon, we got a special dessert with handwritten note. So sweet (literally and figuratively)!

The atmosphere is relaxed yet stylish, the service truly Japanese....

Following everyone else's reviews my partner and I chose this restaurant to try our first Kobe Beef experience.

We didn't have a reservation so we ended up outside just before they opened. The chef welcomed us at 5:30pm, and accommodated us so kindly.

We had the 100g sirloin and 130g tenderloin courses, which included a beautifully presented starter, a warming pumpkin soup, our chosen cuts of beef grilled on the teppanyaki, grilled seasonal vegetables, followed by garlic rice/ochazuke, coffee and dessert. We also ordered a separate Asahi beer and lemon sour.

The waitress and chef were so friendly and spoke a little English to us to explain to us what we were eating and what sauces to use with the beef and vegetables.

My partner and I spent over ¥16,000 each, and the whole experience was just under 2 and a half hours. It was absolutely fantastic and I would recommend this restaurant. It's tucked away a little, but don't be put off by location. It's just a lift ride up to the 2nd floor and to your left as soon as you step out.

Definitely make a reservation if you know you want to go. You won't be...

Absolutely Outstanding Experience!

We had an incredible dining experience at this steak restaurant. From the moment we walked in, the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. As foreigners, it can sometimes be intimidating to navigate a language barrier, but the team here completely erased that worry. Without us even asking, they kindly offered to use their phone to help translate, making communication seamless and stress-free.

What truly stood out was how they treated us — not as tourists, but just like everyone else. They were beyond kind, helpful, and genuinely warm throughout our entire meal. It felt like they genuinely cared about ensuring we had the best experience possible.

And, of course, the food was absolutely phenomenal. If you're looking for not only an amazing steak but also a place where you'll feel truly valued and welcomed, this is the spot. Highly recommend it to anyone...