Steakland Kobe-kan

TL;DR: If you have allergies or sensitivities, be cautious as they do not adhere to any standards for accommodating such needs.

I informed the only English-speaking staff member that I’m lactose intolerant. He assured me that he would notify the cooks, and they would prepare my portion without butter before starting on my party’s meal. He spoke to the staff, and they supposedly understood. However, when they started cooking, the chef dropped a dollop of butter on the grill. I stopped them and asked the English-speaking waiter to help translate. The cook realized his mistake, disposed of the butter, and wiped the grill with a clean towel. Honest mistake, no problem. He then cooked the veggies. Next, he placed another dollop of butter on the grill. Again, I had to stop him to clarify. The same thing happened, and the English-speaking waiter had to translate. The cook wiped the grill with the same towel and cooked the other veggies. The next cook, responsible for my steak, used the same utensils. I didn’t realize the cross-contamination until I tasted it and noticed a faint butter flavor. I informed the staff again, asking them to ensure no more mistakes. The cook told the next cook, a younger one, responsible for the bok choy and bean sprouts. The young cook started to portion out the veggies and was about to add butter when I stopped him. I was flabbergasted. At this point, I had to speak up and say stop everything. After a few back-and-forth translations, he finally cooked it the right way. However, I ended up giving the veggies to my partner due to the risk of cross-contamination.

The meal was mediocre, and with all the issues I encountered, I would not recommend this place. That night, I ended up in the toilet. I should have been more attentive, but I didn’t expect them to take allergies and sensitivities so lightly.