Wakkoqu — Restaurant in Kobe

Hubby and I booked this restaurant for dinner when we were visiting Kobe earlier in Feb. We were looking forward to this meal as we heard Kobe beef is rather well-known and premium. But we were disappointed.

We pre-ordered 2 portions of their Specially Selected Kobe Beef and topped up for a finale garlic fried rice. And also cold sake to go with the beef. We were seated at a table with U-setting with a family of 2 young kids and 2 ladies whom I think they both were friends. The chef serving us was very inexperienced. He sliced several times at one area just to slice thru a small portion of that raw beef, his knife needs sharpening or his cutting skill needs improvment. And I didn't like the way he placed the sliced meat touching that white rag on the teppanyaki surface. So unhygienic! The way he sprinkled salt while cooking the beef was unacceptable - sprinkling over his fingers! How clean are they? I respect Japanese chefs a lot but this is such a disgrace to their name. And this chef just couldn't manage his time, he couldn't cope serving 3 families of us. This resulted in our finale dish - the fried rice tasted horrible due to the overcooked/burnt Kobe beef and rice. The disposable chopsticks had angled edges (squarish in cross-section), using them weren't comfy at all.

Besides that, our winter jackets were asked to be hung near our table, but there were still space available at the cloak tree at the entrance. Of course, hanging near the hotplate table would just let your jackets absorb the oil and BBQ smell into them, how annoying is that! No refreshing spray was offered when we were about to leave.

In all, this was our first time in Kobe and also a very unpleasant experience for us. Never to visit this restaurant again. The chef just spoilt the taste and experience for such premium beef selection. Hope you'll have an experienced chef to serve you if you ever choose...

Our first experience in Kobe for the beef. We arrived early to get a spot for lunch on a weekday. There was really only two other couples waiting as well. When the doors opened, the first couple were asked if they had reservations. They didn't and they were asked to put their names down and come back in 45 mins. Thinking that we would suffer the same fate as them since we were right behind them also without reservations we were pleasantly surprised when another staff member came up to look at the reservation list and allowed us to be seated right away. Lucky and good looks...maybe?

Lunch menu was simple as they offer three options set course meals, one Kobe beef and two non-Kobe with soup, salad, coffee & dessert. Kobe beef option...duh!

We were shown the beef as they serve it in lunch portions of 150g but as a couple they just gave us a 300g cut. The cut was beautiful with its marble yet I felt there was a good portion of just fat too. Obviously this adds to the weight of the cut.

We're from Alberta, Canada so I think we know beef since AAA Alberta beef is our pride and joy.

The chef recommended medium well as we went with it. The service and staff were great and made efforts to chat in some english.

Kobe beef wins in my mind compared to Alberta beef but I'll let the food do the talking when you try it.

Overall, good experience, pricey as expected for Kobe beef. Don't expect fast service since they only have a certain number of cooks and grills. It took about 45 mins for them in total to seat, cook and service the full course meal. Suggest reservations (can do online).

FYI - They add a 10% service charge on their bills. Not sure if it's tip...

This is a good entry level Kobe steakhouse...if you go during lunchtime.

Hidden away in a food court near Shin-Kobe station, it's a cozy but well designed little restaurant where the speciality is - obviously - Kobe beef. The main reason people (tourists, not locals) go here would be the lunchtime special, where you can get a smaller (but still fillig) portion of Kobe with sides for about $50-60, as oppposed to the $150-300 you'd pay for a full set or standard dinner time price.

The booking was a bit weird, I tried booking through our hotel (Swissotel in Osaka), and they advised they were completely booked out for lunch. Undetered, our party went to Kobe by bullet train, about 20 mins from Shin-Osaka station, and reached the restaurant at opening time. We specified we didnt have a reservation, but they sat us down anyway.

After eating there for 2 hours, with the restaurant only half full at best (less IMO), I'm not sure why they claimed they were booked out and couldn't make reservations for that lunch.

Anyway onto the food. I've eaten at a high end Japanese steakhouse in Tokyo, and the Kobe was on par in price (did not go for the cheap set), but significantly lower in quality. Don't get me wrong, it was a decadent, almost sickenly rich experience, but I've had better elsewhere.

I would probably only recommend this place if you're going for the cheap budget lunch set, otherwise I'm sure there are plenty of better value for money Kobe places (which still...