Revisit 2022012 1. Purpose of the visit - This is my first time visiting Kyoto in three years since October 2019, so I plan to gather a wide range of information from long-established restaurants dating back to the Muromachi period to newly opened trendy restaurants in the 2020s. 2. Restaurant information - Genre on Tabelog: Steak, Hamburgers, Western cuisine - Established in 1976 - Owned and operated by Chef Yasuji Yamanaka, who honed his skills at a steakhouse known as the best in Shiga Prefecture. The restaurant is also referred to as the "Holy Land of Beef" by meat lovers in Kyoto. - Only serves premium Tajima beef, raised in the traditional safe breeding methods of the Suzuka Mountains in Gamou, Shiga Prefecture, without vitamin control. This beef is specifically raised by certain producers and is known as the genuine Omi beef. - Recipient of The Tabelog Award Bronze & Silver - Selected as one of the top 100 steak and teppanyaki restaurants on Tabelog - Opening hours: 11:30-14:00, 17:00-21:00 - Regular holidays: 2nd and 3rd Monday, Tuesday 3. Crowded conditions and atmosphere on the day of the visit - Made a reservation over a month in advance - Visited around 18:00 on Christmas, the restaurant was full - Despite being in business for over 40 years, the atmosphere is not particularly stylish but exudes a comfortable and clean ambiance. 4. Service - The staff provided efficient and thoughtful service, demonstrating a high level of customer care. 5. Order items - Draft beer (medium) 770 yen - Filet steak dinner 15,400 yen - Baked potato: ○○ - Cold pumpkin soup: ◎ - Green salad: ○○ - Premium filet steak: ◎◎ - Rice: ○ - Pickles: ○ - Black tea: ○ - Strawberry shortcake: ◎◎◎ 6. Summary - During my previous visit, the restaurant was unexpectedly empty due to the timing coinciding with the autumn leaves season. However, this time, the restaurant was full of regular customers enjoying a Christmas dinner. Although I ordered the special filet steak course, the neighboring table's appetizer of beef tongue and steak were incredibly flavorful and aged to perfection. It became clear why this restaurant is known as the "Holy Land of Beef" among meat lovers in Kyoto. I recommend following Chef Yamanaka's recommendations for the best dining experience. Thank you for the wonderful meal. [Pre. 05]

The restaurant is smoke-free with parking available. It is known for its steak, but this time I was aiming for the hamburger. I made a reservation to try the hamburger made with beef from Maruki Fukunaga Kisaburo Shoten, a farm that supplies the famous Fukunaga steak in Shiga Prefecture. The hamburger lunch costs 3080 yen. Unlike the Fukunaga hamburger, this one is in the shape of a donut with a soft-boiled egg in the center and demi-glace sauce on top. It is a firm and meaty hamburger, not the fluffy and juicy type, but still delicious. The beef sauté lunch costs the same and is like a good meat version of a typical yakiniku set meal. It is seasoned mostly with salt and pepper, with onions, shimeji mushrooms, and garlic added. It comes with garlic chips as well. The portion is generous, and my friend couldn't finish it all, so I helped out. Overall, we left feeling satisfied. The real highlight of this place is the steak at night, so I suggest evaluating the restaurant based on that rather than just the lunch service. Please consider this review as a reference only.

It was a very popular restaurant, so I couldn't make a reservation until now, but I was finally able to make a reservation for Wednesday at 1:15 pm for one person. The food was all amazing and I felt like I wanted to visit again! More than that, the atmosphere where you can enjoy your meal in a relaxed and friendly way was truly wonderful!

I enjoyed everything from the appetizers. This time, I ordered the fillet steak course and a hamburger as a single item. As expected, the meat was Omi beef! As a Shiga prefecture resident, my top recommendation is always Omi beef, and among the Omi beef I've had at restaurants in Shiga, this place is probably the best. The service was also pleasant, and I had a great time.

The restaurant, known as the "legend," is a must-visit for beef lovers. Despite the somewhat difficult access, you won't regret making the trip. Make sure to make a reservation in advance as the place tends to be fully booked. I visited on a weekday at 11:30 am with a reservation and was impressed by the delicious hamburg and steak lunches. The meat melts in your mouth without feeling heavy, and all the dishes, including the dessert, soup, and sauce, are incredibly tasty. I was especially amazed by the homemade pudding, which outshined any other I've had before. Despite some slight disappointment in the service, the attention to detail and care shown by the chef left me truly impressed. A must-visit spot in Kyoto that I will definitely return to in the future. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a power spot that will lift their spirits.

Since I started to make food walking my hobby, this restaurant has been a place of admiration for me. I miraculously managed to get a reservation on a Saturday and visited the restaurant. The phone response during the reservation was excellent, and I was really looking forward to it. The location is not exactly central, about a 15-minute walk from Katsura Station on the Hankyu Railway, so it's safe to say that reservations are essential. I was seated at the counter and when I looked at the menu, I wanted to try everything, but due to feeling unwell before my visit, I had to give up on the steak course and ordered the hamburger instead. Here is a breakdown of the Hamburger Lunch (3080 yen): - Baked Potato: Probably baked in foil in the oven. It was delicious on its own, and even better with butter. - Soup (Corn Potage): Not too rich or too sweet, just elegant. It served as a nice warm-up for the main course. - Salad: Consisted of various leafy vegetables with a delicious dressing. - Hamburger: A fluffy hamburger with an egg cooked in the center, served with a light sauce that complemented the meat perfectly. Mixing the remaining rice with the meat juices and sauce created a delicious TKG (Tamago Kake Gohan). - Iced Coffee: Served with gum syrup, and adding the rich cream offered by the owner made it even better. Overall, everything was incredibly delicious. However, I regret not being able to try the steak, so I hope to come back next time when I'm feeling better and try the filet steak.

I made a reservation for lunch and arrived at the restaurant around 11:30. Luckily, it wasn't too crowded with only about two other groups, so we were able to enjoy a leisurely meal. As soon as we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by the kind voice and smile of the owner's wife. The owner also came out from the kitchen to greet us, providing just the right amount of attentive service, making us feel comfortable. All three of us, including my companions, ordered the steak lunch set. To start, we were served steamed potatoes with butter. The potatoes were delicious on their own, with a hint of sweetness, but adding the butter brought out a rich flavor and aroma, elevating the dish. Next, we were served corn potage soup, which was refreshing and paired well with the warm weather outside. The salad that followed was made with fresh vegetables and a unique French dressing that had a slightly strong mustard flavor, giving it a refreshing twist. And then, the star of the show - the steak. The meat was incredibly tender, with no chewiness and a lingering sweetness. The quality of the meat was exceptional, and the chef's skill in preparing it was evident. The accompanying vegetables were also delicious, but the focus was definitely on the juicy, flavorful steak. For dessert, we were served homemade pudding by the owner's wife. It was just the right texture, not too soft or too firm, and the homemade caramel added a fresh, uncomplicated bitterness that complemented the pudding perfectly. All of this for only 7700 yen was a great deal. I look forward to returning for dinner next time, as I truly want to indulge in the amazing meat dishes at this restaurant. Thank you for a wonderful meal!

I finally visited this restaurant that I had been looking forward to for a long time. Since I was here, I decided to order both the fillet and sirloin steaks! I also got the cutlet and hamburger. I ate the jakabata butter and salad, drank wine, and eagerly waited for the food to arrive. When the Omi beef arrived, I started with the fillet... Oh, it's lukewarm? The meat is sweet and delicious, but the seasoning is a bit lacking, leaving me somewhat unsatisfied. I regained my excitement and tried the sirloin. It had a strong flavor that didn't lose to the sweetness of the fat, and it was delicious, with a nice char on it! My spirits lifted. With that momentum, I took a bite of the cutlet and was surprised - it was so salty! The seasoning was way too strong!! I could barely tolerate it because I was eating it alone, but it didn't match at all with the demi-glace sauce. Cutlets are one of my favorite foods, so my mood plummeted all at once. And even the last hamburger didn't lift my spirits... Maybe I had set my expectations too high, but it was a bit... disappointing.

This day was the Friday before a three-day weekend. I took the day off and visited the lively Kyoto on the day of the Gion Festival's Yoiyoiyama. I had arranged a food tour in Kyoto with the Itsu-Men team when I visited Yagi-san that night and the next day at noon. Since I was in Kyoto, I thought I should enjoy lunch there as well. I was debating between going to Hohei-san or having Japanese cuisine, but then suddenly I felt like visiting the holy land of meat after a long time, so I quickly made a reservation! It was about a week before, but even though it was the day of the Gion Festival's Yoiyoiyama, I was able to easily make a reservation since it was a weekday afternoon. I got off the Shinkansen at Kyoto Station and immediately transferred to a bus. I took the bus from platform C2 to Katsura-saka 21, got off at Goryomachi, and walked for about 5 minutes to Kuishinbo Yamataka-san! I was seated at the counter and looked at the menu. I ordered the Hamburg lunch with the cold consommé soup instead of the potage soup, and also ordered the 120g special fillet steak separately! It was quite a luxurious meal for lunch, but since I was there, why not... I've been regretting not ordering the buttered potatoes last time, so I was glad to see them arrive promptly. They were sweet and fluffy, with a good aroma. They were made with Baron potatoes from Mikatahara, Shizuoka. The cold consommé soup was visually stunning... the color and transparency were captivating! When I took a spoonful into my mouth, I was amazed by the delicious taste! It had a gentle texture and flavor, with a distinct beef aroma... it smoothly blended into my body. It was an impressively made consommé soup! You must try it if you come here! The 120g special fillet steak was beautifully cut and had a nice color. I ordered it cooked medium rare. As soon as it was served, a fragrant beef aroma filled the air! It was delicious even before I tasted it! I tried it as it was first. Oh, I wanted to chew on it forever... the beef had a good aroma, it was sweet, and delicious... the pleasure of swallowing it was overwhelming. I enjoyed it with salt, garlic chips, and mustard. The last bite... fleeting... but I thoroughly enjoyed it! The hamburger steak had a good bounce when I cut into it with a spoon, but when I tasted it, I was surprised by its moderate tenderness. It was a meticulously made hamburger steak, incredibly delicious. I would recommend it as "One of the most delicious hamburger steaks in Japan!" I was recommended to mix the remaining 1/4 with the rice on the plate. Oh yes, I remember doing that last time! It was amazing until the end! It had been about two years since I last visited, but the holy land of meat was still amazing! I hope to find another opportunity to visit again. Thank you for the meal!

I visited for dinner. I made a reservation beforehand, but it was a private booking on this day. I was welcomed warmly, which already won me over. I ordered the Filet Steak Dinner, which included Potato Butter, Chilled Soup, Green Salad, the main Filet Steak, and Coffee. The other meat in the photo is from the Japanese-style Steak Course. I had the Potato Butter, Chilled Soup, and Salad first, which were delicious and built up my anticipation for the main course. Now, the much-awaited Filet Steak was simply amazing. It was so delicious that it completely changed my concept of steak. I ordered it medium rare, and it was cooked perfectly. The meat was so tender that it seemed to melt in my mouth. At first, I tried it without any condiments, and it was so good that I could have eaten it just like that. However, I also tried it with mustard, garlic chips, and salt, which added to the enjoyment. It made me realize once again how delicious Japanese beef can be. They source female cows from Tajima (Ohmi beef), and Mr. Yamanaka raises them to the highest quality, resulting in the best beef. From sourcing to raising, they provide the best beef, and as a customer, I am truly grateful. I had a pleasant conversation with Mr. Yamanaka, and it was very enjoyable. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

This weekend, I went back to Kyoto for a visit. First, I went on a bit of a detour to the famous Omi beef steak restaurant, Kuishinbo Yamnaka in Katsura, to satisfy my hunger. I chose the popular hamburger course from the lunch menu. The medium rare ground beef melted in my mouth, with the rich taste of meat juice, strong red wine demi-glace sauce, and soft-boiled egg creating a luxurious aftertaste. The owner chef, Yamnaka, recommended mixing the leftover sauce with white rice and condiments for a delicious treat. Even the post-meal iced coffee was superb. #KyotoGourmet #KyotoLunch #KyotoBeefDishes #Steakhouse #KuishinboYamnaka #TabelogBronze2023 #TabelogRating428 #FirstVisit #LongEstablishedRestaurant #PopularSpot #HouseRestaurant #HamburgerLunch #OmiBeefHamburger #BakedPotato #CornSoup #Salad #Rice #IcedCoffee #Delicious #WantToConnectWithFoodies #WantToConnectWithBeefLovers #WantToConnectWithHamburgerLovers

[Visit Date] August 4, 2023 (Friday) 11:30 Reserved [Menu] Steak Lunch (7700 yen) [Impressions] - Very delicious steak lunch with rich oil flavor - The pudding, coffee, and other items showed attention to detail, making the dining experience enjoyable.

I visited Kuishinbo Yamanaka in Katsura, Kyoto, which is a bit far from the city center but I had always wanted to visit. I took bus number 69 from JR Nijo Station to JR Katsura Station, and the restaurant is right in front of the Tsukimigaoka bus stop. I paid the regular fare of 270 yen as it was not covered by the one-day bus pass. I had heard about their hamburg steak on TV, but since I couldn't visit often, I decided to try their steak instead. I made a reservation a couple of days in advance for the steak lunch (7,700 yen) and a house wine (880 yen) on the day of my visit. It had been a while since I could choose the doneness of my steak, and I asked for it to be cooked medium. The quality of the meat was excellent, and the portion was generous. The meat was initially tender and flavorful with a good amount of fat, but towards the end, the fattiness became a bit overwhelming. I made the mistake of eating the rice too quickly, so when I was halfway through the meat, I had finished all the rice. I probably could have asked for more rice, but I didn't want to bother and I didn't want to leave any meat behind, so the second half became a bit of a challenge. For dessert, I had a firm pudding and a piece of chocolate, both of which were delicious. This restaurant is listed as one of the top 100 steak and teppanyaki restaurants on Tabelog.

I went to "Kuishinbo Yamnaka" in Kyoto, which is known for its steak. I was torn between choosing lunch from the menu, but I ended up ordering the fillet steak. First, I had some buttered potatoes, followed by soup and salad. Then came the steak. Both the fillet and the sirloin were incredibly juicy and perfectly cooked. The meat was so tender and flavorful. The portion was generous, and I started feeling full towards the end, but I was glad to have enjoyed delicious steak during the daytime. Thank you for the meal.

A steak restaurant in Kyoto. It is a very popular place even though it is not easily accessible, about a 15-minute walk from Katsura Station. We took a taxi from Kyoto Station to get there. We visited on a weekday for lunch. We made a reservation about a week in advance. The counter seats were full, so we sat at a table. They had a lunch course available, but it only had teppanyaki steak, so we ordered from the dinner course menu. We ordered the sirloin and fillet to share between two people. We started with garlic butter. They presented the raw meat before cooking it. The meat looked beautiful! We had soup, salad, and then the main meat dishes. Even though the meat was already cut into bite-sized pieces, there was no juice coming out. The way they cooked and cut the meat was genius. I thought this might be the reason why this place is so popular. The taste was incomparable to any steak I've had before, and I was impressed the whole time. Towards the end, it got a bit too fatty, but we finished it all. This is a steak that I want to eat no matter how old I get. Items we ordered that day: - Sirloin Steak Dinner ¥13200 - Fillet Steak Dinner ¥15400

Starting with a course of foil-wrapped potatoes. The fluffy potatoes with flavorful butter, and optional salt. The katsu sandwich was delicious when I took it to go last time, so I had it fresh today... The crispy outer layer and crunchy inside of the bread with the katsu sandwiched in between, freshly made is truly exceptional. The consomme soup to soothe the heat of the day... like a drinkable IV. The fillet mignon and sirloin were delicious as expected. The sirloin had a noticeable amount of fat but wasn't heavy. The garlic rice was surprisingly light but packed with flavor... could eat it all day. For dessert, there were cherries, two types of sorbet, and melon cake. It might sound heavy just reading the names, but it's actually light and satisfying in the stomach. The chef's stories were very interesting and thought-provoking.

I visited this restaurant for dinner on the second day of a Kyoto trip with my high school friends. I really liked the atmosphere of the restaurant and the kindness of the staff. When the four of us tried to order two courses of sirloin and fillet each, they kindly divided the sirloin and fillet for us into a custom course. The steak was cooked perfectly to bring out the flavor of the meat, and we enjoyed a satisfying meal. Although the restaurant is a bit hard to find, I would definitely like to visit again. It's a highly recommended place.

This is a steak restaurant located near Katsuragai Station in Goryomizora-cho. The owner, Mr. Yamanaka, selects healthy Omi beef using his discerning eye, separate from the brand or grade of the meat, with the motto of "serving meat that he finds delicious." They offer a wide range of high-quality steaks and hamburgers at reasonable prices for lunch and dinner. Despite its inconvenient location, it is a popular restaurant that attracts customers from afar. It opened in 1976 (Showa 51). It is located about a 13-minute walk from the west exit of Katsuragai Station. You can find it by walking straight on the street in front of the station, turning left or right at the T-junction, and then going back to the wide street (Momonoki Street) (in line with the road you came from). There is a parking lot in front of the restaurant, and the exterior is a white building resembling a family restaurant. An illustration of customers enjoying steak across the table is a landmark on the building. It is about a 30-minute drive from Kyoto Station. I visited during lunchtime. I made a reservation about a week in advance just to be safe. On the day of the visit, there was only one other group of customers, as it was a weekday and late in the day, so it was not crowded. The interior of the restaurant is spacious, with a cabin-like design dominated by wood. There are counter seats in front of the first floor, table seats by the window, and table seats on the second floor. I was guided to the counter seat and seated. The red checkered mat was lovely. The restaurant is run by Mr. and Mrs. Yamanaka and a few staff members. The service was friendly and attentive. The lunch menu includes the following items (prices include tax): - Japanese-style steak lunch (7,700 yen) - Hamburger lunch (3,080 yen) - Beef sauté lunch (3,080 yen) - A lunch (currently on hold) - B lunch (1,980 yen) - Special selection Omi beef beef curry limited to 10 servings (1,050 yen) (lunch is cash only). I ordered the following: - Japanese-style steak lunch (7,700 yen) - Baked potato with butter. The potato baked in foil was hot and fluffy. When topped with butter, it melted quickly and tasted great. It was simple and delicious. Mr. Yamanaka showed me the meat before cooking, which was a beautifully red 150g fillet. I left the cooking method up to him (although he asked). I chatted with Mr. Yamanaka for a while. - Soup: Warm corn potage. It had a rich and comforting taste. - Green salad: Lettuce, purple cabbage, carrots. The homemade dressing was delicious. - Special teriyaki steak (150g): Served on a large square plate as a service. It was cooked to medium-rare. The meat was beautifully seared on the surface, leaving a hint of redness. It was cut into easy-to-eat cubes, so I could eat it with chopsticks. The teriyaki sauce was delicious, and the mustard went well with it. The side dishes included garlic chips, green beans, corn, sprouts, and pumpkin. Let's dig in! The meat was flavorful and tender, with a light and refreshing taste due to the low fat content. The teriyaki sauce was delicious, and the rice was very satisfying. The garlic chips and mustard also paired well. The portion was just right, and I could have probably eaten 200g. - Rice: I asked for a smaller portion, but the sauce was so tasty that I couldn't stop eating. - Pickles: Pickled Chinese cabbage and carrots. It had a refreshing taste. - Hojicha: A palate cleanser. - Chef's special dessert: Custard pudding, fruit cake, whipped cream, and mint. The caramel sauce was slightly bitter, which I liked. - Coffee. I spent about 55 minutes there. The atmosphere was great, and I had a pleasant time chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Yamanaka and the staff. The steak was delicious as expected, and I didn't feel heavy at all. I had a good impression, so I would like to make another visit despite the slightly inconvenient location. *** Health-conscious Omi beef is sourced from the "Maruki Fukunaga Kizaburo Shoten" in Shiga Prefecture, which uses only "purebred Tanba Omi beef" that is not available on the market. The "purebred Tanba Omi beef" is raised using a natural breeding method that includes grazing.

A steak restaurant in Kyoto, ranked number one on Tabelog with a rating of 4.26, located slightly outside the city center in Katsura. Despite being relatively close, it was a place I had been avoiding due to its reputation as a top-tier restaurant. However, when I finally decided to go, it did not disappoint. Not only was the steak delicious, but the way they cooked the vegetables showed great skill. They managed to bring out the sweetness without sacrificing the flavor. Located in Nishikyo Ward in Kyoto, this meat restaurant is about a 12-13 minute walk from Hankyu Katsura Station. It is situated along Monju Street, just south of the busy Chiyohara-guchi intersection. The restaurant has ample parking space, making it convenient for diners. It is advisable to make a reservation in advance, as being turned away here would make finding another restaurant quite difficult. It would probably end up being a chain restaurant like Saizeriya. I visited with a friend and we debated between the steak lunch (7700 yen) and the hamburger lunch (3000 yen). Ultimately, we both decided on the steak lunch and shared a hamburger as well. They showed us the meat before cooking and confirmed the doneness. We requested medium rare. The restaurant chooses between fillet or sirloin for you, and based on the marbling, it seemed to be sirloin. It was cooked to a perfect tenderness. We started with buttered potatoes, followed by corn soup. Although these were basic dishes, they were delicious without any flaws. The salad dressing and the way the onions were cut were just right. Now, onto the steak. It was served with teriyaki sauce, with a side of vegetables at the back of the plate. The pumpkin was surprisingly sweet. The way it was peeled and cooked showed attention to detail. The green beans were also sweet, with a hint of earthiness from the pod's flavor. The meat was tender, oozing with juices. You could enjoy it by mixing it with the sweet sauce or adding garlic on top. There was also a side of mustard, which seemed to be Japanese mustard to complement the teriyaki sauce. Wasabi would probably go well with it too. The balance between the seared surface and the pink interior was perfect. The hamburger was served a bit later. They provided a separate plate for sharing. The ground meat was quite coarse. The strong meaty flavor and texture were impressive, surpassing even the steak in terms of intensity. The owner was overheard telling another customer, "Providing delicious food at a high price is a given. We must offer something more than that at a reasonable price..." The 7700 yen steak lunch is not cheap, but there are plenty of more expensive restaurants out there. Despite that, they have confidence that they are not compromising on quality. Trying other dishes besides the steak allowed me to appreciate the skill of the chefs even more. Despite some skepticism due to the overwhelmingly positive reviews, I was convinced that good food speaks for itself after dining here.

Kui Shinbo Yamnaka, a 15-minute walk from Kei Station, offered a Japanese-style steak lunch for ¥7700. The meal included: - Soup (favorite) - Special teriyaki steak - Green salad - Rice (favorite) - Chef's special dessert - Coffee We started with a half bottle of wine and the service was very polite, addressing us by our reservation name. We were served with baked potatoes and butter, followed by corn soup. The highlight was the recommended medium rare steak, perfectly cooked. The dessert included pudding and cake, and we could choose between coffee or tea. Overall, it was a great experience at this legendary steak restaurant. We were able to make a reservation about a month in advance for a weekday visit, and the restaurant was fully booked. We hope to visit again and try the counter seats next time.

I visited Kyoto Katsura, a steak restaurant ranked as a Bronze on Tabelog, with the foodie Yamazaki-san. We went for lunch on a weekday. The lunch was relatively quiet, but the tables were almost full. It's popular even on weekdays. The appetizer was buttered potatoes, giving off a nostalgic vibe, a delightful hors d'oeuvre. The potage was as expected, with a rich corn flavor. The steak was cooked right in front of us at the counter. The sauce was a soy-based Japanese style, with a smooth finish. The dessert was a traditional pudding, firm and comforting in taste. It was a truly enjoyable experience. Thank you for the meal.