Mikaku Beef Restaurant

Enjoy authentic Japanese beef in Gion

Takako Sakamoto May 20, 2014 - ใช้เวลาอ่าน 2 นาที

Chef's inside the counter in motion, frying something for customers

Inside 'Beef MIKAKU'. Looks nice and a western couple was enjoying the perfect view from the window

What he was cooking turned out to be...garlic rice?!

Windows overlooking Shirakawa River...how romantic!

There was a few western couples enjoying grilled Japanese beef here

Mr. Kenji Mita, the owner chef, says, "Japanese authentic beef (wagyu) and overseas WAGYU taste completely different". Also, in his restaurant, they don't use a beef slicer but slice/cut beef only by cleaver in order not to damage fiber...what virtuosity!

The restaurant's name, MIKAKU, written in Chinese on Noren. MIKAKU means taste buds

Cow painting hanging on the wall at the entrance, this must be female!

Entrance of 'Beef MIKAKU', this time written in Japanese Hiragana

Stylish red noren curtain of 'Beef MIKAKU'

Bronze ornament in front of 'Beef MIKAKU'

Restaurant 'Beef MIKAKU' and 'MIKAKU 2nd' viewed from the street. A young couple is looking up at the building trying to decide whether to go in or not...

When I was strolling around the streets along Shirakawa River in Kyoto, a stylish restaurant lit-up by warm light caught my eye. I jumped into the place (MIKAKU 2nd) and had western dinner there. When I asked for permission of taking photos of the place the owner showed me his other restaurant in the same building, which turned out to be a place where they serve only select authentic Japanese Beef cuisine.

When I asked, 'Oh, is this wagyu?', the owner said, 'No, it's Japanese beef, 和牛 (wagyu), but not wagyu, which is bred overseas'. According to the head chef/owner, in his restaurant only female beef which is bred in Mita city, Hyogo prefecture, is served, and there is a big difference in taste between Japanese authentic beef (wagyu) and overseas wagyu.

If you'd like to check out the difference, please go visit Beef Mikaku in Gion, Kyoto and try it out! The steak course dinner is from 10,000 yen to 22,000 yen. English menu available.

Takako Sakamoto @takako.sakamoto

I was born in and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, and have lived in many places since then: Nishinomiya, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Fukuoka and Fukui. I am currently living in Yokohama City. All the places I lived, all the places I visited, I have loved dearly. The histor...