For guaranteed deliciousness, head to a registered Kōbe beef restaurant such as Misono, which invented the Japanese teppanyaki steak (Kobe Beef set-meal upwards of ¥23,000).

Misono: Established in Kobe in 1945 this popular Kobe beef restaurant claims to be the world’s first teppanyaki restaurant. The original owner, Shigeji Fujioka, opened an okonomiyaki restaurant after WWII ended and started serving Tajima steak. It became so popular he decided to focus on providing customers with high-quality beef and coined the term teppanyaki.

Misono (みその) was founded in 1945 as a Teppanyaki style steak restaurant that serves the finest quality Kobe Beef. Since the establishment Misono has always put their focus on creating healthy and delicious Wagyu dishes. That means Misono never rely on chemical seasonings so that they can maximize the natural flavor of the ingredients they use.

They are, more or less, the creators of teppanyaki - or cooking on a hot plate in front of the customer. In other words, Misono is the benchmark when it comes to Kobe beef restaurants. This chic establishment offers a true dining experience, to try at least once in your life, with top-quality food and service.

My first experience with Kobe beef, I’m embarrassed to say, was not actually in Kobe. Rather, it was in Tokyo’s Ginza district, where Kobe outpost Misono once had a shop.