If you’ve tried Kobe beef in the shabu-shabu style of cooking, then try teppanyaki next. Probably more commonly known outside of Japan than many other dishes, teppanyaki is food cooked on a large iron griddle (plate). The word comes from teppan, which means iron plate, and yaki, which usually means grilled.

Every food enthusiast will have different opinion, but I personally prefer teppanyaki grill restaurants, my top dinner experiences in Japan still being Ishida Honten in Kobe, Hafuu Honten in Kyoto and Ukai-tei Omotesando in Tokyo. However, I’d still recommend Shima as a great place to savor wagyu beef in Tokyo – with reasonable price, friendliest hospitality and great food it is very hard to beat.

Source: Photo by Flickr user City Foodsters used under CC BY 2.0. Cooking Kobe beef is not just a way of earning bread and butter for the makers but also a passion to make customers taste stunning steaks that are gladly remembered by the ones who eat it. The finger-licking good steaks as a grand course or lunch course with wine are quite famous in the vicinity.

Tokyo's legendary toufuya Ukai, which is located at the base of Tokyo Tower in Shiba Park, sets the record straight on how this misunderstood bean curd should be served. Among the recommended preparations of Ukai's tofu, which is prepared in-house with fresh spring water, is age-dengaku, wherein it is sliced, fried and then cooked over wood charcoal.

The romantic allure of Omotesando Ukai Tei springs from the deep vermillion walls, art nouveau fixtures, panoramic vistas and glorious teppanyaki menu. It is unique in design and execution which leads to many repeat visits. Expect exquisite Japanese Black beef, whether that’s cooked fresh in front of you in a private room or at a circular bar.

Dinner here does come at a cost, with prices ranging between £70 and £130. A lunch will set you back somewhere between £40 and £70 per person. But you will walk out having tasted the best steak of your life.

Ukai-Tei Omotesando: Located in a serene setting, this restaurant serves top-notch teppanyaki while overlooking a lush garden. The peaceful ambiance is a refreshing contrast to the city's pace.