Steak Otsuka

Woah. I’ve learnt that if Emily C gives a place 5 stars then it’s going to be good, so I took her recommendation and went here for lunch. We were able to make a reservation on their website although during the busier months of the year (March-​early May) they don’t take reservations. They also open only at lunch times (11am-​3pm) and are out in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto which was about 30 minutes away on the train. The Arashiyama area is absolutely beautiful so make the most of heading out that way and spend the afternoon there.
Anyway, onto Steak Otsuka. The location is strange, down a residential street. You’ll see people sitting outside waiting to get in. If you don’t have a reservation, add your name to the list and join them. Otherwise, saunter in the door like a rock star and wait to be seated.
There’s two seating areas. We weren’t asked which we wanted when we booked, but I think they keep the tables on the floor for groups larger than two. We were seated at the bar area which was great as there was so much to watch.
We ordered a steak each — Wagyu Grade A5, 150g for Y4900 (£32) and Murasawa Grade A5, 150g for Y5900 (£39). The steaks are presented on a hot plate with potatoes, corn and broccoli and you get a side of rice and salad, as well as steak sauce all included in the price. They have other things on the menu. You don’t want those things. Get the most expensive steak. You only live once.
When the food arrived we were both silent and in awe. I won’t lie, I was a little nervous — I’d read that it was *very* rich and buttery, and it’s obviously quite «fatty» meat. But after one bite I was in heaven. Seriously — this is unlike any steak I’ve ever had before and actually, it wasn’t like steak really. It was like soft buttery steaky heaven. It actually does melt in your mouth and you really don’t need to chew much — it is so flavoursome and rich, and just delicious. I tried both steaks and the Murasawa was definitely better. The sauce was lush and it’s the kind of meal you really take your time with because you never want it to end, and because the whole experience is so special.
We had Wagyu again later in our trip in Tokyo, and while it was good (and way more expensive), it wasn’t quite as good as here. Service was friendly, the décor is lovely and we had a great time. Go here. It’s just like being in heaven.
Notes:
— They have wifi
— You can pay by credit card
— There’s only one toilet, right by the door
— If you sit at the tables in the main part on the door, you need to take off your shoes so wear nice socks. At the bar, you can keep your shoes on.
— Dress code is casual.

Best beef we had in Japan. The Murasawa A5 is melt-​in-​your-​mouth tender & out of this world flavorful. Went with another couple & each couple got their own Murasawa A5 set. We also had the A4 sirloin to share. It was also better than anything in the states, but could not hold a candle to the Murasawa.
We also tried the short rib-​don and they were a great accompaniment.
Overall, it was a pricey meal but SO worth it. I’ve never had beef that good in my entire life and I still dream about it!

It’s a must-​go if you’re in the Arashiyama area. The actual store is very small and hidden in a quiet neighborhood, but there is a sign at the intersection so it’s not very hard to find.
The wait time isn’t that long either (less than 20 minutes after noon for 2 people) but you can make a reservation to be safe.
The menu is pretty straightforward; ranging from around 2000 to 5900 yen. If you have the money to splurge, definitely try the Murasawa or Wagyu steaks. Both were incredibly tender but the Wagyu steak had a little more fat content and is 1000 yen cheaper. Haven’t tried anything else on the menu yet but I would definitely go back if I had the chance.

I had the sizzling 150g Murasawa Sirloin Steak. I think the best way for me to describe it is that it tasted like the essence of fresh steak without me adding any salt or seasoning.
The steak sauce seen in the foreground of the attached video should be an afterthought in my opinion.
The greasy look is due to the fatty marbling. Mouthfeel is very unique compared to US steaks — this steak is initially greasy with increased density as one bites into it yet not at all tough or chewy.
5,900 Yen/​$ 55 USD as of 5÷17÷16.
Highly recommended if visiting Arachiyama for the day.

I first read about this place on trip advisor and read all the good reviews. Decided to check Unilocal and saw a perfect five stars, so made it a must eat on my recent trip to Japan. Finding it on google maps was easy. You may feel lost because you’re in a very quaint and pretty residential neighborhood but keep following. Otsuka is literally inside a home. It’s amazing they serve one of the best steaks you’ll ever eat.
I was with one friend and we arrived about 1110 am and the only other people waiting were two women. However, inside the restaurant was already filled. There’s a list up front so don’t forget to put your name because soon after, the waiting area i.e. the garage filled quickly. We got seated at 1145. We both ordered the A5, the one below the Murasawa. It was tender and rich and just perfect. It would have been nice to compare with the A4 or even the Murasawa but there’s always next time. We also got a side order of beef tendon which was delicious.
Staff was friendly and service efficient. And they take CC now. Definitely would return.

No reservations at this little lunch spot out at Arashiyama just west of Kyoto during the spring Hanami season. Otsuka serves the mythical A5 grade Murasawa beef served on a hot skillet. It’s the closest thing to butter on four legs and literally melts in your mouth. It’s worth the wait and it’s not as wallet-​breaking expensive as it would be if it were in the states. If you’re out in the area and into red meats, it’s worth checking out. The other items on the menu are great too but don’t come all the way out here and not order the Murasawa. And no, they don’t ask you how you’d like your meat cooked.

I LOVE steak. Seriously. LOVE it. But in hearing about Kobe /​Wagyu steak, the thought did occur to me — how good could it actually be? Don’t get me wrong I know the difference between a mediocre steak and a good steak and a great steak, but steak can only be SO good, right? Wrong. Sooo wrong. This is a whole other level. Like, it actually melts in your mouth. You barely need to chew. I’m home in Ireland now and I’m still thinking about it.
Go here. Get the steak. And make sure it’s the A5. If you’re going, go all out. Get the best steak in the best steak restaurant in the best country for steak (sorry Argentina) in the world.

Fate brought me here. I was scouring the TripAdvisor page for top restaurants and briefly saw the name since it was nearby where I was heading to that Tuesday. On the way to the JR subway station, I spotted the sign and proceeded to follow the arrow. I got here 10 min before it opened and was able to snag a seat. Lunch here on a weekday is actually not crowded even though you still had to put your name on the list. I got Set A4 since everyone seems to think it’s worth ordering and, OH MAN. It was the best meal of my stay. Hands down, the beef was tender yet it still had some texture. I’ve never really had more than a piece of Wagyu (that sh*t’s expensive in NYC) and was completely blown away by how delicious and affordable the meal was.
Please note that the restaurant is closed on Thursdays. To the couple that walked from the restaurant telling me Otsuka was closed… you guys should’ve waited for 10 more minutes.

I have read reviews about this place both here on Unilocal and trip advisor. So glad that we were seated right away when we came because we were starving! (Just finished the monkey park hike)
So I wasn’t thinking clearly because I ordered the A4. BF ordered the A5 murasawa. He actually questioned my order. He said we’re on vacation so order the best thing on the menu.
I’m not a big fan of mostly red steak. I like it medium well and since I know I can’t alter how they cook it, I didn’t want to waste money, just in case I end up not eating it.
Well that plan back fired. The steak was delicious! it literally melts in your mouth and It made me forget how red my steak was! I had a piece of the A5 and that was even better than mine. Now I wish I had gotten that instead! It does come as a set lunch so we had rice, veggies and salad with it. Definitely plenty of food to fill you up!

I decided to go here based on TripAdvisor placing this spot as number 1. Really good steak, best softest ever and it melt you your mouth. The price compared to US is pretty reasonable and will definitely come back here if I ever visit Japan again. It is truly an experience.

Steak for lunch? Sure! Why not! We’re on vacation anyways!
My boyfriend and I were determined to get some A5 wagyu beef while visiting Japan so he went online and did a search. He found Otsuka.
Otsuka is not a fancy place. It is also not an expensive place. Well, I suppose it’s considered expensive for lunch depending on what you order. When we went for lunch, we decided to go early. We got there a little bit before they opened and there was already a small line waiting outside the restaurant. Once they opened, we filed into the restaurant slowly.
There were a good amount of options that you can choose from. Also, no worries. They have the whole menu in English despite the establishment resembling a hole in the wall.
I decided to go with the Murasawa Sirloin Steak for 5,900 yen (roughtly USD $ 49) and my boyfriend went for the Wagyu Sirloin Steak for 4,900 yen (roughly USD $ 41). Compared to anything we can get in the US, this is incredibly cheap.
One bite had us going to heaven. The meat was so marbled that it just melts in your mouth. The flavor and the aroma is just so beautiful and it makes me drool just thinking about it. In fact, sometimes I dream about it. What if the meat gets too fatty for you? No worries. They give you some corn, some veggies, some salad, and some rice to go with your meal!
But honestly, the fat is a little bit too much for those who aren’t used to it. Even if the steak was 150g, which seems so small, the fat is just overwhelming. I was only able to finish half of my steak … so for those who can’t eat too much fat, I would probably suggest ordering something that is not A5 wagyu. I’m sure the A3 would do just as fine. Either that or share an A5 dish with someone while you’re here.
Otsuka is a definite must if you are in the area and even if you are not, come here anyways. It may be a bit pricey for lunch but it’s way better than the price you pay for dinner.
PS: Cash only.

Steak for lunch! This was the tastiest meat I’ve ever had. My girlfriend and I had both the A5 wagyu selections. This is an unbelievable price for A5 and the relatively casual lunch setting makes you feel at ease. There isn’t anything extraneous here — it’s totally about the beef.
Even now I drool thinking back the richness and tenderness of the meat. In all seriousness, this is totally worth going out of the way for.

Oh Otsuka, Oh!
I risk ruining my laptop as I practically drool over the keys re-​living the dining experience here at Otsuka.
Lots of Americans get excited to eat great quality beef. In fact, some menus in the US have the audacity to claim they sell real Wagyu beef when they in fact do not. And well, since I was in Japan to eat and drink myself silly, I had to hunt down some excellent quality beef. Between staying a few days in Tokyo and a few in Kyoto, I read that Kyoto had some amazing steakhouses. Thanks to Unilocal I found Otsuka!
Here are important things for travelers:
–It’s not touristy but they do have tourists visit. And as such they’re equipped with English menus and photos. So easy to just point to what you want!
–They’re open for lunch so the prices are more reasonable than dinner prices.
–They offer a few types of steaks so you can spend as little as $ 40 and as much as $ 80 for a small steak.
–You only live once — get the best steak!
The steak meals came with sides of corn, broccoli, and potatoes. There are also additional dishes to order like beef tendon over rice. They also serve beer (I think wine?) and tea.
You can choose to sit at the counter (shoes on) or sit on the floor in the main dining area (shoes off). No reservations are required but if you’re with a group larger than two, you might have to wait a bit for a seat. We popped by around 2pm and found no trouble getting seats at the counter after about a 10 min wait.
My fiancé and I wanted to get the best of the best — only things you can get in Japan and not the US. So we went all out! We bought:
–1 Wagyu Sirloin Steak meal (grade A5) appx $ 45 US
–1 Murasawa Sirloin Steal meal (grade A5) $ 55 US
The Wagyu was awesome but the Murasawa was literally unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. And per the menu’s description it truly was «so unbelievably good you will taste it in your dreams.»
So sure, $ 100+ for lunch for two is a lot, but the portions are perfectly sized and we didn’t have to eat for many, many hours.
*Also — the menu says the portions are 150g but we felt they were bigger than that. The size of the steak wasn’t that small and we found it to be plenty of food. Especially for something so rich and fatty.

This place was my favorite of the whole trip and maybe even my entire lifetime. It’s that good! It’s one of those meals you think about weeks or months later and wish you could have it again. It’s in a quiet residential area so it makes it seem more like a hidden gem.
I got in around 1:30pm on a Friday and they were able to seat a party of two right away. I ordered the grade A4 sirloin and it was worth every single yen. If you’re heading all the way out there, you might as well splurge a little. Besides, you’d be paying at least twice as much for the same thing (optimistically speaking) over in the States.
As if it couldn’t get any better, it also doubles as a convenient lunch stop (maybe a 5 minute walk from Sagaarashiyama Station) before you head over to the bamboo grove.

Excellent lunch for the price. Really nice it’s off the beaten track. Lunch plate leaves you full and the ambiance and free WiFi have you linger. Perfect little hideaway from the bustle of the area.

Found it on Tripadvisor but it is probably greatest quality for its price. Not cheap but not expensive. Great spot for lunch after touring the Arashiyama area!
We arrived early enough and were the second table there. My friend did make a reservation as he works in Kameoka and lives in Kyoto and never heard of it so it was to make sure the 7 of us — 4 adults and 3 kids — gets a table.
Chose a «Misuji Steak». (3^rd one from top — the 150g ¥2,800 set) This cut of meat is located near the corner of the shoulder and each cow (wagu?) have a small cut of like 500 grams. Tender!
Further comments: all of the sets we ordered were tender and juicy.