2016 Japan - Notable Mentions... (Lunch)

In this segment of "Notable Mentions", lunch time is the topic! One of the must-do items on my list is to have a meal of premium beef. My friend, K-chan, recommended Rokkasen, a pretty popular restaurant specializing in top-quality cuts of Wagyu and Matsuzaka beef.

Fortunately, the concierge at our hotel was able to make a lunch-time reservation for our party of 10 and we ended up having a spacious private room to ourselves!

The combination sets were pretty affordable for the quantity and quality of the food. For around $55 CDN, W and I shared the Japanese Black Cattle Sukiyaki set.

Appetizers: Jelly fish in vinaigrette, Marinated mixed veggies (spinach, bean sprouts, carrot, cloud ear mushroom)

To begin, we had little dishes of cold appetizers - marinated jelly fish, and marinated veggies.

Green salad

There was also a small bowl of salad with radish sprouts, peanuts, and sesame tossed in a tangy vinaigrette.

Japanese Black Cattle Sukiyaki Course

The cast iron pot was filled with the sweet and savoury sukiyaki sauce. The rest of the ingredients were placed on top. There was onion, carrot, tofu, konyaku noodles, veggies, shiitake mushrooms, and of course, the star of the show... slices of beautifully marbled Japanese Black Cattle beef!

Aside from the items in the cast iron pot, we were given extra slices of beef on the side!

Extra veggies (mushrooms, leeks, tofu, onion slices, vermicelli, Tong Ho veggies) were also provided. The combo also came with snow crab legs!!

Left: Matsuzaka boneless short rib; Right: Black Cattle galbi short rib

We also wanted to try out the grill on our table so we ordered a plate of the premium Matsuzaka short rib and the lesser, but still amazingly delicious, Black Cattle short rib for a comparison tasting.

After our comparison tasting, it was a no-brainer! The Matzuzaka beef was the winner! There really was no denying that the highest quality Matzusaka beef was the most tender and juiciest piece of meat out there.

Ice cream mochi with strawberry sauce and cookie stick covered with nuts and chocolate

At the end of the meal, we were all served a cup of hot tea and a bowl of ice cream mochi. 

All those Japan travel trips are true; if you want to have a meal at a higher-end restaurant, it is best to visit them during lunch as the prices are lower yet the portions and quality are just about the same as dinner. For a first time Japan traveler, Rokkasen hit the spot!