hitougourmet
Exploring Tokyo's gourmet scene! Visiting the popular roadside charcoal-grilled steak restaurant "Charcoal Steak Kuni Shin-Koiwa Branch" in Katsushika Ward, Okudo. This was my first visit to the restaurant. I had a meeting in Okudo, and after it ended, I felt hungry and wanted to have a hearty meat dish for lunch. As I walked along Kuramaebashi Street towards the direction of Kandai, I spotted a red tent with a two-tone white and red exterior on the left side midway from Shin-Koiwa. Established in 1987, the first branch opened in Ryogoku in 1987, offering authentic steaks a step above family restaurants. They use Kishu Binchotan charcoal for grilling, and their menu ranges from casual and affordable "Pepper Chicken" to high-grade Wagyu beef. Their hamburgers are made with a unique blend of patties, hand-kneaded with care. The tradition of grilling with Kishu Binchotan has been maintained for 36 years. With branches in Ryogoku, Akasaka, and Shin-Koiwa, this popular roadside charcoal-grilled steak restaurant offers authentic flavors. I arrived at around 11:30 am. The spacious and clean interior had only a few customers at that time. As lunchtime approached, the place started filling up gradually. After some contemplation, I ordered the daily lunch special, the Japanese-style grated hamburger lunch set, which came with salad and soup for ¥1160. After a 5-minute wait, the salad and soup were served. The fresh lettuce, paprika, cucumber, and dressing were delicious. The consomme soup had a rich and elegant flavor. The server advised me to wear a paper apron to prevent splattering from the steak. After a 15-minute wait, a sizzling iron pot arrived with the steak, and the server poured sauce over it, creating a bit of entertainment. The hamburger, topped with a large leaf of shiso, grated daikon, and a side of Japanese-style sauce, bean sprouts, and a sunny-side-up egg, was delightful. The hamburger was slightly pink, tender, and juicy, with a refreshing taste due to the grated daikon and Japanese-style sauce. The meat was not greasy, making it a perfect balance. Although I found the steak sauce on the table a bit too intense, it complemented the rice well. The nostalgic hand-kneaded hamburger had a traditional and excellent taste. While the hot iron pot kept the dish piping hot until the end, the downside was that the medium-rare texture turned well-done towards the end. I would have preferred the sunny-side-up egg to be more runny. The authentic charcoal-grilled hamburger was a nostalgic and outstanding dish with a perfect balance of quality and quantity at a reasonable price. I look forward to trying the ordered cut of Miyazawa beef steak next time. This exceptional charcoal-grilled dish has convinced me to revisit the restaurant. Delicious and satisfying!