モンチッチ
Nam's 81st birthday party was held at a yakiniku restaurant called Kyosei in Suidobashi. The restaurant exuded a unique aura with its long-established history. I chose this place because it had "Matsuzaka" in its name, which I thought would be fitting for a birthday celebration. We were seated on the first floor, in an atmosphere where even a solo diner could enjoy. The second floor had partitions that created a private room-like feel, which surprisingly didn't feel out of place due to COVID-19 measures. There was storage space under the chairs for belongings, preventing any odor transfer. Each table had umbrella storage, reducing the likelihood of losing or forgetting them. The third floor was designated as a smoking area. The chopstick bags exuded a sense of tradition. Upon researching, I found out that the restaurant was established in 1973, which was quite impressive. The staff were all Korean, adding to the Korean barbecue ambiance of the place. Despite the name "Matsuzaka," the menu was surprisingly reasonable. I had intended to splurge for the birthday party, but it turned out differently. I have listed all the menu items at the bottom of the review. The grilling style was banner style.
- Draft Beer (792 yen): Served in medium-sized bottles, a bit pricey but you can choose between Super Dry and Ichiban Shibori.
- Itto Makgeolli (2,200 yen): After a few beers, we switched to Makgeolli.
- Kimchi Assortment (1,320 yen): Tangy and quite spicy.
- Upper Tongue (2,420 yen): Decent taste with a peppery kick.
- Limited Tongue Thick Cut (2,860 yen): More chewy and fatty than the Upper Tongue.
- Tare Tongue Bottom (1,100 yen): Affordable and tasty.
- Upper Marbled Beef (2,640 yen): Fatty and popular among younger diners.
- Upper Harami (1,980 yen): Recommended with delicious sauce.
- Upper Skirt Steak (1,980 yen): Refreshing compared to Harami.
- Upper Kalbi (2,310 yen): Quite fatty.
- Jar Pickled Spicy Kalbi (1,540 yen): Different from the Upper Kalbi and more flavorful.
- Large Rice (330 yen) / Medium Rice (275 yen) / Half Rice (220 yen): Added white rice with the Kalbi.
- Kuri (1,650 yen): Balanced dish with lean meat and fat.
- Tegutan Soup (803 yen): Ending with a hearty soup with plenty of beef bone broth.
Overall, the Tare Tongue Bottom, Spicy Kalbi, Kuri, and Upper Harami were recommended. The restaurant turned out to be more casual than expected, and I may have misjudged the direction for the birthday party. Total cost per person was 6,650 yen.