おかやまっ子
After finishing up some errands in Akasaka, today is a day to enjoy dining out with old friends. One of our friends is leaving Tokyo, so we decided to have a small farewell party at a yakiniku restaurant that we reserved. When we heard that they serve Matsusaka beef yakiniku, we were excited, even though we were a bit spaced out from work during the day (laughs). The restaurant is located near Akasaka Mitsuke, so it's very convenient to get to. As we walked, we noticed the words "One whole Japanese beef" on the signboard. It means that they purchase a whole cow, so they also have rare cuts available. We sanitized our hands at the entrance, had our temperatures checked by the staff, and were then shown to our table. It's important to take precautions against COVID, right? We had reserved the recommended Matsusaka course with all-you-can-drink option. Cheers to being able to drink to our heart's content (laughs). We started with Premium Malt's draft beer, Jim Beam highball, and Setoda lemon sour for our toast. Lemon sour is a great match with yakiniku, as the acidity helps break down the fatty meat. Setoda is a small island in the southern part of Hiroshima Prefecture, which has become famous as a lemon production area. I would love to visit there someday. We were served Namul three varieties as a starter. It's a palate cleanser, but the radish and Chinese cabbage were well-pickled and had a deep flavor. Before the grilling started, we were served a sashimi platter with three varieties - beef tripe, yukhoe (Korean beef tartare), and meat sushi. The texture of the beef tripe, the flavor of the marinated yukhoe, and the tender meat sushi - oh, they were all so delicious. We decided to try Makgeolli (Korean rice wine) on a friend's suggestion. It's a popular drink in Korea, and it goes well with meat. Caesar salad was a welcome addition as we tend to focus on the meat. The crisp vegetables and fresh salad were refreshing. And now, let the grilling begin. Silky liver and liver! Amazing. We lightly seared them on the grill and savored the tender texture. Then came the beautifully marbled meats - sirloin, prime tongue salt, and special harami (skirt steak). The sirloin made our mouths water as soon as it hit the grill. With each bite, the meat juices overflowed in our mouths. The balance of lean meat and fat was exquisite. The special harami was also wonderful! We could taste the richness of the meat. We tried Kappa Highball and Shikwasa Sour. Kappa Highball was a new drink for us, with actual cucumber slices in it. Surprisingly, it worked well - the cucumber didn't overpower the shochu, and it had a refreshing melon-like coolness. Crescent and fillet. Crescent was a rare cut that we were trying for the first time. It's said that only ten servings can be taken from one cow. The staff explained the cuts very well, and they even attached small tags with grilling instructions. This was very helpful. The crescent was incredibly tender with a deep sweetness. We were already full from all the meat, but the last dish was "Shime no Hiya Soba" (cold noodles to finish the meal). Its refreshing taste was a complete contrast to the meat dishes we had just enjoyed. We were completely satisfied. The staff were attentive in explaining the meat cuts and grilling techniques, and they frequently changed the grills for us (we felt a bit guilty about it). With all-you-can-drink option, sometimes the drink service can be slow, but not here - they kept an eye on our empty glasses and promptly offered more drinks. Being able to enjoy rare cuts of Matsusaka beef like this, along with all-you-can-drink option, for just around 10,000 yen is definitely a great deal! Today, we once again realized the deliciousness of A5-grade Matsusaka beef.