What comes to mind when you think of Kobe??
The globally adored football superstar AndrésIniesta recently left the traditional Spanish powerhouse FC Barcelona to join the Japanese J-League team — Kobe Victory SC. This move put the Japanese city of Kobe in the spotlight.
But when it comes to what it’s most famous for, nothing beats Kobe beef.
For a long time, Kobe beef has been almost synonymous with Japanese meat cuisine. Many tourists visiting Kansai include tasting Kobe beef on their itinerary. Unfortunately, the quality of restaurants varies greatly, and not every visitor gets to enjoy genuine Kobe beef. That’s why we’d like to recommend a reliable spot.
MOURIYA
[MOURIYA], a long-established Kobe beef restaurant with a 130-year history. The secret to its popularity? A steadfast commitment to serving “authentic” Kobe beef. It has welcomed countless diners from around the world and is also one of the sponsors of the recently high-profile Kobe Victory SC football club.
MOURIYA has five locations in Kobe, including its flagship store. In March of this year, it also opened a new branch in Kyoto’s yG Garden.
What remains unchanged is the equally refined decor and the counter seating where you can watch the chefs cook right in front of you.
All branches accept UnionPay and Alipay.
Reservations can be made via the official website:http://www.mouriya.co.jp/zh-CN
The Secret to High Quality
MOURIYA never compromises on cattle lineage. In addition to purebred Kobe beef and Tajima cattle, it also sources cattle raised outside Hyogo Prefecture that inherit the bloodlines of “star cattle” like Bungaro and Anfuku.
MOURIYA selects only Grade A4 and A5 beef, meticulously evaluating every detail such as fat-to-lean ratio, meat texture, fineness, and aging level. It’s fair to say that the “MOURIYA standard” is the global standard.
To offer high-value beef,MOURIYA carefully controls procurement costs. But there’s one unshakable rule: the budget is not set based on selling price, but solely on the quality of the meat.
In Japan, there are beef grading organizations, and the top-ranked beef is usually sold at high prices. ButMOURIYA’s buyers have their own judgment. If they don’t believe the beef is truly exceptional, they won’t chase after the top ranking. On the other hand, if the quality is genuinely outstanding, they’re willing to pay a premium.
It may sound a bit like the perfectionism of a Japanese artisan, but when you think about it, isn’t the simplest truth that only when customers have a delightful dining experience can a restaurant thrive in the long run?
The Secret to Affordable Pricing
Although Kobe beef is world-renowned, only cattle born, raised, and slaughtered in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, can be called Kobe beef. As a result, the annual production is very limited, making it a premium ingredient that’s almost only available locally.
Rivaling purebred Kobe beef is“MOURIYA Select Beef.”
During their juvenile stage, Kobe cattle are also known as Tajima cattle, but inbreeding among Tajima cattle can lead to a decline in meat quality.
MOURIYA operates a dedicated ranch in Hiji, a city that supplies beef exclusively to its restaurant. The cattle here have Tajima lineage and are fed the same diet as purebred Tajima cattle. However, until they reach 32 months of age — the point at which they can be processed into beef — they are kept in strict inbreeding isolation. Their level of care is comparable to that of Tajima cattle, and the flavor and texture of the beef are certainly no less impressive.
Because of this,“MOURIYA Select Beef” overcomes the drawbacks of exorbitantly expensive and continuously rising prices of purebred Kobe beef, successfully offering delicious beef to more diners at an affordable price.
A Favorite Among All Kinds of Diners
MOURIYA is actually quite an internet-famous spot. A quick search will turn up plenty of reviews about it.
Weibo influencersand Key Opinion Leaders have also tried it out.
https://weibo.com/ttarticle/p/show?id=2309404177647235123306
From diners’ reviews, you’ll find thatMOURIYA doesn’t only serve Kobe beef—it also offers seafood dishes and set meals. There’s always something to suit your taste.
Be sure to give this long-established Kobe beef restaurant a try the next time you’re in Kansai.