Teppanyaki Issetsu. (Wagyu beef Course)

I've been neglecting updates for quite some time, citing being extremely busy and being hospitalized due to illness. Haha
My health has recently stabilized, so I'll start writing again.
Just recently, it was our wedding anniversary, so we went out for a teppanyaki dinner.

There are so many things you should eat when you come to Japan.
The most famous are ramen, sushi, and wagyu beef, right?
I've written about them on this blog too. Haha
So, this time I'll introduce wagyu steak.
Teppanyaki steak is completely different from yakiniku (Japanese BBQ).
The thickness of the meat, the cooking method, the heat level—all of these things create a different kind of deliciousness.
There's no doubt that both wagyu yakiniku and steak are incredibly delicious, though. Haha

Since it was our anniversary, we enjoyed a course meal.
First, the amuse-bouche.
Wagyu sukiyaki and abalone with sesame sauce.

The sukiyaki made with the finest Wagyu beef is, of course, delicious.
It's delicious on its own.
Adding abalone to it gives it a refreshing taste and an interesting texture.
The flavor of perilla leaves also goes well with it.
It's very delicious.

Next is the appetizer.
This is also made with the finest Wagyu beef: roast beef and horse mackerel caponata.

Ultimately, if you use the highest quality Wagyu beef, it's bound to be delicious, whether it's sukiyaki or roast beef. Haha
Of course, it's incredibly delicious.
The meat is tender, the fat is sweet, but the meaty flavor is still strong.
And it melts in your mouth.
The caponata is also delicious, but it pales in comparison to the Wagyu beef. Haha

Next is the soup.
Clam chowder with clams and short-necked clams.
Served with brioche.

I was already satisfied with the deliciousness of the meat, but before the main course, I used clam chowder to cleanse my palate. Haha.
The rich soup, the delicious flavor of fresh clams and mussels, made for a truly delicious clam chowder.
It was fantastic with the brioche.

And then the main dish: top-grade A5 Wagyu beef steak.
Sirloin and Chateaubriand.

First, the sirloin.

The deliciousness explodes in one bite. Haha
The sweetness of the fat, the umami of the meat—my brain instantly screams "delicious!" Haha
The doneness was perfect; it was tender and cooked to perfection.

And then, the Chateaubriand, which I only eat on special occasions.
Simply put, it's the best part of the fillet.

This was also incredibly delicious.
It doesn't have as much impact as the sirloin because it has less fat, but the umami of the meat is incredibly strong.
And there's a subtle sweetness from the fat.

If the sirloin highlights the deliciousness of the Wagyu fat, then the Chateaubriand highlights the deliciousness of the meat itself.

Anyway, both are overwhelmingly delicious.
I can't find any other words besides delicious.
No, I found one.
Not enough! I want to eat more! Haha

The thickness, the heat, and the cooking method really give it a completely different taste from yakiniku (Japanese BBQ).
Both allow you to taste the charm of Wagyu, but steak feels a little more special.

And to finish, garlic rice and soup.

I forgot to take a picture of the soup, but this soup and garlic rice were incredibly delicious.
It had a strong garlic punch, but it was refined.
The soup's broth was incredibly tasty, and it was even better when eaten with the garlic rice.
It was so good I'd come back just for that.

And finally, dessert.
Since it was our wedding anniversary, we had an anniversary plate.

The French toast, cooked on a griddle, was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside – absolutely delicious.
It looked cute too, and I was happy my wife enjoyed it.

This restaurant isn't in Shimokitazawa, but in Futako-Tamagawa, called Issetsu.
It's a delicious and stylish place, perfect for dates or anniversaries.
Plus, the prices aren't too high, which is another reason I recommend it.
The portions are a little small, though. Haha
Anyway, if you want to eat delicious teppanyaki steak at a reasonable price, I recommend this restaurant in Futako-Tamagawa.
If you come to Japan, you should definitely check it out.
It's a little hard to get to by train, though. Haha