EAT > Nikuryori Oka, Kyoto - Wagyu Beef Omakase in historic Gion

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Nikuryori Oka is restaurant that obsesses with beef, and not just beef but A5 marbled wagyu beef largely agreed to be the most flavoursome, melt in your mouth beef in the world. Hidden away amongst the beautiful machiya tea houses of Gion you will find a restaurant and a chef who will expand your beef horizons.

Chef and owner Yoshitaka Oka opened his first restaurant in 1996 but it was not until 2014 that he decided to focus on a pure steak restaurant and in particular the deliciousness of aged beef. Chef Oka spends time perfecting the grilling of the meat (all cooked over open coals in front of you) to absolute perfection.

There is a premium wine list with a good range of wines available by the glass but be warned if you don’t speak or read Japanese you will need to break out the Google Translate. After our meal chef Oka was keen to talk to us (via Google Translate on his phone) and to learn if we enjoyed the food (we loved it).

Oka is a destination restaurant, in such a beautiful location you are sure to taste beef in a new way and watch the loving preparation of an artisan chef, this is not your average barbecue!

Seated at the counter there are only seats for up to 10 guests, the room looks across at the kitchen and down the line of service to the traditional and beautiful Japanese garden at the end of the room. If you are planning to travel to Kyoto and want to have a full wagyu beef experience this is outstanding but do book early. Lunch service available on Saturday and Sunday is. ￥18,500 and dinner service is ￥31,000 from Tuesday to Sunday (closed Monday).