Steak Otsuka

Steak Otsuka is a hidden gem in Kyoto and absolutely worth the visit. The wagyu beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender and cooked to perfection—rich, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. The set menu is simple but well thought-out, with delicious sides that complement the star of the meal: the steak. The atmosphere is warm and intimate, with a traditional Japanese touch. While the staff speaks limited English, the service was kind and welcoming, and the menu includes English descriptions, making ordering easy. Highly recommended for anyone looking to try high-quality wagyu without the luxury price tag.

Wow. Amazing place for some delicious wagyu beef. Ate here as a family of 5. Great set menus that were perfect for kids, with the grown ups having amazing steaks. Really nice touches such as getting to choose your own unique sake cup from a basket, and tea for everyone after the meal. Highly recommend.

Absolutely incredible experience at Otsuka Steak in Kyoto! I had the best wagyu steak of my life—perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and full of rich flavor. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, offering us complimentary water and tea, which was such a nice touch. The atmosphere was immaculate—calm, cozy, and elegant, making the whole meal feel extra special. A must-visit if you’re in Kyoto!

The Wagyu melts in your mouth. I had the Kyoto Wagyu and it was amazing. If I could give this place 6 stars, I would. Highly recommend after trek in Bamboo forest.

One of the best beef restaurants I've ever had. Very focused and limited menu but every order is excellent. Reserve online or by phone otherwise you'll wait 60-90 mins

Amazing food! A bit pricey but totally worth it. Highly recommended! Make sure to make a reservation beforehand.

High quality wagyu for an amazing price, definitely worth the visit if you're in the area. Highly recommend the rump cap, lovely balance of flavours.

Had one of the best steak in my life, not joking at all. Highly recommended to come early to write your name in the reservation list before the opening hours if you’re unable to make it for the booking online. It was indeed quite pricey but I definitely wasn’t disappointed. Will be back again!

This is literally the best steak we've ever had. The A5 cuts melt in your mouth like warm butter. My super picky eater of a son devoured his and ordered a second! He still talks about it and compares all steaks to Steak Otsuka. So far, none compare. People queue up for a reason. Get there early. Wait in the line. You won't be disappointed.

When visiting Kyoto, there are certain things you have to do like visit the bamboo forest, monkey park, dressing up in kimono go to Uji to try all the matcha to your hearts content, and the list goes on and on. On your list you should include this place if you want to have one of the best experiences of eating wagyu. I had this place bookmarked but when I saw Jolene L. check in here and post some pictures (I wasn't stalking her, or was i?) I knew I had to come as she usually eats at some very good places and I was right as this place was off the hook! One of the reasons I wanted to come here is that they offer Murasawa beef which some know it as the "phantom wagyu beef" as well as other wagyu from different parts of Japan. Let me tell you this, we tried three different cuts of wagyu A5 and they were all melt in your mouth. My mother-in-law's face said it all when she had her first bite. She couldn't believe it. and understands why the better half and I love coming to Japan as she is a foodie too. There are about 30 seats in the whole place (10 at the counter and about 5 to 6 tables). I highly suggest making reservations on their website on tablecheck.com. They accept reservations up to 10 people only and will charge a reservation fee to guarantee your spot. You can also line up to sign the standby sheet from 9am. They have three seating times, 11am, 12pm and 1pm. Don't miss this unique opportunity in eating some of Japan's best wagyu at really decent prices!

This was the highlight of our Japan trip 5 years ago, and after all these years, Steak Otsuka hasn't changed. You'll need a reservation to get in (make them online or sign up in person early). It's well worth the wait. I'd recommend the wagyu A5 steak (the phantom beef, where only 80 cows are available per year for it). The steaks range from about 4700 to 7400 yen, depending on how much meat or quality of meat you'd like, though you can't really go wrong here (personally, I'd pay more for better food here). The short plate beef bowl set is the best value in terms of pricing at 2200 yen, and it's scrumptious as well. You're getting a full meal for about $60 USD at the priciest as of now (and without the usual tip/tax in the States). The meat is melt-in-your-mouth soft, and you'll barely chew to eat your food. Highly recommend using the different sauces (teriyaki, salt/wasabi, and ponzu). We were sad to finish our last bites because the food was so tasty. Service was extremely quick and helpful. Staff speaks English fluently. My only complaints would be that the rice was a tad mushy, and they're also only open for lunch. However, definitely a must-try in Kyoto, and it'll be a mainstay in my go-to places in Japan for years to come.

THE BEST STEAK EVER!! We had the best steak of our lives here. This was my second time at steak otsuka and I ordered the Marusawa beef aka phantom beef. The steak is melt in your mouth, high fat to beef ratio. So keep in mind, if you do not like fatty beef or a5, don't order this. My husband does not prefer fatty cuts so he ordered the a5 sirloin and the iron flap steak. Between the two, he ordered the iron flap steak which he preferred since it had more meat than fat. The price is very affordable. They have a wait list that you can sign up for prior to when they open. Near arishiyama bamboo forest.

Melt in your mouth! The best steak we've ever had. We got the hirai sirloin steak - premium a5. It was so good and exactly what you would hope for when you search for wagyu in Japan. The steak was fresh and cooked perfectly. The sauces paired nicely with the steak. The rice and salad on the side helped with the richness of the steak. It was the perfect meal. We stopped here for lunch before walking to the bamboo forest. It was nice and clean inside with kind and quick service. We still think about the steak to this day and can't wait to come back. (:

Treat yourself to the Murasawa premium A5. You won't regret it. Steak was like butter.

Hands down the best wagyu steak!! I would recommend this place better and half the price than Kobe . Get the Murasawa steak, you'll never regret it!

The best steak I had in Japan, long wait time but was worth it. I'm not sure if it changed much since my visit back in 2016, but it was small and cozy with very hospitable and seemed to be a family owned restaurant. I have it saved for my next visit to Japan and I always recommend it to anyone when I hear they are traveling to Kyoto

We're here for the Ghost beef. Absolutely delicious, melt in your mouth wagyu. A must stop if you're in Kyoto. This place is tiny so be prepared to wait. But it was worth it!

I'm not really a huge steak person, mainly because I struggle finding the right way on how I like my meat cooked. BUT THE MEAT HERE!! Oh man it's AMAZING!! The waiting staff were amazing as well! If you're a native English speaker, the waiting staff have great English skills! The atmosphere of the restaurant I can really appreciate. For being a small restaurant, it gives it a really intimate vibe but also for them only being open for 3 hrs make sure to get there early! Ittekimasu!!!

Take all of money! I don't even care. Thank you for never disappointing me every time. They moved to a different location from last time I was in Japan. It holds more people now, and so the stress to get there at 9AM even though they open at 11AM to put your name down is not as bad! Although, I've tried all of the Wagyu, I think my favorite is the Hirai, but try them all :)

I'll probably not order a steak from a restaurant for a long time. This is because my favorite steak restaurant is halfway around the work from me. I went on a Friday for Lunch after visiting the Bamboo Forest. I put my name down, and was at my table in less than 15 minutes. The service was impeccable. We managed to communicate well, despite my little command of the Japanese Language. Everything (Menu, drinks, food) was served with clocklike precision and a smile -- this restaurant takes pride in what they do. The food. The Steak! All was top notch! I will dream of this steak for many moons to come! They presented it with a sauce and just plain salt and pepper. Do yourself a favor and try all sparingly. Just a little salt and pepper bring out the flavors of the Premium A5 Wagyu Beef. Better than Kobe I'd like to add. As for the ambiance, this is not your Chicago/New York Steak house. Clean Residential is how I'd put it -- Modern and new, like a model home. I ordered their most expensive meal and a beer, and still paid less than $60 for a meal that would've costed me $200+ anywhere else in the world. On a scale of 1 to 10, this restaurant goes to 11!

We ate here the last time we were in Arashiyama and loved it! Since then, they have moved their location to a fancier and bigger place which is great! I do miss the old place though. It's like your eating at home that serves delicious beef! So this new place - we wrote our names down, walked around then came back when they opened so we won't miss our names being called. Waited for about 1/2 hour then it was our turn. We ordered the wagyu a5 and hirai a5. We have yet to try the murasawa a5 as it's sold out, again. Steak so good that it just melts in your mouth! Easily the best steak I've ever had. Definitely worth the splurge for lunch!

We don't have much experience with wagyu beef in Japan but from the two places we visited, Otsuka, in our opinion, served up the better value! It's a little bit far from Kyoto proper but if you're in and around Arayashima, it's a must-go. The restaurant is located in a quiet neighbourhood, a small walk away from the station. The exterior and interior decor is bright, modern, and aethetically pleasing (#instagramfriendly) and we were promptly greeted by warm and friendly staff members, despite the language barrier. We were quickly seated, with English menus, in a sunny area right next to a window; we had just beat out the lunch crowd! We ordered the Murasawa Sirloin Steak - a "fairly rare" wagyu beef also known as "Phantom Beef" - which came with a bowl of rice and side salad to fill you up. At ¥6400 for 150g, it was relatively inexpensive compared to the other wagyu specialty restaurant we tried. Personally, the taste and quality was more memorable than the other restaurant as well! Each piece was buttery, juicy, and tender, with an incredible beefy taste. Thinking about it now as I write this review makes my mouth water. Aside from the steak, we also ordered the Beef Tendon Set (¥1300) to inexpensively supplement our meal. Although it obviously can't compare to the Murasawa Sirloin Steak, it was still a yummy and filling meal that I'd happily eat again. It came with everything that the steak had, plus a miso soup. By the end of the meal, we both walked away feeling very satiated. As mentioned, looking back at the two wagyu restaurants we tried, Otsuka would be our choice for value and taste, especially their Murasawa Sirloin Steak and we will definitely be recommending them to any visiting family and friends!

One of the most amazing steak experiences I've ever had in my life. I came here maybe 15 minutes after they opened and luckily the place was pretty empty and there was no wait. I ordered the Hirai Sirloin Steak (premium A5 grade) and my boyfriend got the Mirasawa Sirloin Steak (also premium A5 grade). I personally enjoyed mine a little more because I liked the fact that it was cut into smaller pieces. But both were absolutely MELT IN YOUR MOUTH DELICIOUS. So tender and flavored well.. this was possibly the best meal I had in Japan. Bill came out to around $120 USD but completely worth it.

A must try in Kyoto! Thanks to Yelpers for informing that the original location has moved to this newer one. We got off at Saga-Arashiyama station and walked about 7 minutes. The restaurant seems brand new and has seating for probably at least 5 groups and a solo seat bar. Fortunately for me and my man, there was no wait, but we did arrive at ~1:45pm (they close at 2:30pm). I got the A5 Wagyusirloin steak (5200 yen) and my man got the Hirai Sirloin steak (5700 yen). The meals come with rice, salad, dipping sauce and wasabi sauce. One bite into my steak and I was like WOW that is super melt in your mouth. I haven't tried beef like this before. It felt equivalent to a very tasty sashimi in terms of melty sensation. My man's comments: "The marbling is out of this world. Juicier than a watermelon with the savoriness of a creme brûlée" Tbh I didn't taste a big difference between our meats as I am no meat connoisseur. But my man says his Hirai steak has a distinctive meat:fat ratio that sings different songs to your taste buds. Overall, definitely recommend this place as a foodie must during a Kyoto trip. A little pricy, but not bad considering how much something comparable tasting would be in the USA

Absolutely our best meal in Japan during our recent trip! Took an early train and got to the restaurant by 845am to put our name down on their list (we were #2) and then went off to check out the bamboo forest and then the monkey park. However, I made a huge mistake in calculating the time to head back and we were 2 minutes late for the 11am opening. With a 10 and 8 year old, they really wanted to wait it out probably because I had talked it up so much, we put our name back down on the list and two hours later, enjoyed a fantastic meal! Still well worth the wait!! We tried four different menu items and of course they placed the wagyu in front of my youngest. Everything was amazing!!

Where's the beef? Why, right here at Steak Otsuka! Seriously, if you're going to Kyoto, make it a point to come here for a meal, and thank me later! Besides, we both know that you're going to make a trip out to the Arashiyama district for the bamboo forest and monkey park anyway, like every other tourist! Because I heart my Yelp family, I'll fill you in on the logistical how to's: 1) Stop by the restaurant around 9am 2) Put your name on the waitlist 3) ??? (do your touristy things) 4) Profit! (return before 11 to feast on some of the best Wagyu beef you've ever had!) While you can find better, higher quality Wagyu beef elsewhere (we're talking about high end $$$$teakhouses here), I would argue the difficulty of finding better quality meat at these prices - Steak Otsuka is a fantastic value, if not necessarily cheap. Between the 5 (and a half) of us, we tried: - Short plate beef set. Essentially a beef donburi for our young toddler. Instead of egg mixed into sauce and rice, you're given a beautiful soft-boiled egg. I thought this would pretty much be a throwaway dish, but it was surprisingly excellent! Honestly, if Steak Otsuka did not serve any Wagyu, I could have just eaten this and been completely happy. - Sirloin steak (B3. Probably equivalent to US Prime grade?). The least marbled meat of the bunch, but on the flip side, offers the "beefiest" flavor. Feel free to skip if you don't have a large enough party (or appetite) to do a beef progression tasting. - A4. My 2nd favorite beef here and probably what I would order on a "normal" basis - it offers the best balance of beefy flavor against the rich fattiness of Wagyu. - A5. At this point, the beef probably is more fat than meat; it goes without saying that the meat almost literally melts in your mouth. If you've had quality A5 Wagyu elsewhere, this probably won't be any different for better or worse. I recommend skipping this and instead splurging for: - A5 "Murasawa." While also rated as A5, the Murasawa somehow manages to taste a little less fatty/buttery with a more distinct, earthy taste. This was some special beef and hands-down, the unanimous favorite of our table. This is the beef I would get when splurging - both with my wallet and belly! We really wanted to try the beef tendons but we figured (correctly) that we had already ordered more than enough food. Oh well, I guess this just means we'll have to go back the next time we're in Kyoto! Beyond the meat, the staff is very pleasant and accommodating - definitely exceptional service by (relatively poor) Kyoto standards. They also have a small refrigerator with a very limited selection of wines; I was happy to select a French Cabernet Sauvignon to go with our rich, beefy meal!