Ginza "Kokoro Steak Grill GINZA KOKO"
This time, I wanted to enjoy delicious steaks, so I chose an omakase option and made a reservation. It's a renowned steak restaurant listed on Yumelog as one of the top 100 steakhouses, and it has even been awarded the Bronze 2022 award.
This restaurant features a “stove” that is typically used in tea ceremonies, where it is placed around a fireplace. However, at this restaurant, it is set up right in front of the open counter. At first glance, it resembles a large washing machine. The internal structure is made of fire-resistant bricks, and the steak is cooked over a charcoal fire to achieve high temperatures.
The courses listed by the omakase are the following two types.
“神戸牛の炉釜ステーキと厳選食材コース” → 17,380円（税込）、“メインの神戸牛の炉釜ステーキと厳選食材おまかせコース” → 24,200円（税込）
I booked the former one.
With an additional fee, only the "Beef Wagyu Steak with Foie Gras" is an optional item. However, in addition to this, when starting the course, you can choose any of five different steak cuts according to your preference. The price offered during the reservation process is set at the lowest price for the Lump/Chuck cut. This system is a bit confusing.
If you wish to order another item as an additional service, a charge will be added based on 50g per item. For more details, please refer to the images.
Since we were two people, we ordered different dishes each, and they divided them equally and served us.
Kobe beef grilled steak and premium ingredient menu
◇アミューズ
◇シーフード盛り合わせ
Hokkaido-produced cream cheese / caviar / Omal eggplant
Sashimi of abalone and scallops, grilled eel, tofu mousse?
オマールコンソメゼリー
◇牛タン焼き炉窯ステーキとフォアグラ +2,200円
大根味噌/柚子粉
※옵션
◇2種類のドレッシング（人参/青ネギ）を使った彩り野菜サラダ
◇神戸牛のグリルステーキ
※아래에서 선택하여 코스 가격을 결정하세요.
ランプ（100㌘） 17,380円
イチボ (100㌘) 17,380円
神戸牛シャトーブリアン (100グラム) 23,430円
松坂牛 シャトーブリアン (100グラム) 23,430円
神戸牛サーロイン（100㌘） 21,560円
◇ 식사 (아래의 어느 하나)
Kobe Beef Curry Rice or Kobe Beef Garlic Rice
◇デザート
◇コーヒー/紅茶/ハーブティー
Drinks (Additional Fee)
ROCOCO 1,980円
2021年3月30日 日付なし 場所不明 価格：3,300円
Yamazaki 12th Year 3,300 Yen
Red Wine (Brand forgotten) 3,300 yen
In terms of overall impression, the dishes prepared by a chef from France are truly remarkable. Aside from steaks, there are various combinations of seafood dishes with unique sauces and mousses that offer a rich taste experience. The Amuse bouche, which features the broth from the Oman crab, is a highlight. In between the steaks, there are two special dressings prepared by the chef, which serve as a perfect transition between the different dishes.
This is a first-time experience of having steak cooked in a furnace. However, the chef carefully monitored the cooking process to achieve a well-cooked steak with a gradual transition from the outside to the inside. This is precisely what makes furnace-cooked steaks so special. I was truly surprised by this dish—the texture and the change in bite make it incredibly delicious!
Although it’s an optional feature, with the second serving of steak appearing twice in total, the last dish, a Kobe beef curry/garlic rice, is enough to satisfy hunger without any fatigue. It directly enters the stomach without any effort.
In dishes like teppan-yaki, it's common for people to get full halfway through the meal, which tends to make the main steak too spicy. However, the menu arrangement is well-designed, and the portion size is just right.
If I must say something, the drinks were at Ginza prices. However, I would have preferred a wine that was in the lower price range. It seems that most of the other customers were from mainland China; perhaps that’s why they were the target group.
Restaurants like this have had a significant reduction in their scores due to changes in the scoring method implemented by Yumelog. The reduction can be as much as 0.5!? It's quite challenging, but I can personally experience the quality of the food at these restaurants when they are rated Bronze.
American-style steaks are quite different from this delicate Japanese-style steak. In fact, it might be more to your taste ^_^
I hope to have another chance to experience the grill dish again.
Thank you very much for your hospitality.
