Kobe I decided I would go to a bar that catered to foreigners and ask around for a good place. After several bars and drinks later I finally found a place that had foreigners in it... well one anyway. So Mark from Maine tells me of a place down the street that he likes. Good - I set out to try to find it. No sign of it anywhere... Mark is a liar. So I chose one that had the least flamboyant sign. And boy did I hit it right! Steak-House Kokubu is a small place on an upper floor. Mom has been cooking there for 30 years, but her son is doing the chefing these days (pictured). She now does the behind the scenes food prep and cooking. Maybe I got extra attention because I was one of 2 people in the place at the time, but they couldn't have been nicer. I sat at the bar in front of the grill as they prepared the food right there. The chef explained everything about Kobe beef and even proudly carried over to me magazine articles they were just in, and cow trophies the butcher likes to give them. He explained that later that night after they close they were holding a private dinner for a popular Japanese pop star. The beef was so amazing, it just melted in your mouth, and the company so wonderful that I ordered seconds. Momma was so happy she gave me extra and a free glass of wine. Free? OK, it's pricey, but cheaper than other places for Kobe beef. The meal ran me $150. That's two meals, 3 glasses of wine, and desert. On my way out I ecstatically yelled "arigato mamma" back to the kitchen and she came running to give me a few bows and the chef personally showed me to the elevator. I only made one faux pas during that meal. I was dipping my salad in the tangy soy sauce they provided in a small dish when they brought my salad. I noticed the chef sort of chucking at this so I figured dipping is no good. So I poured it over my salad. Much better - very good dressing. Later another customer came in and I followed his salad technique. Turns out the soy sauce was for dipping the meat in, not for the salad at all - salad is eaten plain. You are here...		STEAK-HOUSE KOKUBU Sanmei Building 21-2, 1-Chome, Kitanagasa-douri, Chuo-ku 2nd floor according to the business card, but I remember it being the 6th for some reason Tel: (078)321-1717 If you can figure out the address good luck. I can't read the business card I have from them. Call and get directions. Disclaimer: I did not take these pictures. Remarkably someone else was happy with the place and had them posted on another site. So I stole them and made a little collage.