3 Affordable Japanese Beef Cuisines You Must Try in Asakusa

If there’s one dish you should try when visiting Japan, it’s Wagyu beef. Many of you have probably heard of Kobe beef, the famous A5-grade luxury wagyu that is known around the world.

While enjoying a premium wagyu steak is always a great choice, Japan also offers many unique styles of beef dishes that you can’t easily find elsewhere. In this article, we’ll introduce three popular restaurants in the Asakusa area, where you can enjoy different styles of beef dishes.

In Japanese cuisine, there is a unique category called “Yoshoku,” which refers to Western dishes that have been adapted and transformed into a distinctly Japanese style. Many of these dishes are very familiar to Japanese people, such as curry rice, omurice, fried shrimp, Napolitan pasta, and croquettes. Among them, hamburg —a steak-style dish made from ground beef mixed with onions and eggs—has remained extremely popular with both children and adults. 💡

The origin of the word hamburg is believed to come from the German dish “Hamburg-style steak.” For visitors from overseas, it may be easier to imagine it as a dish centered around a hamburger patty served as the main item, rather than in a bun.

Founded in 1979, Mont Blanc is a beloved Western-style restaurant in Tokyo’s traditional downtown area, specializing in hamburg steak. At lunchtime, it’s common to see a long line of customers waiting outside.

Their signature dish is a thick 4.8 cm hamburg steak made with 100% Japanese beef, and it’s ordered by nearly 80% of guests. One of the fun parts of the experience is choosing from six different sauces inspired by flavors from around the world.

Interestingly, the 4.8 cm thickness of the hamburg steak is said to be inspired by Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe (4,807 meters), which is also the origin of the restaurant’s name.

6 Types of Hamburg Steak Sauces

• French Style – Demi-glace sauce with mushrooms and a hint of wine

• Dutch Style – Rich and creamy cheese sauce

• Italian Style – Spicy tomato and cheese sauce

• Russian Style – Rich, slightly sweet demi-glace sauce

• Mexican Style – Spicy tomato sauce

• Japanese Style – Light and refreshing special soy-based sauce

This time, instead of choosing from the six regular sauces, I decided to try the daily lunch special (1,350 yen), which featured hamburg steak with avocado tartar and demi-glace sauce.

Surprisingly, just a few minutes after ordering, a thick and generously sized hamburg steak arrived at the table, served with rice, miso soup, and a side of vegetables. The restaurant runs on a very efficient system, and the estimated waiting time is said to be about one minute per group on the waiting list. Even if there’s a long line outside, you can often get your meal much sooner than expected—another reason why this restaurant is so popular.

The dish itself was absolutely delicious. The juicy, thick hamburg steak paired wonderfully with the mild creaminess of the avocado and egg tartar, while the rich demi-glace sauce added depth and richness to the flavor. It was a fantastic combination that made the dish incredibly satisfying.

The interior also adds to the charm of the restaurant. With its retro décor reminiscent of Japan’s Showa era, the space has a nostalgic atmosphere. The walls are completely covered with autograph boards from famous Japanese celebrities, creating a unique and lively environment that visitors from overseas will likely enjoy as well.

When explaining yoshoku (Japanese-style Western cuisine), some visitors might initially say, “I’d rather skip it because I want to try traditional Japanese food.” However, yoshoku has its own kind of Japanese character that is different from classic dishes like ramen or karaage. Since it’s a style of cuisine that is rarely found outside Japan, it might be worth taking the opportunity to try it during your visit.

Unlike tonkatsu, which has long been loved in Japan, gyukatsu (beef cutlet) is actually a relatively new style of dish. It started gaining popularity around 2015 and quickly became a major food trend. Even now, after the peak of the gyukatsu boom, Asakusa Gyukatsu remains a popular restaurant loved by both international visitors and locals.

The restaurant is conveniently located near Kaminarimon Gate, one of the iconic landmarks of Asakusa, and there are usually long lines outside throughout the day.

The restaurant itself has a compact layout with separate entrances for the first floor and the basement level, with about 20 seats in total. The turnover isn’t particularly fast, so if there are around 10 people waiting, it’s a good idea to expect about 30 minutes of waiting time. 💡

When I visited, it was a rainy weekday. Around noon during the lunch rush, the restaurant was very crowded, so I decided to come back later. When I returned around 6 PM the same day, the line had become much shorter and I was able to get in without much trouble. On rainy days, the evening might actually be a better time to visit.

That said, even in the evening there is usually still a line, so it’s best to be prepared for some waiting. Also, reservations are not available!⚠

The menu at this restaurant is very simple—there is only one main dish: the gyukatsu set meal. You can choose the portion size of the beef cutlet from three options: 1 piece (130g), 1.5 pieces (190g), or 2 pieces (260g).

The set meal also comes with sides such as mentaiko (spicy cod roe) and tororo (grated Japanese yam), and you can get one free refill of the barley rice. Because of this, even adult men will likely find the one-piece gyukatsu set quite satisfying. 💡

The gyukatsu is lightly deep-fried so that the outside is crispy, while the inside remains rare.

Each set is also served with a hot stone plate, allowing you to cook the beef to your preferred level of doneness. The staff will explain that you can use the hot stone to sear the meat further before eating, if you prefer it more cooked.

After cooking it to your preferred level, enjoy it with a combination of horseradish sauce, soy sauce, rock salt, or wasabi! I personally like it close to rare, so lightly searing the surface and then pairing it with rock salt and wasabi was perfect for me.

Since it’s thinly sliced into more than 10 pieces, it’s also fun to experiment with the cooking and seasonings to discover your favorite taste!

By the way, there’s a second branch near Exit A4 of Asakusa Station on the Asakusa Line 💡. It’s slightly larger than the main store and tends to be less crowded, so if the line at the main store is too long, this is a great alternative!

Note: In the Asakusa area, there’s also a restaurant called “Kyoto Katsugyu” on Orange Street, but it’s operated by a different company 💡.

Located just a minute from Tobu Asakusa Station, Ushimitsu originally gained popularity in Kyoto. This restaurant specializes in beef dishes, including meat sushi, “nikumabushi,” and steaks, all made with beef cooked to a perfect rare.

One of the highlights here is that you can choose the grade of beef for each dish! In addition to the affordable regular option, you can select from 2 premium grades, Kuroge Wagyu and Matsusaka beef, to suit your preference.

This time, I ordered the regular version of “Nikumabushi,” which lets you enjoy beef in multiple styles all in one dish.

The highlight of this dish is that you can enjoy three stages of flavor:
first savoring the rich taste of the beef on its own,
then tasting it with condiments like wasabi,
and finally enjoying it in a tea-style “ochazuke” with dashi.

The nikumabushi is beautifully arranged like red flower petals, almost like a jewelry box—you’ll definitely want to snap a photo! The colorful presentation of the meat sushi and beef nigiri is equally stunning, so whichever dish you choose, you can enjoy both the visual appeal and the taste.

Additionally, reservations can be made through the restaurant’s official website! If you plan to visit during busy times like lunchtime, this is a convenient option to secure your spot.

This time, I’ve selected some of Asakusa’s most popular beef Cuisines. From long-established Western-style eateries to recently trending specialty spots, Asakusa is full of great places to try. If you ever visit the area, be sure to stop by and enjoy them for yourself!