Serious Eats
Where's the Beef, Kobe?
Good Kobe beef is surprisingly difficult to find in its namesake city, at least according to Japan-based food blogger Rameniac. But here's his tip:
Look for the old, graying guy in the business suit, the one that’s perfectly at ease and carries himself like he owns the town. He’s smoking a cigarette, waiting for a cab perhaps, but definitely not behaving like a drunken ass or brown-nosing superiors. You don’t want middle management and you don’t want the underlings after all. If you’re lucky, you will have chanced upon a vice president or even a shachyo, the big boss, a higher up for a major electric power or heavy industries conglomerate. He might then give you his card and point you towards a referral-only steakhouse somewhere in the vicinity. “Show it to them if you have any problems,” he might say.
Itadakimasu!
Photograph from Rameniac