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Setting and Atmosphere
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Food
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Service
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Value for Money
Overall Summary
The best hida beef in town!
You’ve heard of wagyu, the marble textured wonder beef from Japan praised for its buttery soft texture that melts in your mouth, but what about hida beef?
Hailing only from the Gifu prefecture, this prime breed of cattle is super tender with mesh-like marbling that gives hida beef its juiciness. Many also say that the sparkling clean spring water of Gifu also gives hida beef its distinct flavour.
For food lovers wanting a taste of real hida, many head to Gifu prefecture’s Takayama – the home of hida beef. However, don’t just choose any steakhouse in Takayama to try this delicacy. To appreciate this fine cut of steak, what better place to dine than at the place many heil is the best hida beef restaurant in town – Hidatakayama Kyoya.
SETTING AND ATMOSPHERE
he Hidatakayama Kyoya restaurant is a restored Japanese country house located within the historical Old Town district of Takayama. As a real treat, diners can enjoy eating within the walls of a traditional mid-19th century home with exposed ceiling beams, tatami flooring, and wooden lattice partitions. What a way to create an inviting nostalgic ambiance!
The house is described as being from Echigo, an old northern province before its neighbouring prefectures and districts merged to form modern-day Niigata Prefecture in 1876. The house was specifically relocated to its new home in
Takayama and diners can enjoy the experience of being seated around a traditional irori (Japanese hearth). As you look around, the interior is fitted with old trinkets and traditional folk art pieces adding to the character of the place.
Seeing the busy staff shuffle past with platters of beef while we sat among the antique furnishing and smokey air made us feel right at home. For a truly memorable dining experience, we highly recommend sitting on the tatami flooring for the best seat in the house and to fully enjoy the pleasure of grilling your meat the old fashioned way.
Photo Credit: Centrip Japan
Food
fter reading multiple food reviews of people highly praising Hidatakayama Kyoya’s hida beef dishes we are glad to say, we understand what all the fuss is about!
At Takayama, the region’s food specialty is houba miso – hida beef with miso, green onions, and shiitake mushrooms grilled on a magnolia leaf (houba).
As the dish slowly cooks on your own personal grill, the scent of the miso and magnolia leaf creates a mouthwatering smell as you wait for your beef to be ready. The hida beef was incredibly tender and had a tasty steak flavour that perfectly
matched the saltiness of the miso. The set meal also included a small side dish of tofu, potatoes, and simmered mountain vegetables which were seasoned lightly. It was a great palate refresher creating a nice delicate flavour paired in contrast with the meat’s rich taste.
Did someone say “slip a shrimp on the barbie”? As the true Australians we are, Talyssa and I decided to upgrade our meal by ordering a side of prawns to grill and they were a delicious accompaniment to our barbeque meal. Sweet and meaty, it was a shame we didn’t have two stomachs to order another plate!
Our Hida beef on houba miso
Side dish of tofu, potatoes, and simmered mountain vegetables
Hida Beef on Houba Miso Set Meal (¥2000)
Prawns (¥1400)
Service
he overall service at Hidatakayama Kyoya was very prompt, efficient, and timely especially considering how busy the place was.
When we did our research, visitors seemed very impressed by the modest down-to-earth hospitality and their interactions with the “okami-san.”
An okami-san is the name given to a female manager or owner of a traditional Japanese style establishment like a ryokan who is at the center of guest relations. At Hidatakayama Kyoya, their role is to greet guests, explain and demonstrate how to cook certain dishes, ask how the patrons enjoyed their meals and go the extra mile to provide information about Takayama’s must-see tourist spots for visitors.
Unfortunately, we noticed that the general staff who served us weren’t as “homey” in their reception and hospitality on the night we visited and it’s a shame that we didn’t get to experience a true “okami-style” service for ourselves.
Keep in mind, this restaurant closes super early! We arrived at around 8pm and the last order for food was at 8:30pm with closing time at 9pm, so that could be why the staff rushed us to be seated and to order.
If you want to have a more relaxed time, it would be best to arrive during lunch or at an earlier dinner time.
Value for Money
s Hidatakayama Kyoya serves premium quality hida beef, the prices for the meat dishes are generally on the pricier side however still on par with prices found at other yakiniku restaurants. You can still enjoy a hida beef meal affordably by ordering the “Hida Beef on Houba
Miso Set Meal” at 2000 yen, which is the restaurant’s most popular menu item.
Considering the quality of the food and the unique dining experience offered at Hidatakayama Kyoya, splurging on a meal here is definitely worth it.
Hidatakayama Kyoya – Takayama
1 Chome-77 Oshinmachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0851
Website: http://www.kyoya-hida.jp/
- Enjoy a special food and sake factory tour in Takayama
- Discover all there is to learn about Takayama’s famous Hida Folk Village
Need a place to stay in Takayama? Use our handy widget to find the perfect accommodation:
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