Japanese Grilled Beef: Yakiniku Restaurant ‘Hiro’ in Kyoto’s Ponto-cho

Greetings From Kyoto

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

Kyoto photographer Kosuke Okuda and I teamed up to do an article for the Russian travel magazine Afisha Mir (Афиша-Мир). I just got a PDF of the article — hot off the server!

In the article I introduced the long history of Aritsugu which was founded in 1560. Aritsugu is one of the most famous makers of traditional Japanese knives and they are found in good kitchens all over Japan. We focused on the special eel bone cutting ‘honegiri’ knife that is used for the traditional Kyoto summer delicacy of ‘hamo’ pike eel. The knife is over 40 cm long, weighs more that 500 gm and costs more than $1,000 USD!

I wrote it, but I can’t read it!!

To celebrate the completion of a recent project, I was invited out for dinner with the choice of restaurant being left up to me. After some pondering, I decided on the yakiniku (grilled beef) restaurant, Hiro in Ponto-cho (京の焼肉処 弘 | 先斗町店). I have been there a number of times and the other Hiro locations, but for me the Ponto-cho location has the best menu. Hiro is quite reasonably prices and offers AMAZING wagyu (Japanese beef).

BUT, the English menu is terrible as it only lists a portion of the full menu, and the full menu is a menu to behold!

Cucumber with beef miso dip. Yum!
Wagyu sushi
Today’s Beef: Listing Cut, ID#, Region, Grower and Bloodline (And URL to verify ID#)
Two kinds of wagyu (with ID#), coarsely chopped wasabi, cooking instructions and hourglass
Grilled beef with coarsely chopped wasabi
Grilled ‘Karubi’ Chuck Rib – Yum!!
Cucumber with beef miso dip. Yum!
Grilling ‘Karubi’ Chuck Rib

Grilling ‘Karubi’ Chuck Rib and Onions
A Japanese Cow’s ‘Business Card’ (ID number ensures not counterfeit wagyu)
‘Karubi’ Chuck Rib and Onions in Jar of Marinade

‘Karubi’ Chuck Rib and Onions in Jar of Marinade
Beef Shigure Chazuke (Traditional Tea Over Rice Dish, Wagyu-style)
‘Karubi’ Chuck Rib and Onions in Jar of Marinade (Different!)
Beef Shigure Chazuke (Traditional Tea Over Rice Dish, Wagyu-style)
Beef Shigure Chazuke (Traditional Tea Over Rice Dish, Wagyu-style)