Western-style Restaurant Genji

I don’t know who made the decision, and can’t get highly accurate information by searching the Internet right now, but apparently there is a Western-style restaurant in Kobe that is revered as one of the “Four Heavenly Kings of beef cutlets,” and I went to a restaurant called Western-style Restaurant Genji, which is considered to be one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” in Kobe. In Kobe, where there are many high-level Western-style restaurants, what kind of taste does a beef cutlet called “the four heavenly kings” have? As I was walking toward the restaurant with my heart filled with anticipation…

Among popular Western-style restaurants in Kobe, Western-style Restaurant Genji is No. 1 in terms of homey atmosphere…

Western-style Restaurant Genji is located a few minutes’ walk west of JR Motomachi Station, just between the station and Hankyu Hanakuma Station. Standing in front of the restaurant on the first floor of a magnificent building, the five letters “洋食ゲンジ” create a somewhat retro atmosphere. That’s not surprising, as this restaurant has one foot in the “long-established” realm, having been in business since 1977 and soon to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Just the fact that the restaurant has been in business in Kobe for that long makes us feel more secure about the food we are about to eat.

But the interior of the restaurant was bright and clean, not at all retro. There are a total of 26 seats, including 11 counter seats and table seats. When I visited the restaurant, a family of three generations was having a heartwarming lunch at a table in the back. All the waitstaff, including the owner and his wife, were friendly, and the restaurant seemed very family-oriented. Of all the popular Western-style restaurants I have visited in Kobe, this may be the best in terms of homey atmosphere.

Verifying the rumors of “Kobe’s Big Four Beef Cutlets.” Western-style Restaurant Genji’s Beef cutlet 140g <large> set meal, how was it really like?

Let me introduce the 140g beef cutlet <large> set meal (price: 2,550 yen including tax) that I ordered at Western-style Restaurant Genji on that day. After a little over 5 minutes of waiting after ordering, the 140g beef cutlet <large> set meal arrived in front of me… 

It may be hard to tell from the image above, but as expected of a <large> set meal, the volume of the beef cutlet is far greater than that of beef cutlets at other restaurants. The beef cutlet weighs 140 grams, whereas a typical beef cutlet weighs about 100 grams. Just hearing that number, beef lovers will get excited.

Let’s go ahead and try it… The batter is thin, but it is fried hard, and the crispy texture when breaking through with the teeth is very pleasant. The rare beef inside is soft in contrast to the batter, and is warm and well heated through to the center, with juices flowing from the cross section when bitten into. The amount of juices is so great that it feels as if I am eating a rare steak, even though it is coated with a batter. This is a sensation that can only be experienced with a certain volume of meat…a texture that can only be experienced with the <Large> set meal, which uses 140 grams of beef.

On the other hand, the sauce poured generously over the beef cutlet is somewhere between demi-glace sauce and tomato sauce. The sauce is mild and does not assert itself too much, but it is a sauce that enhances the flavor of the meat. Therefore, the quality of the meat must be high in order to bring out the full flavor, and in this respect, the beef cutlet at Western-style Restaurant Genji has nothing to complain about. I don’t know who chose the “Four Heavenly Kings of Beef Cutlet in Kobe,” but I felt that the quality of the beef cutlet was definitely good enough to be chosen.

Examples of other menu items at Western-style Restaurant Genji (prices include tax)

• Beef stew (with rice and salad)2,650 yen
• Hamburger steak <large> set meal 1,700 yen
• Mixed fries set meal 1,500 yen
• Beef cutlet curry 1,450 yen
• Fried shrimp set meal 1,150 yen
• Tonkatsu set meal 950 yen
• Curry and rice 750 yen

They also offer a set menu that combines two popular menus. .. Access to Western-style Restaurant Genji is a 4-minute walk from Motomachi Station on the JR Kobe Line, the closest station to the restaurant. 

Western-style Restaurant Genji also offers a set menu that combines popular Western-style dishes. The breakdown is as follows… 

• Special A set (special fried shrimp + shrimp cream croquette) 1,450 yen 
• Special B set (special fried shrimp + minced cutlet) 1,450 yen 
• A set (fried shrimp + shrimp cream croquette) 1,050 yen 
• B set (fried shrimp + minced cutlet) 1,050 yen 
• C set (Shrimp cream croquette + minced pork cutlet) 980 yen 

All of these sets come with rice, miso soup, and salad. In addition, fried shrimp, minced pork cutlet, and croquette can be optionally topped with one additional topping each. Combining multiple dishes is one of the great pleasures of Western cuisine. You can enjoy such a way at this restaurant without any problem!

Now, here are the details of the restaurant… 

From Hankyu Kobe Line, Hanakuma Station, it takes 5 minutes on foot.

P.S. If you are looking for delicious beef cutlet in Kobe, please stop by this article below…