Maria's SteakCafe Invited Me To Try Authentic Kobe Beef & Here's My Honest Take
'Mouthwatering' doesn't even begin to describe it.
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We've all probably heard of Kobe beef, but how many of us have actually tried it?
It's a very rare dish that's hard to come by, and only a small amount of authentic Kobe is exported outside of Japan. According to Crowd Cow and the official Kobe Meat Distribution Promotion Council, only 10% of the Kobe beef supply is marked for export worldwide; the very first export only took place in 2012 to Macau.
Most restaurants that sell "Kobe" (or "Kobe-style") beef are not the real deal; authentic Kobe — which can only be sourced from select Tajima-gyu cows in Hyogo Prefecture — goes through stringent quality control regulations, adding to its scarcity and premium price.
But this highly prized luxury is now available in Malaysia thanks to Maria's SteakCafe, one of the few restaurants in Malaysia authorised by the Kobe Meat Distribution Promotion Council to serve Kobe beef.
Our dinner began with a French duck dish and truffle soup
Right away, I could tell this was not going to be a regular dinner.
We were served duck à l'orange and truffle mushroom soup, both of which tasted simply exquisite. The duck, in particular, had a smoky, rich flavour that complemented the orange sauce it was served with exceptionally well.
And then came the mouthwatering highlight of the night, as we were served three types of steak — Angus, Wagyu, and the coveted Kobe
Our wonderful hosts at Maria's SteakCafe gave us a challenge: to guess which steaks was which. This was a tough one to crack for someone who isn't a steak expert, since they looked largely similar.
But one bite was enough to tell which steak was the Kobe — its taste was nothing short of a flavourful burst of delight.
Words cannot begin to describe it, but once you've had a taste of Kobe beef, it's easy to understand why it is so highly coveted, and why quality control is so strict.
A lot of it has to do with the marbling — the fats entwined throughout the beef that melt at low temperatures, giving Kobe its distinctively soft, buttery, delicate profile that, much to my surprise, actually does melt in the mouth. Or, more accurately, the flavour explodes in your mouth.
Combine that with the smoky grilled flavour, and it really is as simple as this: one bite and you're hit with the feeling of, "Oh, I get it now."
And at a price of RM590/100g, you can definitely taste your money's worth with every bite.
The other steaks are nothing to scoff at, either — Maria's SteakCafe is one of the best steakhouses around, and their Wagyu and Angus steaks are equal parts fragrant, beefy, and just the right amount of juicy rare goodness.
But wow, that Kobe really is something magical.
Here's how to get to their signature outlet:
Address
Lot 157, First Floor, Suria KLCC Shopping Centre
Jalan Ampang, 50088
Kuala Lumpur
Operating Hours
11am – 9pm (daily)
Book a reservation here:
03-2181 6788 | 010-902 0386
