Located just a minute's walk from Yamato-Yagi Station, "Niku to ieba Matsuda Nara Main Store" stands quietly at the end of a serene alley. This renowned establishment, featured in the Michelin Guide 2026 and a three-time winner of the Tabelog Award BRONZE (2024-2026), has finally welcomed my long-awaited visit.【Exterior】The entrance is adorned with bonsai and a striking red plate reading "MICHELIN 2026." Inside, the glossy black counter seats are complemented by a gold folding screen featuring traditional Japanese art, creating a theatrical space that heightens anticipation even before the show begins.【Appetizers - Three Assorted Dishes】1. Cold Chawanmushi with Yamato Beef Consommé and Hairy Crab - A refreshing introduction with layers of clear consommé and the sweetness of hairy crab.2. Sashimi of Shinshu Wagyu Beef Tongue - A dish that elegantly enhances the melt-in-your-mouth sweetness with kombu salt and sudachi citrus.3. Smoked and Grilled Yamato Beef Top Sirloin - The strong aroma of straw and the texture of sea grapes evoke a sense of summer, complemented by the acidity of a special ponzu sauce.【Main Course 1 - Aged Yamato Beef Hamburg Steak】A blend of ribeye and neck aged for 30 days in a self-aging chamber. This artistic dish features Awaji new onions and red wine sauce, layered with Yamagata dashi and green yuzu. The moment you cut into it, the juices burst forth, showcasing the concentrated umami of the aging process.【Main Course 2 - Yamato Beef Katsudon Gozen】This blissful meal features the award-winning "Yuudai 21" rice, cooked in a traditional pot, paired with a katsudon made with homemade dashi and Yoshino Matsuyama eggs. The frying is perfectly medium-rare. The side dishes, including simmered vegetables and miso soup with Yamato greens, are rich in flavor, and everything except the katsu is available for refills. The separately ordered Yamato Beef curry is also deeply flavorful, pairing exceptionally well with the rice.【Dessert】Homemade gelato made with Yoshino kudzu, Hokkaido milk, and ramune, served with a jelly of Yamanashi peaches and carbonated soda. The popping texture of the ramune and the smoothness of the kudzu leave a nostalgic yet refined aftertaste.【Overall Impression】Each dish reflects a deep respect for Yamato ingredients and a quest for excellence in meat cuisine, making for an unforgettable experience. The attentive service, which includes detailed explanations of the origin and aging periods, is also impressive. This is a restaurant I wholeheartedly recommend as a destination when visiting Nara. I look forward to returning in a different season.
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