{"id":40487,"date":"2018-10-08T08:00:30","date_gmt":"2018-10-07T23:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=40487"},"modified":"2021-05-22T19:35:21","modified_gmt":"2021-05-22T10:35:21","slug":"oita-bungo-beef","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/oita-bungo-beef\/","title":{"rendered":"Taste the Wagyu Beef in Oita, Kyushu: Bungo Beef"},"content":{"rendered":"
Sponsored by Tourism Oita<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Japan is famed for its wagyu<\/em><\/strong>, luxurious Japanese beef characterized by superior taste and impressive marbling. While Kobe beef and other wagyu<\/em> brands <\/strong>have world-wide renown, they don\u2019t stand alone in the elite culinary world of wagyu<\/em>. Bungo beef<\/strong>, originating from Oita Prefecture<\/strong>, has made a name for itself among these heavyweights.<\/p>\n Oita, a largely rural prefecture on the northeast tip of Kyushu<\/strong>, has swaths of fertile open grazing lands on which local cattle ranchers raise high-end kuroge wagyu <\/em>(Japanese black beef) cows.<\/strong> One of the region\u2019s most well-known gourmet products, these cattle are the basis for Bungo beef, marked by a rich taste and high unsaturated fat content. Each bite melts in your mouth<\/strong>, the signature sign of a premium wagyu<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are many ways to eat Bungo\u00a0<\/em>beef\u00a0while visiting Oita. A myriad of establishments serve this variety, some in steak form, others shabu shabu <\/em>(Japanese hotpot) style or even at yakiniku<\/em> (Japanese barbecue). One great place to try Bungo is in Beppu<\/strong>. A popular Oita destination, this seaside hot spring town is considered one of the most famous onsen<\/em> resorts in Japan<\/strong>. Alongside its many traditional inns and public baths, it has no shortage of restaurants serving Bungo beef.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Motoyu no Yado Kurodaya<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is the ideal choice for those seeking a high-end Bungo dining experience. First and foremost a ryokan <\/em>(traditional Japan inn) with its own onsen<\/em> facilities, Kurodaya is located walking distance from several of the popular \u201cHells of Beppu\u201d tourist attractions<\/strong>. However, the inn doubles as a high-end dining experience, with a traditional Japanese dinner service on site that showcases the best of Bungo.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The full course meal includes dishes like kamameshi<\/em> (rice cooked in an iron pot) and seasonal regional vegetables. One highlight is an elegant sashimi platter of locally-caught fish<\/strong>. But the star of the meal is certainly the beef, first served as steak.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The sirloin cut comes from cattle in Oita\u2019s Yufuin District<\/strong>. Its peppery seared exterior is matched by its juiciness and soft texture. Sliced into segments, the steak is best enjoyed, first, on its own and then paired with a sweet soy dipping sauce. Each bite is rich and will be quick to fill up even the most ambitious diners, but do you best to save room for the next course.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The steak is followed by a shabu shabu <\/em>serving of A4 Bungo beef<\/strong>. The beef is served raw, displaying its beautiful marbling proudly alongside an assortment of vegetables.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once the pot of water has come to a boil, add the vegetables\u2014they\u2019ll help to flavor the broth and may take longer to cook. Then enjoy the wagyu by dipping the thinly-sliced cuts of meat into the water.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It will only take several seconds in the water to cook the beef before enjoying it with the accompanying sweet sauce and green onions. Like the Yufuin steak before it, the quality of the shabu shabu<\/em> serving comes through with every bite. The fine dining dinner service at Kurodaya will run between \u00a515,000 and \u00a520,000.<\/p>\n While A4 wagyu <\/em>is certainly worth the expense (especially true foodies) not all Bungo beef\u00a0<\/em>has to break the bank. There are other budget options in Beppu<\/strong>, that can offer visitors an introduction to Bungo without diving straight into a luxurious meal like the one offered at Kurodaya.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\nExperience A4 Bungo Beef<\/strong>\u00a0in Beppu Onsen<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Enjoy Bungo beef\u00a0on a budget at Korean barbecue <\/strong><\/h2>\n