With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
This Is The Only Restaurant In L.A. Serving Authentic Kobe Beef
A cut of Kobe beef at Shibumi. (Photo courtesy of Shibumi, via Instagram)
()
Harsh truth time: almost all Kobe beef is a lie. Your neighborhood bistro with the "Kobe beef sliders" on the menu is probably serving you Waygu beef, of which Kobe beef is a subcategory found only in the Kobe region of Japan. (It's like that whole "It's only real bourbon if it was made in Kentucky" lecture you received from your latest terrible Bumble date. He was wrong, by the way.) The Kobe beef on the menu at David Schlosser's Shibumi, though, is the real deal—and they have the certificate to prove it.
Shibumi has been covered in glory ever since its opening in downtown L.A. last year, with Eater calling it "the future of Japanese dining in America" and legendary L.A. Times food critic Jonathan Gold placing the Japanese kappo-style eatery second on his list of "101 Best Restaurants." Part of the reason for Shibumi's success may be its commitment to authenticity—instead of passing off Waygu beef as the real thing, they proudly maintain their rep as the only restaurant in Southern California currently serving authentic Kobe beef.
"The Kobe Beef Association sent us a certification in August, which we laminated, just in case anyone doubted us," Shibumi's assistant general manager Heidi Lo told LAist on Wednesday. (See photos below for incontrovertible proof of Shibumi winning the Kobe-beef game.)
()
Support for LAist comes from
Shibumi's certificate from the Kobe Beef Association. (Photo courtesy of Shibumi.)
Lo added that Shibumi is only the 13th restaurant in the U.S. to receive the Kobe Beef Society's certification, noting, "The only other restaurant that I'm aware of that serves authentic Kobe beef near us is Alexander's Steakhouse in San Francisco." Unsurprisingly, most authentic Kobe beef-dealing restaurants in America are found in carnivorously inclined cities like Dallas and Las Vegas, rather than decidedly vegetable-forward Los Angeles.
A 3-ounce cut of authentic Kobe beef at Shibumi will set you back $124, which is ridiculous a perfectly valid way to celebrate being rich. Hey, at least you know you're paying for the real thing.
Shibumi is located at 815 Hill St. in downtown L.A. (323) 484-8915.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Tens of thousands of workers across Southern California walk out over pay and staffing issues. -
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for areas around the Airport Fire burn scar in Orange County mid morning. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership says the cuts amount to 11% of the workforce. -
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember.
Best of LAist