As of September 2024, this restaurant has been in business for 48 years, meaning it opened in 1976 (Showa 51).
Back then, in the regional city of Ito, Japan, family restaurants were still a distant concept. Steak itself was not yet a common dish in this fishing town, and the idea of eating with a knife and fork was, to say the least, quite a sophisticated affair.
Given these circumstances, the steakhouse opened with the concept of eating steak with chopsticks, something Japanese people were already accustomed to. The restaurant was named “Chapusutekki” (茶風寿笛), deriving from the English word “Chopsticks.”
What a wonderful naming choice!
I regret not filming a video of lifting the steak with chopsticks to show that it’s meant to be eaten this way. The steaks are already cut into bite-sized pieces, making them easy to enjoy.
And they are delicious! Absolutely delicious! The homemade sauce, which has remained unchanged for years, is irresistible. You must give it a try.
The restaurant is run by a lovely couple. While I was engrossed in chatting with the mother, who takes care of the customers, my steak cooled a little towards the end. But even cold, the meat didn’t get tough and remained delicious to the last bite. That’s another charming point!
