Kobe Beef&Matsusakaushi Sukiyaki(Shabu-Shabu) "Ginza Shabuki"(Main Store)

On my actual birthday, my husband was away on a business trip, so as soon as he returned, he wanted to celebrate my birthday properly with me. It happened to be a Monday, but also a public holiday in Japan, and he secretly booked a restaurant at 5pm to surprise me! After giving me a surprise flower bouquet and a birthday cake at home, we headed to Ginza. When we arrived, I was so excited and surprised to see that the restaurant was 「銀座しゃぶ輝 黒毛和牛しゃぶしゃぶ・すき焼き専門店 銀座本店」. I love wagyu, and I had heard amazing things about this place before, so I was already thrilled. We were seated in a private room with a small window. The view wasn’t anything special, but hey, at least there was a window, haha. My husband booked the【極】コース, which included 極上サーロイン、三大和牛食べ比べ（松阪牛・神戸牛・近江牛）、お野菜・特産キノコ、ちゃんぽん麺. When we sat down, the staff handed us a personalized menu for the evening, and the table was already set with a shabu-shabu pot with a light broth, Japanese sesame dipping sauce, and ponzu. They first brought out the 本日の産直野菜＋特産キノコ20種盛り合わせ, served with だし and minced garlic. I always like to start a meal with vegetables, so it was perfect. I loved how many different kinds of veggies and mushrooms were included. The longer they simmered, the softer and sweeter they became, and dipping them into the だし made them absolutely perfect. That だし, I wish I could buy it or learn how they make it! You can taste that it’s high quality, not too salty, and with zero chemical taste. I loved it so much. Then the wagyu arrived, raw, beautifully arranged, so I could finish my veggies in peace before moving on to the meat. There were four slices of 極上サーロイン. After swishing them in the hot broth, I dipped them into the ponzu and a bit of the sesame sauce. It was HEAVEN. So soft, so thin, it just melted in my mouth. Truly top-quality wagyu. Next was the 三大和牛食べ比べ（松阪牛・神戸牛・近江牛）, presented like a stunning wagyu tower. I forgot which cut was which, but each one had its own delicious character. Some slices were thin and buttery-soft, while others were slightly thicker but incredibly tender and juicy. We thought the “wagyu tower” wouldn’t be much after removing the top pieces, but we were wrong, there was a lot more underneath! The portion size was very satisfying, and we were extremely happy with it. After finishing the wagyu, I enjoyed the もちもち noodles that came with the veggie and mushroom platter. They were chewy and perfectly flavored from the broth. Then the ちゃんぽん麺 arrived. They looked handmade, and tasted handmade too. The staff told us to cook them for just two minutes, so we did. The thickness was perfect, not too thin, not too thick, with a great chewy texture. We both enjoyed them very much. Just when I thought the meal was over, my husband told me there was dessert. And it turned out to be another surprise, a birthday cake platter with two sparkling candles! He also gave me another surprise birthday present!! I was absolutely overjoyed. The dessert platter had two chocolate puffs, two cheesecakes, two chocolate mousse cakes, and two strawberry mousse cakes. They were all tasty, and my favorite was the strawberry mousse. The food, the atmosphere, and the service were all wonderful. We left with full stomachs and super happy hearts. I felt so special, it was truly an unforgettable birthday.