I tried Peter Luger in Tokyo

Summary

As one who enjoys the occasional steak or two, when I was planning a trip to Tokyo I was figuring out which steak to try. Of course being in Japan the first thing that comes to mind would be the mind blowing A5 wagyus here but I thought to myself, why not try something that I can’t get back home. This was when I discovered that Peter Luger has a branch here in Tokyo. Located just a short walk away from Ebisu station, we made reservations early to get a slot. Hailing originally from New York, the place is famous for their USDA prime beef, especially their porterhouse. As a small family of 3, we ordered a porterhouse for 3 together with two side dishes and the thick cut bacon. Overall, we were just blown away by the taste and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and felt that we overate.

Getting there and waiting time

We hopped on the Yamanote line and made our way to Ebisu station! If you take the south exit—which involves a fun little journey on a series of walkalators—you’ll know you’ve hit the jackpot! Just a breezy three-minute stroll east from there, and you’ll find yourself at the famous Peter Luger Steakhouse.

We had made reservations for 8 PM and arrived a bit ahead of schedule, brimming with excitement. Even with our reservation, we found ourselves huddled inside, eagerly waiting for our table. It felt like we were in a cozy holding pattern for about 15 minutes before we were whisked upstairs to the dining hall and finally seated. Since our group was a bit too big for one table, they charmingly split us into two smaller tables—one for four and another for three.

The anticipation was palpable as we settled in, ready to indulge in what many call the best steak experience in town!

Appetisers

We ordered the thick cut bacon and a salad to balance things out a bit. The bacon was really good, you can truly taste the smokiness and aroma of the meat. It was succulent and juicy and not at all dry. I highly recommend the bacon as it was that good. The salad was ok as well, had a bit of acidity to it which helped cut the fattiness. If you are not into greens, you can skip it. But if you like to have a little variety instead of a mouthful of only meat, the salad is the way to go.

Main course

If you have the chance to eat in Peter Lugers, just order the porterhouse. Forget everything else and order the porterhouse. I remember an ex-colleague of mine once tried ordering chicken at Peter Luger’s in New York and the waiter kept telling him that he should order the steak. Anyway, just make sure that you ask for medium rare. Don’t try to say well done, they probably might give you the stare.

The porterhouse steaks at Peter Luger Steakhouse are legendary for their exceptional quality and rich flavor. Their reputation truly precedes them. I can definitely say that they do live up to it and every bite was just sensational.

They say that the secret to their incredible taste lies in the month-long dry-aging process, which concentrates flavors and enhances tenderness. Cooked at high temperatures for a perfect sear, the steaks are seasoned simply with coarse salt to let the natural meat flavors shine through, often served sizzling hot on a warm plate.

The steaks are seasoned simply with kosher salt before being cooked in an extremely hot broiler that reaches temperatures unattainable in most home ovens. Kosher salt is pretty much salt but not as salty. It allows for the steak to form a nice crust without it being too overly salty. In the broiler, the intense heat creates a beautiful crust while keeping the inside juicy and tender. After broiling, the steak is sliced and served on a platter with clarified butter, delivering a sizzling presentation that excites the senses as it arrives at the table. The waiters will warn you of how hot the plate can be and they usually tip the plate so that the melted butter would flow down to one side.

In truth, the steak can be eaten on its own without any seasoning. They do serve it together with their own special home made sauce which in this case really did complement the steak very nicely. Initially I thought I would just give it a little try but I ended up finishing a couple of pieces together witht he sauce as well.

We ordered a couple of side dishes as well, a german style potato dish and creamed spinach. To be frank, the potatoes weren’t anything to shout about and the spinach as well.

It was really a memorable meal and I truly enjoyed it. The legend lives up to its hype even though this wasn’t the main branch.

As we were too full, we couldn’t order any dessert. They did give us some of these chocolate coins that my son loved and ate all of them (I think there were a total of 7 coins).

Rating and Conclusion

I’d happily give this place a glowing 5 out of 5 stars for its fantastic service, mouthwatering taste, and delightful ambiance! While I’ve heard that waiters in the U.S. can sometimes come off as a bit old school or even rude, the service in Japan was absolutely top-notch—truly a breath of fresh air! The restaurant was bustling with energy, and I couldn’t help but notice all the happy faces around us, which added to the vibrant atmosphere. Now, let’s be real: the food isn’t exactly cheap; our total bill for three of us came to around RM1,800 after conversion. But if you ask me whether I’d return? I’d shout a resounding “yes!” without a second thought!