軽井沢の肉劇場――脂を脱いだカウボーイ : The Cowboy House

Popeye Salad JPY 990
Garlic and Chili Soup JPY 660
Cowboy Steak (200g) JPY 5,500
Cowboy Hamburger JPY 2,200
Rice JPY 220
This restaurant is popular even on weekdays.
I arrived 20 minutes before the 4:30 PM sign-up time and was already third in line. I wrote my name down and was told to come back at 5 PM, so I took a light stroll around Harunire Terrace.
When I returned right at 5 PM, I was smoothly guided to my table. As expected from a popular spot, their system is well-organized.
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First up was the Popeye Salad.
It features a simple combination of spinach and bacon.
There’s no trace of the raw spinach’s typical grassy flavor; instead, it has a crisp texture that pairs well with a lightly spicy Japanese-style dressing. The saltiness and umami of the bacon add a nice accent, making this a simple yet highly refined dish.
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The Garlic and Chili Soup is based on a consommé, packed with sautéed garlic and chili.
The oil layer keeps it hot until the last sip.
It’s stimulating and feels more like a "liquid stamina booster" than just soup. The aroma and flavor pack a punch, providing just the right warmth for the chilly Karuizawa.
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The Cowboy Steak, made from ribeye, has been carefully trimmed of fat and sinew, resulting in an unexpectedly light dish.
The meat fibers are well-defined, and the rich flavor of the lean meat spreads with each bite.
There are two types of sauce: one based on soy sauce and the other on miso. The sweetness of the miso complements the savory aroma of the meat perfectly.
This steak truly delivers the feeling of "eating meat," making it a genuine cowboy-style dish.
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Next is the Cowboy Hamburger.
It boasts a strong beef flavor, made from 100% beef, with a pleasantly coarse texture.
It comes with a double sauce of anchovy butter and sweet chili sauce, but the butter was a bit cool, which was a shame. If it had been warmer, the aroma would have been more pronounced and even tastier.
The sweet chili sauce has a good balance of acidity and sweetness, pairing excellently with the meat.
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This place embodies the "pride of a butcher" by serving meat generously yet carefully.
The purity of the ribeye, stripped of excess fat, the rich flavor of the lean meat, and the fresh air of Karuizawa all contribute to a delightful experience.
While everything is enjoyable, considering the price, it occupies a position where "it’s accessible for special occasions, but might require a bit of courage for everyday visits."
A perfect steakhouse for satisfying your meat cravings on a weekend evening.