A couple visiting Tokyo said they paid far more than they expected for a steak after they apparently misread the price on a restaurant. The pair shared their story on a TikTok video, where it gathered more than 739,400 views.
The couple has been identified as Ally, who posts under the handle @allyrattdawg, and her partner. The two recounted how a meal they believed would cost $70 ended up costing them $700. Brobible points out that Japan is known for producing high-quality Wagyu and Kobe beef, and that many restaurants there charge premium prices for such cuts. Travelers may want to double-check the price of an item before ordering when dining out on vacation.
In a text overlay on their video, the couple wrote, “This one time in Tokyo we had a really nice $70 steak that was actually $700 because we misread an extra 0 on the menu.” The video shows the dish as 13 slices of beef served with a few pieces of grilled vegetables and a small ramekin of sauce. A small black placard with gold writing that read, “Kobe Beef.”
A misread menu and a steak that cost ten times more than expected
In an additional on-screen caption, the couple wrote, “Snapchat we sent to our family saying how good it was when we thought it was $70 not $700.” Many commenters who replied to the video appeared stunned by the price. Although, the restaurant did not address the video publicly as of writing.
One person joked about the cost relative to the portion, writing, “And to think after $700 I would still be hungry.” Another commenter imagined how they would cover such a bill, writing, “The way I’d have to be on affirm scheduling a payment plan 😂.”
Several other travelers said they had similar experiences in Japan. One commenter described a comparable mix-up, writing, “my boyfriend booked dinner, only it said 10,000yen per head. Arrived and it turned out to be Kobe Wagu Steak and we were to embarrassed to leave.”
Another user recalled their own shock at the final total, writing, “THIS HAPPENED TO ME AND I NEARLY PASSED AWAY WHEN WE SEEN THE BILL.” Surprise pricing can apply to drinks too, as one husband found when a margarita order left his wife stunned.
Someone else offered a more practical takeaway, suggesting the couple could find better value elsewhere. That commenter wrote, “sometimes gotta learn the hard way, but for next time there are so many better places to eat steak for a much cheaper price.” Other diners have reported similar shocks elsewhere, including a woman charged $24 for a slice of cake at a Chicago steakhouse.
A Reddit user compiled a list of red flags meant to help tourists spot eateries that may serve low-quality food at high prices. According to that list, warning signs reportedly include laminated, glossy menus filled with stock images, and employees soliciting people on the street to try their food.
Published: Jun 24, 2026 04:21 pm