Yakiniku is a popular gourmet dish offered in various formats, from standard to high-end restaurants, and even bar-style venues. One reason for its popularity is that it suits a variety of occasions, from casual gatherings with family and friends to special events like anniversaries and business dinners. We'll introduce you to the different cuts of meat, some you may already know and some you may not, as well as the latest Yakiniku restaurants.
Galbi, meaning rib in Korean, refers to beef belly in Japan. It’s rich in flavor and has fine marbling, which makes the meat feel softer than it actually is. When the meat juices rise to the surface, flip it over, and once it gets a nice sear, it's ready to eat.
Skirt steak is part of the muscle in the diaphragm and is classified as visceral meat, but its appearance and texture resemble red meat. It’s popular due to its soft texture, moderate fat content, and rich flavor, while also being lower in calories than short ribs. For the best taste, cook it thoroughly to bring out its savory aroma.
Horumon refers to internal organs like the stomach, intestines, liver, and heart. These cuts, such as heart (hatsu), tripe (mino), hachinosu, and senmai, are popular for their crunchy and juicy texture. Start grilling from the skin side, flip it over as soon as it browns, and cook it thoroughly until it stops shrinking to bring out its full flavor.
Rare cuts, which are obtained in small quantities from a single cow, are highly sought after. Chateaubriand, a famous high-end steak cut, is lean yet has the tenderness and flavor of marbled meat, and is best enjoyed grilled to medium-rare. Zabuton, known as the "fatty tuna of beef," should be lightly seared to perfection.
The order in which you eat yakiniku is very important. Start with lighter-tasting and less fatty cuts first. If you eat the stronger-flavored cuts first, your palate will adjust to the stronger taste, making it harder to appreciate the delicate flavors of the lighter cuts. It’s also a good idea to start with lean cuts like red meat to prepare your stomach before moving on to the fattier cuts. For a recommended starter, try the lightly seasoned salted tongue. Of course, there are no strict rules, so feel free to find the best order that suits your taste.
Galbi, meaning rib in Korean, refers to beef belly in Japan. It’s rich in flavor and has fine marbling, which makes the meat feel softer than it actually is. When the meat juices rise to the surface, flip it over, and once it gets a nice sear, it's ready to eat.
Skirt steak is part of the muscle in the diaphragm and is classified as visceral meat, but its appearance and texture resemble red meat. It’s popular due to its soft texture, moderate fat content, and rich flavor, while also being lower in calories than short ribs. For the best taste, cook it thoroughly to bring out its savory aroma.
Horumon refers to internal organs like the stomach, intestines, liver, and heart. These cuts, such as heart (hatsu), tripe (mino), hachinosu, and senmai, are popular for their crunchy and juicy texture. Start grilling from the skin side, flip it over as soon as it browns, and cook it thoroughly until it stops shrinking to bring out its full flavor.
Rare cuts, which are obtained in small quantities from a single cow, are highly sought after. Chateaubriand, a famous high-end steak cut, is lean yet has the tenderness and flavor of marbled meat, and is best enjoyed grilled to medium-rare. Zabuton, known as the "fatty tuna of beef," should be lightly seared to perfection.
The order in which you eat yakiniku is very important. Start with lighter-tasting and less fatty cuts first. If you eat the stronger-flavored cuts first, your palate will adjust to the stronger taste, making it harder to appreciate the delicate flavors of the lighter cuts. It’s also a good idea to start with lean cuts like red meat to prepare your stomach before moving on to the fattier cuts. For a recommended starter, try the lightly seasoned salted tongue. Of course, there are no strict rules, so feel free to find the best order that suits your taste.
For special occasions like dates or business dinners, indulge in premium yakiniku. High-end yakiniku restaurants offer the finest meats, including rare cuts like chateaubriand, branded beef such as Kobe beef, Matsusaka beef, and Yonezawa beef, as well as A5 and A4 grade Japanese black beef and popular aged beef, all cooked to perfection. Some famous restaurants allow you to compare various cuts in a course meal, and many have smokeless grills, so you don't have to worry about the smell of smoke lingering on your clothes.
Nara
A Luxurious Time Spent in a Quaint Space
Located in a quiet residential area near the Gakuenmae area in Nara City, "Itamae Yakiniku 1" boasts a modern Japanese exterior and a unique style where meat is cut only after an order is placed. The restaurant purchases entire cows, allowing diners to enjoy rare cuts such as chateaubriand, making it a hot topic among meat lovers.
Fukushima
Yakiniku Restaurant Boasting "Fukushima Beef" and "Fukushima Kirameki Beef"
A popular yakiniku restaurant in Yatsuyamadanishi, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, is known for its fresh, high-quality "Fukushima Beef" and "Fukushima Kirameki Beef." Praised for their tenderness and rich flavor, the meats are offered in affordable lunch sets such as the "Fukushima Beef Yakiniku Lunch" featuring four cuts of beef. The lunch sets come with unlimited rice refills, soup, salad, and small side dishes. The restaurant also offers a wide variety of side dishes like salads, kimchi, and cold noodles. Its relaxed atmosphere makes it suitable for casual dining and special occasions. With convenient access via car and ample parking near Route 4, this is a must-visit spot.
Tottori
Enjoy the Charm of Local Features and Daisen Black Beef in an Extraordinary Space
A Daisen black beef specialty store located about a 7 - minute walk from JR Fujimicho Station in Yonago City. You can enjoy Wagyu beef, which originated from Tottori's Ketaka, in a variety of dishes, along with carefully selected local ingredients. The cows are raised on a directly - managed farm with careful attention to water and feed, and are delivered directly to the customers without stress. The meat is so soft that it melts in your mouth, and it has a flavor that everyone will fall in love with and want to eat again. Bamboo imported from Kyoto is used throughout the spacious interior, creating a luxurious atmosphere. It can be used for a wide range of purposes, from large gatherings to small dinners.
Tokyo
Kuroge Wagyu Beef Carefully Hand-Cut by the Owner's Skill
Located near Asakusa's Kaminarimon in Tokyo, this yakiniku restaurant serves premium black wagyu from across Japan. The meat is seasoned with "Awayuki Salt," a special salt with a delicate texture that enhances flavor. The menu includes carefully curated accompaniments such as freeze-dried soy sauce, lemon, and Korean seaweed. The rice, selected by a certified rice master, is of the highest quality, making it a perfect match for the flavorful grilled meats. The warm, traditional interior provides a relaxing setting for a memorable meal.
Search for Restaurants Where You Can Eat High-Quality Yakiniku by Area
Yakiniku is something you want to enjoy with friends and family in a lively setting. In addition to popular cuts like short ribs, loin, skirt steak, and tongue, you can also enjoy vegetable sets grilled BBQ-style, and side dishes like stone-grilled bibimbap or cold noodles. Set menus or all-you-can-eat plans offer great value for money. Many of these restaurants are casual and family-friendly, so you can comfortably enjoy yakiniku even with children.
Tottori
Enjoy the Charm of Local Features and Daisen Black Beef in an Extraordinary Space
A Daisen black beef specialty store located about a 7 - minute walk from JR Fujimicho Station in Yonago City. You can enjoy Wagyu beef, which originated from Tottori's Ketaka, in a variety of dishes, along with carefully selected local ingredients. The cows are raised on a directly - managed farm with careful attention to water and feed, and are delivered directly to the customers without stress. The meat is so soft that it melts in your mouth, and it has a flavor that everyone will fall in love with and want to eat again. Bamboo imported from Kyoto is used throughout the spacious interior, creating a luxurious atmosphere. It can be used for a wide range of purposes, from large gatherings to small dinners.
Fukushima
Yakiniku Restaurant Boasting "Fukushima Beef" and "Fukushima Kirameki Beef"
A popular yakiniku restaurant in Yatsuyamadanishi, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, is known for its fresh, high-quality "Fukushima Beef" and "Fukushima Kirameki Beef." Praised for their tenderness and rich flavor, the meats are offered in affordable lunch sets such as the "Fukushima Beef Yakiniku Lunch" featuring four cuts of beef. The lunch sets come with unlimited rice refills, soup, salad, and small side dishes. The restaurant also offers a wide variety of side dishes like salads, kimchi, and cold noodles. Its relaxed atmosphere makes it suitable for casual dining and special occasions. With convenient access via car and ample parking near Route 4, this is a must-visit spot.
Hokkaido
Highly Satisfying Jingisukan at an Affordable Price
"Sapporo Genghis Khan Darumaotoshi" is located about a 6-minute walk from Susukino Station and Hosui Susukino Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway. The fresh raw lamb, which is purchased through the store's own unique route and cut on the spot after ordering, is tender and juicy. The recommended "Shoulder Loin" is a rare part that can only be harvested from a single lamb, and it has a good balance of lean meat and fat, and is easy to eat with little taste. The drinks have good cost performance, with not only soft drinks but also beer and other alcoholic beverages available for 110 yen. There are counter seats and table seats, which can be used for various occasions.
Nara
A Luxurious Time Spent in a Quaint Space
Located in a quiet residential area near the Gakuenmae area in Nara City, "Itamae Yakiniku 1" boasts a modern Japanese exterior and a unique style where meat is cut only after an order is placed. The restaurant purchases entire cows, allowing diners to enjoy rare cuts such as chateaubriand, making it a hot topic among meat lovers.
Search for Restaurants Where You Can Enjoy Classic Yakiniku by Area
Crunchy, chewy, and irresistibly juicy, horumon (offal) offers a unique texture and flavor. You can easily enjoy stamina-boosting cuts such as tongue, liver, heart, mino, and senmai. At a specialty store, the horumon is carefully prepared and served fresh from the day’s purchase, ensuring top-quality freshness, flavor, and texture. The distinctive taste of horumon might even win over those who are not typically fond of it, making it easy to eat and enjoy.
Osaka
High Quality and Fresh Hormone by Professional Connoisseurs
"Hormone Yamato Kujo" is located in the bustling town of Kujo, Nishi-ku, Osaka City. The restaurant offers high quality hormone (horumon) grilled over charcoal at reasonable prices. Once fresh hormone is purchased, it is quickly and carefully prepped to remove the tastiness and keep it in a delicious state. The hormone is served with homemade sauce after the customer's order is placed, so that the customers can fully enjoy the texture of the hormone, which is the characteristic flavor of the hormone. The restaurant is also equipped with private rooms for up to five people, which can be used for large gatherings of family and friends.
Hyogo
A Restaurant Where You Can Enjoy Horumonyaki with Your Pet
"Motsuji," located in Awaji City, Hyogo , is a yakiniku restaurant run by an owner with extensive knowledge of beef from working at butcher shops and ranches. The specialty hormone-yaki (grilled offal) is made from fresh meat sourced directly from butcher shops and grilled on traditional infrared roasters, enhancing its flavor. As an authorized seller of "Awaji Beef," the restaurant offers top-quality cuts of beef alongside a wide array of chicken dishes and a variety of a la carte options. The "Beef Tendon Curry" and "Chanja Roll" are especially recommended. In addition, the restaurant provides a menu for pets, allowing diners to enjoy a meal with their dogs in private rooms. The interior, centered around private rooms and decorated in chic black tones, offers a relaxing atmosphere. A visit to Awaji Island wouldn’t be complete without stopping by.
Osaka
A Yakiniku Restaurant Directly Managed by a Meat Wholesaler That Focuses on Homemade Quality
This yakiniku restaurant is approximately a 2-minute walk from Osaka Metro Shinsaibashi Station.Despite its convenient location near the Nishi-Shinsaibashi district (commonly known as Amerika-mura) in Chuo-ku, Osaka City, the restaurant is directly managed by a meat wholesaler and is popular for its high quality grilled meat at a good cost performance.All of the sauces, soups, kimchi, etc. are homemade.The restaurant uses Japanese binchotan charcoal and grills meat over a traditional shichirin (a charcoal griddle) to bring out the best flavor of the meat.The restaurant's interior is partitioned off with a bamboo screen, allowing diners to dine in a private, semi-private room, making it ideal for date nights or banquets where you want to enjoy grilled meat.
Osaka
Casual Yakiniku Specializing in Kagoshima Wagyu
Opened in September 2024 in Nishinakajima, a fierce battleground for yakiniku in Osaka, this yakiniku restaurant offers casual enjoyment of charcoal-grilled "shichirin yakiniku" (grilled meat over a charcoal grill).By purchasing a whole cow of female Kagoshima black wagyu beef from a producer, the restaurant offers high-quality A5-ranked meat at a reasonable price.The "10 rare cuts of beef" is especially popular.The Kagoshima-style miso sauce has a refreshing taste that goes well with red meat, and the sweet sauce with a hint of garlic gives the meat a thick texture.The casual atmosphere makes it a good place for a girls' night out.
Search for Restaurants Where You Can Eat Hormone Yakiniku by Area
Bar-style yakiniku restaurants have been increasing in recent years. Here, you can enjoy the pairing of wine and other beverages with yakiniku, as well as savor popular aged meats. What stands out is the bright, stylish atmosphere, unlike traditional yakiniku restaurants. Some places also serve Italian, French, Spanish, or creative small plates, adding a unique twist. The casual yet sophisticated setting makes it perfect for dates or girls’ nights out. It’s also a great place to enjoy yakiniku on your own, offering a welcoming environment for solo diners.
Osaka
A bar Where You Can Enjoy Japanese Black Beef and Wine with All Your Senses
A bar in Takatsuki, Osaka, where you can enjoy red meat of Japanese black beef and wine.For the red meat, we stick to female Kuroge Wagyu beef raised with care, and enjoy handmade dishes made with carefully selected ingredients such as cheeses from various countries and seasonal vegetables along with drinks.
Osaka
Casual Yakiniku Specializing in Kagoshima Wagyu
Opened in September 2024 in Nishinakajima, a fierce battleground for yakiniku in Osaka, this yakiniku restaurant offers casual enjoyment of charcoal-grilled "shichirin yakiniku" (grilled meat over a charcoal grill).By purchasing a whole cow of female Kagoshima black wagyu beef from a producer, the restaurant offers high-quality A5-ranked meat at a reasonable price.The "10 rare cuts of beef" is especially popular.The Kagoshima-style miso sauce has a refreshing taste that goes well with red meat, and the sweet sauce with a hint of garlic gives the meat a thick texture.The casual atmosphere makes it a good place for a girls' night out.
Search for Restaurants Where You Can Eat Bar-Style Yakiniku by Area
If you want to enjoy yakiniku in a private setting, a restaurant with private rooms is recommended. You can savor your meal without worrying about your surroundings, making it perfect for dates or celebrations. Some restaurants even offer a dedicated "roast chef" in the private room and serve high-end meat like rare cuts or branded beef, making them ideal for special occasions. Locations with high-floor views or luxurious course meals also enhance the atmosphere, making them great for anniversaries. Since you can enjoy privacy, it's also perfect for moms' gatherings with small children.
Hyogo
A Restaurant Where You Can Enjoy Horumonyaki with Your Pet
"Motsuji," located in Awaji City, Hyogo , is a yakiniku restaurant run by an owner with extensive knowledge of beef from working at butcher shops and ranches. The specialty hormone-yaki (grilled offal) is made from fresh meat sourced directly from butcher shops and grilled on traditional infrared roasters, enhancing its flavor. As an authorized seller of "Awaji Beef," the restaurant offers top-quality cuts of beef alongside a wide array of chicken dishes and a variety of a la carte options. The "Beef Tendon Curry" and "Chanja Roll" are especially recommended. In addition, the restaurant provides a menu for pets, allowing diners to enjoy a meal with their dogs in private rooms. The interior, centered around private rooms and decorated in chic black tones, offers a relaxing atmosphere. A visit to Awaji Island wouldn’t be complete without stopping by.
Mie
Enjoy the Tradition and Authentic Taste Founded in 1902
Gyugin Flagship Store is located about a 13 - minute walk from Matsusaka Station on the JR and Kinki Nippon Railway lines, blending in with the old townscape. At a time when eating meat was not customary, the founder trained in Tokyo to gain knowledge about beef. Later, he popularized "Matsuzaka Beef" with the hope that "the common people could easily eat meat." We carry rare meat that has been carefully raised for over 900 days in the Matsusaka beef production area and is considered a "special product." After the meat is butchered, it is left to age for about a week to ensure it is even more delicious. Enjoy the deliciousness of authentic Matsusaka beef along with top - notch service in a tastefully appointed tatami room.
Hyogo
Yakiniku Restaurant in Kobe Motomachi Where You Can Enjoy Carefully Selected Japanese Beef
A Yakiniku restaurant directly managed by Ota - ya, which handles everything from production to sales on its own farm. You can enjoy the finest "Ota Beef" at a price that can only be found at a restaurant directly managed by a farm. It's about a 7 - minute walk from Sannomiya Station, and since it's a calm shop with private rooms, it can be used for a wide variety of occasions.
Kyoto
Yakiniku Restaurant Delivering the Deliciousness of Wagyu Beef From Kyoto
"Wagyu Yakiniku Toku" is about a 5 - minute walk from Gion - Shijo Station on the Keihan Electric Railway, and serves high - quality grilled meat in a calm space overlooking the Kamogawa River, which has the atmosphere of Kyoto. We carefully select and purchase Shinshu Premium Beef, a branded beef that meets Nagano Prefecture's unique standards, as well as Kuroge Wagyu beef that is in the best condition that day from all over the country. The lunch menu, available only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, offers "Nikumabushi" and "Yakinikuju," each piece of meat carefully grilled over charcoal. In addition to a la carte dishes, course meals are also available for dinner. We have private rooms to suit the number of people, so feel free to use them for a variety of occasions such as entertaining, dinner parties, and anniversaries.
Search for Restaurants Where You Can Eat Yakiniku in a Private Room by Area
