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.
Tokyo
A Trendy Spot for Casual Dining With Premium Meat
Niku toiro is a notable restaurant that had its grand opening in March 2025. It uses high-quality meat procured through secret routes and serves a variety of elaborate course meals. Enjoy yakiniku in a casual setting in a luxurious, modern Japanese private room.
Fukushima
Savour Wagyu Beef and Special Moments in a Cosy Atmosphere
This yakiniku restaurant is located in Asahi, Koriyama City, Fukushima. High-quality Japanese beef such as "Fukushima Beef" and "Fukushima Kirameki Beef" is served with a special sauce designed to enhance the natural flavour of the ingredients. The menu also features a variety of dishes made with seasonal vegetables and rice produced in Fukushima. The spacious interior includes table seating and private rooms, offering a warm, wood-accented atmosphere ideal for relaxation. Known for its attentive service and the chefs' meticulous care, the restaurant provides a welcoming setting for families and groups. It is suitable for a range of occasions, including special dinners, casual lunches, and banquets. On-site parking is available, making it easily accessible by car.
Tokyo
Wagyu Dining That Brings Out the Best in the Ingredients
This Wagyu beef dining restaurant is located about a 10-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Shirokane Takanawa Station. They offer carefully selected Wagyu beef from all over Japan and high-quality ingredients sourced from all over the world, cooked in the most optimal way, so you can enjoy different flavors every time you visit.
Mie
Savor Premium Matsusaka Beef and Local Sake from Mie Prefecture
"Horumon Ippei" was founded in 1976 in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture. The restaurant takes pride in using locally sourced ingredients, including the rare "Premium Matsusaka Beef" directly purchased from livestock farmers, the savory red meat of "Ise Beef," and the clean, refreshing flavor of "Iga Beef." The owner personally samples each ingredient multiple times, selecting only the finest cuts, grilling methods, and sauces to achieve perfection. A variety of dishes complement the main courses, from exquisite horumon (Japanese grilled offal) to ramen that’s ideal for finishing the meal. The interior features table seating, raised tatami areas, and retro-style private rooms, offering a comfortable setting for everything from family gatherings to banquets.
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.
Kouchi
High-Quality Domestic Wagyu Beef Yakiniku at an Affordable Price
Located about a 10-minute walk from JR Kochi Station, this yakiniku restaurant offers high-quality domestic Wagyu beef at a reasonable price. Carefully selected cuts, including Kuroge Wagyu from Kochi , short ribs, and loin, deliver a melt-in-your-mouth experience. Other recommended dishes include horse sashimi and offal from Haruno, as well as live Chotaro shellfish, delivered fresh from the market and known for its richer flavor compared to scallops. A wide variety of wines are also available to complement the meal. The restaurant features a clean and modern interior, ideal for gatherings with friends, while the tatami seating makes it a great choice for family dining.
Aomori
A Renowned Yakiniku Restaurant Serving Premium Kuroge Wagyu Beef in Aomori City
"Daidoukou, Yakiniku" located along Japan's longest national highway, Route 4, is a renowned yakiniku restaurant frequented by many celebrities. The restaurant specializes in Kuroge Wagyu beef, and offers a variety of Aomori brand beef, including "Aomori Kuraishi Beef" and the rare "Imabetsu Beef," also known as the legendary Kuroge Wagyu beef. The restaurant also uses "Takko garlic" from Takko Town, known as one of Japan's leading garlic-producing areas. From soup and pickles to fresh vegetables, the menu is filled with the authentic flavors of Aomori. This long-loved restaurant, cherished by locals and visitors alike across generations, offers an exceptional yakiniku experience featuring premium Kuroge Wagyu beef.
Yamaguchi
High-Quality "Omi Beef" to Brighten Up Your Special Moments
A yakiniku restaurant in Hofu City, Yamaguchi that serves high-quality "Omi Beef". The restaurant has been certified as a designated store by "Omi Beef Production and Distribution Promotion Council", and the meat is purchased directly from meat centers in Shiga without going through middlemen, so you can enjoy fresh, high-quality meat. Enjoy the rich flavor of their signature menu, "Omi Beef A5 large-sized lean grilled shabu". In addition, the Wagyu beef offal, which can only be purchased as an Omi Beef wholesaler, has an outstanding plump taste and is so popular that there are many repeat customers. The restaurant has tatami-style seating, table seating, and private rooms, and can be reserved for private use. You can also celebrate birthdays and anniversaries with meat cakes.
Tokyo
A Yakiniku Restaurant in Asakusa Serving "Whole-Cow Cuts"
"Asakusa Yakiniku Gen - Specialty in Whole-Cow Cuts" a yakiniku restaurant that purchases whole cows, is located approximately a 2-minute walk from "Kinryuzan Senso-ji Temple." Matsusaka beef, a renowned brand of beef, is served at excellent value thanks to direct sourcing from the production area. The whole-cow purchase also allows access to rare cuts such as premium Japanese Black beef and "Nama-Tan" (raw beef tongue), offered in a casual yet refined style.
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.
Kyoto
High-quality Yakiniku Served by a "Meat Master" in Pontocho
Located in Pontocho, one of Kyoto's most famous entertainment districts, this restaurant opened in August 2021. You can enjoy A4 to A5 grade beef yakiniku sourced from all over the country. Known for its high-quality meat at an affordable price, it has many repeat customers. In addition to yakiniku, sukiyaki and shabu-shabu are available by reservation. The restaurant, designed in the style of a Kyoto machiya townhouse, blends seamlessly into the townscape, with a curtain adorned with wagyu beef serving as a landmark. Featuring a Japanese-modern interior with a stylish atmosphere, it is ideal for concluding your Kyoto sightseeing trip and dates and anniversaries. Indulge in high-quality brand beef in a casual setting that highlights the full flavor of the ingredients.
Osaka
Authentic Charcoal-Grilled Meat by the Owner Who Trained at a Famous Restaurant
An authentic charcoal-grilled yakiniku restaurant approximately a 5-minute walk from JR Fukushima Station.The owner, who trained at a famous restaurant in Osaka, serves A4 and A5 grade Wagyu beef with a professional eye for freshness and quality, without sticking to brand-name beef under the motto of "delicious.The beef is grilled over charcoal to lock in the flavor, allowing diners to enjoy the aroma and juicy taste of the beef, and also to remove excess fat.The restaurant's specialties are the "KOMBU KAMI HALAMI" and "GOKUMI" GENSHI KARUBI (salted), which are grilled in large chunks, and the HORUMON (hormone), which is pre-processed to enhance the texture and flavor of the ingredients, is also excellent.The restaurant's chic and sophisticated atmosphere is recommended for date nights and family dinners.
Yamanashi
Enjoy the Horumon of "Fuji Spring Water Pork"
Located approximately an 8-minute walk from Tsuru City Station on the Fujisanroku Electric Railway, "Grilled Izakaya Meat and Sake" serves a variety of grilled meats, including "Fuji Spring Water Pork" from Tsuru City, beef tongue, beef skirt steak, and wagyu offal. The beef tongue and skirt steak, prepared with a special sauce, are offered at prices rarely found in Tokyo. The carefully selected wagyu offal is a highlight of the menu. A wide selection of drinks is also available, including beer, highballs, and local sake. The interior features a welcoming atmosphere with both counter and table seating, creating a relaxed dining experience. It is an ideal spot to visit with friends or family during sightseeing or a trip through Yamanashi.
Yamagata
The Nostalgic Taste of Grilled Offal Returns
"Kappa", a charcoal-grilled horumon restaurant in Miyauchi County, Nanyo city, Yamagata, sadly closed its doors after 65 years at the end of January 2024. The restaurant was revived in July of the same year by the owners, who have inherited the traditions of Kappa, to start a new chapter in its history while keeping the nostalgic taste and atmosphere intact.
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
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.
Aichi
Enjoying Good Times with Friends in Tokoname
Located approximately a 3-minute walk from Nagoya Railroad Tokoname Station, this steakhouse is easily recognizable by its large parasol, red container, and the bold white letters spelling "STEAKS AND CHOPS" on a black wall. It offers satisfying course meals centered around meat dishes, ideal for a girls' night out or a casual gathering with friends. The extensive menu also includes a wide variety of a la carte options and drinks.The highlights here are the juicy meat dishes, grilled to perfection, and a curated selection of craft beers from across Japan. For those new to craft beer, "3-Glass Tasting Set" offers an easy and fun way to explore different flavors and find your favorite.
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.
Tokyo
Savour Yakiniku in a Traditional Japanese Atmosphere
Located about a 5-minute walk from JR Machida Station, "Wa-no-Ushi, Togyumon Bettei " is a yakiniku restaurant where you can enjoy a wide variety of dishes in a Japanese-style space renovated from an old Japanese house. The menu features mainly A5-rank Kuroge Wagyu beef, including carefully selected dishes such as "Thick-Cut Premium Tongue, Salt" made from the base of the beef tongue and "Kuroge Wagyu Skirt Steak" with a perfect balance of lean and marbled meat. The restaurant offers a hideaway-like atmosphere with various types of private rooms. Attentive service - such as guidance on how to grill the meat and suggestions for the best ways to enjoy it - adds to its appeal. This venue is ideal for a wide range of occasions, from anniversaries to business dinners.
Kagoshima
Yakiniku Restaurant Specializing in A5 Rank "Kagoshima Kuro Beef" Female Beef
Located in Kagoshima City’s bustling Tenmonkan district, this yakiniku restaurant offers carefully selected A5-grade "Kagoshima Black Wagyu," chosen by chefs with wholesale experience. Meals are prepared over charcoal, with both à la carte and set course options available.
Osaka
Authentic Charcoal-Grilled Meat by the Owner Who Trained at a Famous Restaurant
An authentic charcoal-grilled yakiniku restaurant approximately a 5-minute walk from JR Fukushima Station.The owner, who trained at a famous restaurant in Osaka, serves A4 and A5 grade Wagyu beef with a professional eye for freshness and quality, without sticking to brand-name beef under the motto of "delicious.The beef is grilled over charcoal to lock in the flavor, allowing diners to enjoy the aroma and juicy taste of the beef, and also to remove excess fat.The restaurant's specialties are the "KOMBU KAMI HALAMI" and "GOKUMI" GENSHI KARUBI (salted), which are grilled in large chunks, and the HORUMON (hormone), which is pre-processed to enhance the texture and flavor of the ingredients, is also excellent.The restaurant's chic and sophisticated atmosphere is recommended for date nights and family dinners.
Tokyo
Wagyu Dining That Brings Out the Best in the Ingredients
This Wagyu beef dining restaurant is located about a 10-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Shirokane Takanawa Station. They offer carefully selected Wagyu beef from all over Japan and high-quality ingredients sourced from all over the world, cooked in the most optimal way, so you can enjoy different flavors every time you visit.
Search for Restaurants Where You Can Eat Yakiniku in a Private Room by Area
