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
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.
Saitama
Savor Quality Meat in a Stylish Yakiniku Setting
This charcoal-grilled yakiniku restaurant in Omiya Ward, Saitama City, specializes in Kuroge Wagyu beef, known for its tender, soft-fattened female cattle. Enjoy delicious lean meats, including the "Hiuchi" variety that gave the restaurant its name, cooked over charcoal. Fresh, unfrozen meat is perfectly cut for each order, allowing the chef to bring out the meat's natural flavor. The interior is modern and warm, with illustrations of Kuroge Wagyu beef adding a playful touch. The table seats offer a view of the kitchen in action.
Kanagawa
Teppanyaki in a Refined Space Near the Station
"Plancha L" is located within the complex "THE YOKOHAMA FRONT," directly connected to JR Yokohama Station, offering a dining experience that combines Western culinary techniques with the live, dynamic appeal of teppanyaki. Carefully selected Kuroge wagyu and fresh seafood are grilled on an iron plate right in front of diners, creating an immersive and refined atmosphere. The setting suits a range of occasions, including anniversaries and gatherings. The concept has been updated from "Spanish cuisine × teppanyaki" to "Western cuisine × teppanyaki," with new course offerings introduced in September 2025.
Hokkaido
A Yakiniku Restaurant Serving Abe Beef and Natural Wine
"Maruyama JIN, Wine and Yakiniku" is a yakiniku restaurant nestled in a quiet residential area of Maruyama, Sapporo, Hokkaido, catering to mature guests. Operating under the concept of "yakiniku and wine-friendly side dishes," the restaurant offers carefully selected Japanese Black beef, including the rare and premium "Abe Beef," as well as the renowned "Shiraoi Beef" from Shiraoi Town, Hokkaido, sourced directly from producers. The menu is complemented by a curated selection of natural French wines, handpicked by "Niban Dori Sake Shop" in Otaru to perfectly accompany the yakiniku. This exquisite pairing of wine and cuisine has earned the restaurant high acclaim among both locals and travellers, making it a popular choice with many repeat visitors.
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.
Saitama
Charcoal-Grilled Japanese Beef, Freshly Delivered from the Source
This yakiniku restaurant is located within "Johnson Town" in Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture. The restaurant serves carefully selected A5-ranked "Matsusaka beef" and "Omi beef" with minimal fat, which is cut fresh after an order is placed. One of their most popular dishes, the "raw premium tongue with salt," is never frozen from purchase to serving, allowing you to enjoy the authentic taste and tender, fluffy texture of beef tongue. The restaurant also offers a wide selection of drinks that pair well with yakiniku, including beer, Japanese whiskey, shochu, and wine. With private rooms available, it is perfect for various occasions such as anniversaries and banquets.
Iwate
Enjoy Iwate Prefecture's Finest Beef, Maesawa Beef
A store specializing in "Maesawa Beef" located along the Maesawa Bypass in Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture. Maesawa Beef, which has won numerous awards at events such as the National Beef Beef Carcass Exhibition and the National Beef Cattle Carcass Exhibition, is truly a work of art. It is highly praised nationwide for its top quality meat, and is known for its flavor and bright marbling. You can enjoy Maesawa beef, which is carefully fattened in the naturally blessed Maesawa area, in steaks, shabu - shabu, and other dishes. The location is approximately 10 minutes by car to Chuson - ji Temple, a world heritage site in Hiraizumi Town, and approximately 30 minutes by car to Esashi Fujiwara no Sato, a tourist destination in Oshu City, so it is said to be visited by many locals as well as tourists.
Hokkaido
Discover the Classic Flavours of Kitami-Style Yakiniku
This yakiniku restaurant is conveniently located approximately a 7-minute walk from JR Kitami Station. You can enjoy Kitami's traditional yakiniku style, where the meat is grilled over charcoal without any seasoning, then dipped in a non-heat-treated "raw sauce" made from vegetables and fruits. We also recommend serving it with the salt and pepper blended in the restaurant.
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.
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.
Nagano
Indulge in Premium Yakiniku Handpicked by a Shinshu Meat Connoisseur
This charcoal-grilled yakiniku restaurant is conveniently located just a 2-minute walk from JR Nagano Station. The restaurant offers a lineup of over 100 varieties, all approved by the owner, who is an expert on premium Shinshu meat, including carefully raised locally produced "Kitashinshu Miyuki Wagyu Beef", "Shinshu Minemura Beef", and "Ringo Wagyu Shinshu Beef", as well as Nagano-produced "Miyuki Pork" and "Shinano Jidori Chicken". There's also a wide selection of Nagano-produced wines and sake to pair with the yakiniku, making it the perfect dinner spot for sightseeing in Nagano. The restaurant offers table seating as well as semi-private table seating with roller curtains, making it ideal for a date, anniversary, or other special occasion with someone special.
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.
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.
Kouchi
Retro-Style Grill Featuring Hard-to-Find Horumon
Located approximately a 4-min walk from Tosaden Kotsu Tram Line, Horidzume Stop, this horumon-focused yakiniku restaurant serves fresh cuts selected daily. The menu ranges from familiar favorites such as "Gyumaru-cho (small intestine)" and "Gyuharami (skirt steak)" to rarer options like "Gyuchichikabu (udder)" and "Gyufufu (lung)", along with red-meat selections including kalbi made with local "Tosa Wagyu." A custom ventilation system and a Showa-retro interior with vintage signs and a red public telephone create a comfortable, nostalgic setting, complemented by an all-you-can-drink option available by the glass.
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.
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.
Aichi
Enjoy Premium Kuroge Wagyu at a Reasonable Price at This Yakiniku Spot
"Hanagyu Owariasahi" is a charcoal-grilled yakiniku restaurant where you can enjoy "Kuroge Wagyu Beef, with a focus on "Hida Beef", at reasonable prices. To make the experience accessible to guests of all ages, the restaurant offers both regular and half-size portions of its dishes. The menu includes daily specials such as “Today’s Chunk of Meat,” which vary depending on availability and are a favorite among regulars. Another unique charm of this restaurant lies in its tableware—carefully selected by the owner and sourced from local pottery regions such as Tajimi City in Gifu Prefecture, renowned for Mino ware. The attention to detail adds a thoughtful, local touch to every meal.
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.
Okayama
High-Quality Beef That Continues to Be Improved While Preserving History and Tradition
Yakiniku Chiya Beef, a yakiniku restaurant directly managed by JA Okayama, serves freshly sourced A5 and A4-grade "Chiya Beef" from its own farms. The menu includes affordable options like yakiniku, steaks, and beef bowls. The rice is sourced from "Ashin Genryu Mai," ensuring a delicious and locally rooted dining experience.
Search for Restaurants Where You Can Eat Yakiniku in a Private Room by Area
