8 Tokyo's Famous Fine Yakiniku Restaurants and 11 Best Easy-to-Reserve Restaurants

Features of Yakiniku in Tokyo, Japan

The difference between Japanese yakiniku and American / Korean barbecue

Yakiniku is often translated as 'barbecue' in English. However, since Japanese yakiniku differs significantly from Western or Korean barbecue, it's important to accurately understand it as yakiniku (Japanese barbeque). Korean barbecue, known as samgyeopsal, involves grilling a large block of pork and then cutting it into smaller pieces. It is typically served wrapped in leaf vegetables like sangchu. Typically, American barbecue is prepared outdoors, featuring the grilling of thick cuts of meat or steak, which are enjoyed once everything has been fully cooked.

On the other hand, Japanese yakiniku mainly uses beef cut into thin slices. The meat is cooked on a charcoal grill or roaster a few slices at a time as you eat. The main difference is that barbecue is eaten after everything has been cooked, while yakiniku is enjoyed as you cook. It emphasizes the authentic taste of the ingredients, allowing you to savor the flavors of red meat and fat. If you're planning to visit Japan, we highly recommend trying yakiniku, which is beloved by the Japanese nearly as much as sushi.

Wagyu (Japanese beef) enjoyed in Japanese-style yakiniku

Japan is renowned for its beef, known as wagyu, which comprises four types, all meeting specific criteria. Among them, 90% is kuroge wagyu (Japanese beef from black cattle), commonly served at first-class yakiniku restaurants. Additionally, beef in Japan is rigorously graded by a system that considers factors such as marbling (the balance between red meat and fat) and color, with A5 being the highest rank.

Many of the yakiniku restaurants specialize in popular cuts such as loin and karubi or galbi (meat around the ribs), as well as variety meats or offal (known as horumon in Japanese). Another characteristic of Japanese beef is the detailed categorization of its different parts, with some restaurants standing out by sourcing rare cuts that yield only small portions per cattle. Only certified venues are allowed to serve yukhoe (raw meat) or raw meat sushi, ensuring it is exceptionally fresh.

Yakiniku Restaurants in Tokyo

In Tokyo, there are many yakiniku restaurants, offering a wide variety of options. These range from reliable chain restaurants that maintain a consistent quality standard across all their stores, and yakiniku establishments listed among the Best 100 on famous Japanese gourmet review sites, to small privately-owned shops with long-standing reputations. Even luxury-class yakiniku restaurants offer unique characteristics, such as the type of wagyu served, specialty meat cuts, options for staff to cook the meat for you, and special menus in their omakase courses. While all are categorized as yakiniku restaurants, each establishment offers a distinct and memorable experience.

In this article, the editorial team from OMAKASE, the only online culinary service provider in Japan that is officially recognized by the Michelin Guide, will guide you through a variety of Tokyo’s yakiniku restaurants categorized as follows:

1. Eleven yakiniku restaurants that are easy to book but are sure to become a highlight of your trip to Japan
2. Eight yakiniku restaurants that are renowned not only in Japan but also worldwide

*When making a reservation, it is advisable to not only reserve the tables but also specify the course or desired meat, ensuring that you secure the cuts you are seeking.

Eleven Yakiniku Restaurants with Easier Reservations

1. Yakiniku Onuki (焼肉 大貫)

1. Yakiniku TOKYO Top 100 Selected Restaurants in 2018 - 23 (on famous Japanese gourmet website)

The melt-in-your-mouth lean meat at Yakiniku Onuki in Shinjuku, Tokyo offers an immersive gourmet experience, especially when dipped in a secret sauce passed down from the original Yakiniku Onuki in Shizuoka Prefecture, a long-standing restaurant with a 45-year history. Named one of the top 100 yakiniku restaurants on Japan’s biggest restaurant review website, Yakiniku Onuki Shinjuku serves tender A5-ranked beef perfectly paired with rice from Niigata, one of Japan’s most renowned rice production areas, and accompanied by a sweet secret sauce whose precise ingredients remain a mystery even to loyal patrons.

In addition to their signature thick-cut tongue, the sirloin and chateaubriand steaks are also must-tries. With a wide selection of over 30 types of wine available to complement your meal, Yakiniku Onuki Shinjuku promises a dining experience that's both exceptional and unforgettable.

2. Yakinikuhorumon Araiya Shibuya (焼肉ホルモン 新井屋 渋谷)

1. Yakiniku TOKYO Top 100 Selected Restaurants in 2022,2023 (on famous Japanese gourmet website)

Yakiniku Horumon Araiya Shibuya stands out for its cost-effectiveness, offering fresh offal and high-quality wagyu sourced from trusted suppliers with whom they’ve built strong relationships—all at an affordable price. It is among the top 100 yakiniku restaurants listed on Japan’s biggest restaurant review website. With meticulous preparation and precise preservation, they strive to offer variety meats with the best seasoning. 

The standout dish is the men-abura (pork chin), known for its crisp texture and light fat. Their fresh thick-cut liver is odorless and carefully sliced to remove all connective tissues, ensuring a better texture. The shimacho (large intestine) at Araiya is tender and flavorful, despite typically being a tough cut.

The omakase course includes all-you-can-drink beverages and can be reserved on the day of your dining. To complete your meal, their specialty curry, made by stewing beef tongue, beef tendon, vegetables, and red wine with several spices, is also delicious.

3. Honten Yamashina (本店 山科)

1. Yakiniku TOKYO Top 100 Selected Restaurants in 2022,2023 (on famous Japanese gourmet website)

At Honten Yamashina, their seasoned chefs carefully assess the condition of the kuroge wagyu (Japanese beef from black cattle), handpicked by Japan's leading beef experts. They expertly determine the perfect cut and preparation before skillfully grilling it to perfection. Overseeing the entire grilling process is our exclusive grill chef. What better way to indulge in the rich aroma and deep flavor of yakiniku and teppanyaki than in a luxurious, private setting at Honten Yamashina? Crowned as one of the top 100 yakiniku restaurants on Japan’s biggest restaurant review website, Honten Yamashina offers signature dishes such as mille-feuille salted tongue, chateaubriand cutlet sandwiches, and bite-sized sirloin rolled around bite-sized rice balls made from the highest quality rice—all exceptional.

In addition to the main store, their annex specializes in yakiniku, offering an equally memorable dining experience.

4. Yakiniku Yazawa Tokyo (焼肉 矢澤 東京)

1. Yakiniku TOKYO Top 100 Selected Restaurants in 2021 - 23 (on famous Japanese gourmet website)

Any yakiniku gourmand would know the Japanese kuroge wagyu wholesaler, Yazawa Meat. This renowned distributor operates a yakiniku restaurant, Japanese BBQ Yazawa, just a few minutes walk from Tokyo Station, offering the highest-quality kuroge wagyu beef, exceptional yukhoe (raw meat), and sirloin, along with unforgettable rare cuts such as tri-tip (a part of the thigh meat). Yakiniku Yazawa Tokyo also sources the best quality eggs, making the egg yolk on top of the yukhoe remarkable. Additionally, the sauce, made with a mixture of yam, soup stock, and the carefully selected egg yolk, perfectly accompanies the meat and later serves as the ideal sauce with umami from the meat to pour over the rice. Your meal will be complete with homemade Japanese pudding made with those high-quality eggs. 

Despite being a fine-dining restaurant, you have the option of ordering à la carte instead of the full course. In an ambience reminiscent of an Italian bar, wine complements your outstanding dining experience at Yakiniku Yazawa Tokyo.

5. Yakiniku Shimizu (焼肉 しみず)

1. Yakiniku TOKYO Top 100 Selected Restaurants in 2018 - 23 (on famous Japanese gourmet website)

Get ready to experience outstanding A5-ranked beef at Yakiniku Shimizu, featuring delicate, sweet meat with beautiful marbling from female cattle—a rare find in the market. Their signature dish, thick-cut beef tongue, is a true rarity, with only five slices available from a single cow. Indulge in this slowly cooked delicacy, seasoned with salt to enhance its fine texture and rich umami flavor. With overall affordable prices, Yakiniku Shimizu is an irresistible destination for gourmet enthusiasts.

6. Yakiniku kirameki (焼肉 煌 -KIRAMEKI-)

1. Yakiniku TOKYO Top 100 Selected Restaurants in 2023 (on famous Japanese gourmet website)

Yakiniku Kirameki is redefining yakiniku as an integral part of Japanese culture, not just food. They source their beef through the Hiyama Group—a butcher with over a century of history, which also runs a Michelin-starred sukiyaki restaurant. Kirameki offers only the highest-quality beef, ensuring the uniquely sweet aroma and flavorful fat of kuroge wagyu. With its low melting point, their beef melts tenderly in your mouth.

At Yakiniku Kirameki, skilled staff grill the meat to perfection, complemented by creative specialties like gold-seared yukhoe topped with caviar and a premium truffle sandwich. The chic ambiance, with its sleek black interior, exudes sophistication, making it the perfect venue for any dining occasion.

7. Nihonyakiniku Hasegawa Ginza Main Store (日本焼肉 はせ川 銀座本店)

If you are ready to embark on an adventure where yakiniku meets Japanese cuisine in an innovative way, Nihon Yakiniku Hasegawa is the perfect dining spot for you. Here, a meat artist skillfully selects the finest kuroge wagyu while a vegetable sommelier meticulously picks fresh, flavorful vegetables. The experienced chefs then cook these ingredients in a fusion style. The course begins with a variety of Japanese dishes, followed by the highest-quality yakiniku. Nihon Yakiniku Hasegawa spares no effort in every detail, including their tableware made by a world-renowned pottery artist. The luxurious Japanese ambience makes this venue an unforgettable dining destination.

8. Hachiyama (鉢山)

Are you looking to embark on a culinary journey different from the conventional yakiniku dining experience? Look no further than Hachiyama, where Korean cuisine is crafted with the highest-quality kuroge wagyu. The expert chef, with over 40 years of experience in Korean cuisine, creates homemade dishes using seasonal vegetables. The assortment of namul (Korean side dishes made with vegetables, roots, seaweed, or sprouts) consists of 10 varieties, perfectly complementing yakiniku and pairing well with alcoholic beverages. Korean home dishes such as gomtang (oxtail soup), seafood buchimgae (Korean pancakes), and japchae (stir-fried Korean sweet potato noodles) are all exceptional.

Their unique smokeless roaster has gained Hachiyama popularity, as it cooks the meat without burning it and produces a soft texture, removing any excess oil. Without smoke, patrons do not have to worry about the smell sticking to their clothes, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the exquisite dining experience. This hideaway restaurant is also popular among female guests.

9. Horumon-yaki RukumaTokyo (ホルモン焼 婁熊東京)

Chef Kumai personally sources the variety of meats served at Horumon-Yaki Rukuma Tokyo to ensure exceptional freshness. The meat he selects is obtained on the day of cooking, meaning it was alive until that morning. The sweetness of the fat and the tenderness that melts in the mouth are unrivaled. Many repeat customers and enthusiasts aim to visit on Wednesdays to enjoy the limited course consisting of premium black pork. In addition to yakiniku delicacies, guests can indulge in remarkable dishes such as dry-cured ham, bacon, offal curry, and ramen. The chic, monotone interior provides an elegant backdrop, while the wine selection, curated by a sommelier with experience overseas as a representative of Japan, complements your dining experience.

10. Yoroniku (よろにく)

This fine yakiniku dining restaurant has redefined the concept of yakiniku by pioneering dishes such as rice balls wrapped in meat and yakiniku served with raw egg yolks. The owner-chef honed his skills at Japan’s renowned yakiniku restaurant, Yakiniku Jambo, before opening Yoroniku in 2007, bringing with him the secret sauce from this popular establishment.

The courses at Yoroniku are reminiscent of Japanese and French cuisine, featuring seasonal ingredients such as matsutake mushrooms and truffles. Their signature "silk roast," a thin-sliced sirloin rolled around a rice ball, is nothing short of a meat roll cake. Other dishes, such as a luxurious baguette topped with wagyu, sea urchin, and caviar, a refreshing soup to balance the richness of the meat, somen noodles to end the meal, and shaved ice for dessert, perfectly complement your dining experience.

You can choose from three locations to visit: Omotesando, Ebisu, or Azabudai Hills.

YORONIKU TOKYO AZABUDAI HILLS

https://omakase.in/en/r/dx551592

YORONIKU(Omotesandou)

https://omakase.in/en/r/xd706837

Ebisu YORONIKU

https://omakase.in/en/r/yr300126

11. SATO Briand (SATOブリアン)

Boasting the honor of being ranked the best yakiniku restaurant on Japan’s largest restaurant review website, Sato Briand’s popularity speaks to its quality. Using high-quality wagyu from Kobe and regions in Kyushu, the expert chef carefully grills the meat right in front of you, creating a visual and culinary delight. As the name suggests, Sato Briand specializes in chateaubriand, an extremely hard-to-secure cut that is both lean and flavorful.

Their signature dishes with unique twists include sukiyaki loin, a buri-katsu sandwich made with chateaubriand steak cutlet, and buri-meshi, a rice bowl topped with chateaubriand steak, sea urchin, and caviar. The course begins with beef stew, where the umami of wagyu is perfectly melted for your delectable enjoyment.

This establishment has several venues in Asagaya, and advanced reservations are required for all locations.

SATO Briand

https://omakase.in/en/r/sb771270

SATO Buriand Nanaban

https://omakase.in/r/ei992830

SATO Buriand Sango

https://omakase.in/r/sg795488

Eight Worldly Well-Known Yakiniku Destinations in Japan

1. Futago (ふたご)

Aiming to be the most memorable yakiniku restaurant in the world, the Futago chain offers dishes with entertaining elements. With over 100 locations across Japan and overseas venues in New York and Hong Kong, they continue to attract customers with enjoyable options such as oversized kalbi (short ribs), oversized harami (skirt steak), and oversized manga meat, reminiscent of the oversized meat found in manga. Additionally, the Futago Assortment lets you indulge in flavorful offal yakiniku. At Futago, the expert chef grills the meat for patrons, ensuring a delightful dining experience.

Make a reservation

2. Toraji (トラジ)

Established in 1995, the renowned yakiniku chain restaurant Toraji is celebrated for its concept: “thicker cuts of meat convey the umami better.” Their signature dish, a 9 mm salted thick-cut tongue, exemplifies this philosophy. Toraji even holds in-house competitions to perfect their cutting skills. Despite having 50 branches across Tokyo and other parts of Japan, they maintain exceptional quality by using special coolants typically reserved for medical purposes to keep meats like salted tongue and kalbi fresh, never frozen. Their original, highly fresh makgeolli has also become a favorite. Come enjoy the special thick cuts of yakiniku along with their distinctive drinks in a chic, serene atmosphere.

Make a reservation

3. Ushigoro (うしごろ)

1. Yakiniku TOKYO Top 100 Selected Restaurants in 2018 - 23 (on famous Japanese gourmet website)

Renowned for its stylish yakiniku, Ushigoro offers a mouthwatering array of meat dishes, including premium beef tongue and grilled shabu shabu. Serving only the finest A5-ranked black wagyu, their signature offerings include "premium tongue" made from the rare tongue base, raw beef available exclusively at health-center-certified venues, and seasonal dishes featuring luxurious ingredients like matsutake mushrooms and truffles. A wide selection of wines perfectly complements your meal. With seven locations spread across Tokyo and Yokohama, Ushigoro is widely accessible. The Japanese beef kappo restaurant, operated by the same management, has consistently earned one Michelin star for six consecutive years. At Ushigoro, the staff are unwavering in their commitment to delivering top-notch service, ensuring a memorable dining experience in a cozy, modern, and elegantly simple ambience.

Make a reservation

4. Yakiniku King (焼き肉きんぐ)

Yakiniku King is a well-known name throughout Japan, boasting over 300 locations. They offer three types of all-you-can-eat yakiniku courses for 100 minutes, with the most affordable option starting as cheap as 3,000 JPY. As a family-friendly restaurant, Yakiniku King allows elementary school children to enjoy the course for half the price, while children in kindergarten or younger can eat for free. When you crave a generous serving of yakiniku at a budget-friendly price, there's no better place than Yakiniku King.

Make a reservation

5. Sumibi Yakiniku Nakahara (炭火焼肉なかはら)

1. Yakiniku TOKYO Top 100 Selected Restaurants in 2018 - 23 (on famous Japanese gourmet website)

At Sumibi Yakiniku Nakahara, the focus is on the perfect texture of the meat as it melts in your mouth. Chef Nakahara, not confined by brand names, sources the highest-quality wagyu (Japanese beef) directly from producers, selecting only the most delectable portions to ensure an unparalleled texture. The courses are artfully designed like sushi, allowing patrons to savor each exquisite dish the moment it is served.

Don't miss their rare, legendary beef tongue. The thin-sliced sirloin from female cattle offers a crisp texture and high-quality fat. The open kitchen gleams behind stylish counter-seats, set against a beautifully traditional Japanese interior, enhancing your dining experience.

Make a reservation

6. Jambo Hanare (ジャンボ はなれ)

1. Yakiniku TOKYO Top 100 Selected Restaurants in 2018 - 23 (on famous Japanese gourmet website)

Every culinary enthusiast knows Yakiniku Jambo Hanare for their exceptional sauce yakiniku. A pioneer in Tokyo's yakiniku culture since 1988, this esteemed restaurant meticulously separates meat into detailed parts, adjusting cuts and thickness based on the condition of their selectively sourced black wagyu. Their standout special menu includes thin-sliced beef, which should be grilled for just 3 seconds on each side. Other highlights include sirloin steak dipped in raw egg yolk and loin steak. With nostalgic, friendly service and a spacious, welcoming atmosphere, Yakiniku Jambo Hanare promises the ultimate yakiniku experience.

Make a reservation

7. Ushimatsu (うし松)

1. Yakiniku TOKYO Top 100 Selected Restaurants in 2018 - 2023 (on famous Japanese gourmet website)

Ushimatsu is a renowned restaurant frequented by many Japanese celebrities. Their meat specialist traverses the kuroge wagyu ranches scattered across Japan, meticulously sourcing only the finest quality meat. This meat boasts a flawless balance of rich red meat and flavorful fat, delicately melting in your mouth without causing any stomach discomfort. It's best enjoyed simply with a sprinkle of salt, which magnifies its inherent umami flavors. Their course begins with a tantalizing tail soup, but the true highlight is their specialty dish, the shibari-tan. This exquisite creation combines thick tongue slices and fresh scallions in a sublime salt dressing. And let's not forget their Japanese beef sirloin bowl—a harmonious marriage of tender meat and perfectly cooked rice.

From highball drinks crafted with vintage whiskey to three-starred champagne wines, Ushimatsu boasts an outstanding selection of beverages. Complementing this impressive array is the impeccable customer service provided by their staff, many of whom have garnered experience working in foreign hotels. Combined with the elegant Japanese-modern interior design, this establishment ensures that your dining experience is nothing short of excellent.

Make a reservation

8. Yakiniku Motoyama Shinjuku Branch (焼き肉もとやま)

Motoyama boasts a rich history, having opened its doors in 1975. With a focus on Kobe beef, they meticulously select A5 kuroge wagyu beef and carefully manage its delivery from the ranches, ensuring that you can indulge in luxurious meat at approximately 60% less than the prices found at high-end restaurants. One of their most popular offerings is the Kobe beef kalbi, a three-piece set featuring rare cuts. Additionally, their akami-ushi three-piece set, which includes nigiri sushi of Japanese beef, seared yukhoe, and other rare cuts, is a delicacy not to be missed. Set in a nostalgic Japanese restaurant atmosphere, Yakiniku Motoyama Shinjuku Branch offers cost-effective yakiniku at an affordable price.

Make a reservation