Grill your own wagyu, plate by glorious plate.
What it is
Yakiniku is Japanese grilled meat cooked by you, at your table, over charcoal or gas. Bite-size cuts of beef — and tongue, offal and vegetables — are grilled a few seconds a side and dipped in tare (a sweet soy sauce) or lemon-salt. Order by the cut: karubi (short rib), harami (skirt), tan (tongue), and premium wagyu.
What it means
Rooted in Korean barbecue but refined into a Japanese craft, yakiniku is a study in cuts: a good house ages and slices its beef precisely, and the menu reads like a map of the animal. It spans cheap, joyful chains and hushed A5-wagyu counters.
Why it's wonderful
You control every bite's doneness, it's social and hands-on, and great beef needs only seconds and a little salt. Marbled wagyu melts on the grill; a cool lettuce wrap and rice reset the palate between rounds.
What to order
- Karubi (short rib), harami (skirt)
- Tongue (tan) with lemon-salt
- Premium wagyu cuts
- Tare or salt; with rice & beer
For special diets
Meat-centric. Halal-certified yakiniku exists in Tokyo (see our halal venues); tare may contain wheat or alcohol, so confirm if it matters.
FAQ
- What is Yakiniku?
- Grill your own wagyu, plate by glorious plate.
- Is Yakiniku vegetarian, vegan, halal or gluten-free?
- Meat-centric. Halal-certified yakiniku exists in Tokyo (see our halal venues); tare may contain wheat or alcohol, so confirm if it matters.
Recipes and preparation vary by restaurant, so this is a general guide. If you're ever unsure, please confirm directly with the venue before you order — they'll appreciate the heads-up.
