Exquisite Taste Journey: Handpicked 5 Premier Wagyu Beef Restaurants

Hello to all foreign tourists visiting Japan! This time, I’d like to introduce you to restaurants where you can indulge in one of Japan’s culinary treasures: “Wagyu” beef. Wagyu refers to beef from the Japanese Black cattle breed, known for its rich marbling and tender texture. It can be savored in various dishes such as yakiniku (Japanese barbecue), teppanyaki (grilled on an iron plate), shabu-shabu, and sukiyaki. While Tokyo boasts numerous exceptional restaurants showcasing the deliciousness of Wagyu, I’ve selected 5 outstanding establishments for you to explore. Please, savor the charm of Japanese Wagyu!

• Ginza Rikyu: Crafting Opulent Flavors on the Teppan. Located in Ginza, this is a teppanyaki restaurant where premium ingredients like Japanese Black beef and Ise shrimp are expertly prepared right before your eyes. For dinner, indulge in the “Teppanyaki Course,” where you can select the grade and quantity of meat¹. Perfect for commemorating special occasions or cherished moments.
• Niku no Mansei Ikebukuro Higashi-guchi: Paradise for Beef Tongue Enthusiasts. Situated in Ikebukuro, this specialized beef tongue restaurant allows you to choose the thickness and cooking style². Budget-wise, it’s around ¥1,000 for lunch and ¥3,000 for dinner³, ideal for those seeking a casual Wagyu experience.
• Kobe Steak Restaurant Moriya Rin: Blissful Kobe Beef Experience. A teppanyaki restaurant located in Hyogo, Kobe, offering an ambiance of Japanese aesthetics and captivating live cooking performances⁴. Kobe beef is a renowned Japanese brand known for its incredibly tender and juicy nature.
• Yakiniku Bar Kanno Daidokoro Main Store: Shibuya’s Hidden Gem. Found in Shibuya, this yakiniku bar offers counter seats, making it perfect for solo diners⁵. They use domestic Japanese Black beef, served with homemade sauce or salt for seasoning. Their side dishes and desserts are also worth exploring.
• Tamba-ya Shijo Kawaramachi Store: Premium Shabu-Shabu and Sukiyaki in Kyoto. A restaurant in Kyoto’s Shijo Kawaramachi area offering all-you-can-eat Wagyu shabu-shabu and sukiyaki. Conveniently located near Kawaramachi Station, close to Gion and Yasaka Shrine⁶. They use high-quality Black Wagyu beef, served with ponzu and sesame sauce for shabu-shabu, and a sweet and savory sauce for sukiyaki.

These are the handpicked 5 exceptional Wagyu beef restaurants. How was that? Japanese Wagyu is a masterpiece cherished worldwide. Take this opportunity to experience the allure of Wagyu beef!