Today we visit Akihabara's all-you-can-eat Wagyu beef restaurant, Nikuya Yokocho. This restaurant was opened in Akihabara in 2020 by Heijoen, a yakiniku chain that's been in business for over 50 years.

This is an unprecedented concept offering all-you-can-eat Wagyu beef of the highest A5 grade and has recently been featured in several Japanese media outlets.

Akihabara is often referred to as a 'fierce yakiniku battlefield' thanks to the high concentration of Japanese bbq restaurants in a single area.

Akiba's Nikuya Yokocho made headlines the moment it opened, and even today, you'll see long lines on holidays. The shop aims to cater to times other than weekday lunchtime.

When you enter Nikuya Yokocho, you will first select from one of two courses: the Wagyu-Mamire (All Japanese Beef) Course (6,980 yen including tax) or the Wagyu-to-Sake-Mamire (Japanese Beef and alcohol) Course, which includes an all-you-can-drink alcohol option (7,980 yen including tax).

Please remember that once you select an all-you-can-eat course, you will not be able to change it after.

After selecting your course, place your first order. At Nikuya Yokocho, you'll receive an order plate called the 'niku-tegata' (or meat tab), which comes in three sizes - large, medium, and small.

Next, order your favorite meat from the showcase. The meat showcase is the essence of a Japanese butcher shop! Select your meat here just as if you were buying high-quality cuts from a real butcher shop!

If you come hungry, chances are you'll want to order all sorts of things. But be careful not to order too much at once!

We recommend getting only one or two kinds of meat at a time. This lets you concentrate on the flavors as you taste and compare your favorite meats, making the experience much more enjoyable. Also, if you give in to your cravings too soon, you may not have room for any side dishes, closing dishes, or desserts in round two!

One of the great things about all-you-can-eat yakiniku shops is that you get to taste a variety of meats that you may have otherwise never thought to try. As someone who has helped their parents operate their own family yakiniku shop, I will now teach you the best way to enjoy Japanese barbecue.

The first thing you want to put on the grill is the Salted Beef Tongue. It has a crisp texture and a refreshing lemony taste. We recommend starting your meal with salted tongue because its flavor tastes weaker when eaten after more fatty cuts of meat. Also, as it's thin and easy to cook, grilling it first means you get to put something in your stomach right away!

Next on the grill should be any internal organs, such as horumon (offal), liver, heart. Once you've satisfied that craving, cook the loins, skirt steak, ribs, and any other standard cuts of meat.

If your course menu offers Atsugiri-niku (thickly-sliced meat) and Steak, order those during the middle to second half of your meal. But be careful - don't overdo it just because you're hungry!

At many all-you-can-eat yakiniku restaurants, excessive leftovers are strictly prohibited. Depending on the shop, you may be required to pay an additional fee for leftover food. To avoid this, don't succumb to temptation and order too much, thinking you'd be able to finish it all. Because the menu is so hearty, aim to eat little by little.

If your course includes all-you-can-drink, be careful about the beverages you select, as well. Beer and carbonated drinks can easily fill you up, so try not to have more than one cup. Afterward, stick to shochu and tea. The refreshing taste of oolong tea makes it an ideal palate cleanser after eating ribs and skirt steak.

If ordering side dishes, get them together with your ribs and any other hearty meats. Even if you only came for the meat, it would be a waste not to try at least one side dish! There's soup, fried chicken, chijimi (Korean-style okonomiyaki), and motsuni (an organ dish). Don't overlook the side menu!

Shime, or 'closing dish,' is a dish unique to yakiniku restaurants. Here you can get chilled noodles, gukbap (beef dashi porridge), bibimbap (Korean-style mixed rice), and other rice dishes to round off your meal. If you're craving something sweet, you can even order dessert!

The best way to enjoy All-you-can-eat Yakiniku
・Eat in order from least to most fatty cuts. For example, start with salted tongue, then move on to the organ dishes, ribs, and steaks.
・As leftover food is strictly prohibited, order in small quantities.
・Don't only eat meat! Try some side dishes and desserts, too!

We propose two recommended menus. "Miya," who loves meat, will follow a menu that focuses on just that. Meanwhile, the menu for "Yuki" will focus on balance, as she wants to try a variety of dishes.

Notice their aprons. Miya's apron reads, "Diet starts tomorrow," and Yuki's says, "Bring on the food!" Seeing each other's aprons, they exclaim in excitement, ready to tackle today's menu without paying a second thought to calories!

First, they receive Nikuya Yokocho's starter set (photo shows a 2-person serving). This set includes assorted yakiniku meats such as ribs, loin, and gopchang (beef intestine), as well as Korean seaweed sushi, lettuce, and cabbage. There's so much meat, one could get full on the starter alone!

Time to place their first order. Standing before the Japanese beef showcase, you can sense their excitement. "All-you-can-eat yakiniku of this quality!? They all look so thick and delicious!" Even our editorial department staff, which has done many interviews at gourmet places, can't help but be surprised at the multitude of high-quality cuts.

The first thing she grills is the Gentei Atsugiri Gyutan Steak (Limited Thick-sliced ​​Beef Tongue Steak). Her hand trembled in excitement as she picked up the 2-3cm thick slice of beef tongue.

"As a yakiniku lover, salted tongue is a must-have dish. But at an ordinary yakiniku restaurant, it usually costs more than 1000 yen for just a few pieces!" Miya explains.

As you can see, Nikuya Yokocho is considerably cheaper in comparison. This quality has been achieved to support Wagyu beef producers who have been affected by Covid.

Miya pauses after one bite. "It's really thick! I can't believe you can get such thick cuts of salted tongue from an all-you-can-eat menu!"

Next up is a dish called 'Kobe-gyu ni Natteita Kamoshirenai Horumon' (horumon that might be Kobe beef). The fat drips and burns in the fire.

"Horumon meat loses fat when grilling and can burn easily, so it's best to adjust the heat when cooking," says Miya. Still, the smell of the crispy horumon meat is delicious!

Miya moves on to the next dish. After the salted tongue and horumon, it's time for the main event. She brings her 'meat tab' plate to the showcase for an additional order.

At Nikuya Yokocho, you can select the meat from the case right before your eyes. You'll never have to worry about getting a cut of meat that looks different from the photo!

Miya selects the Wagyu Mango Cut Karubi (short ribs) and Phantom TOKYO X Steak for her next order. You can feel the power from the photos alone. As the name suggests, this dish is a thick cut of ribs that are diced like a mango. The Phantom TOKYO X Steak is a luxurious cut of Japanese brand-name pork.

Miya smiles in satisfaction as she eyes her freshly-cooked Wagyu Mango Cut Karubi ribs. The ribs are almost the size of her face!

How does it taste? Miya suddenly bursts into laughter. "Oh, it's delicious! It's so thick, but easily melts in my mouth. It doesn't leave a strong aftertaste at all. It's my first time eating ribs like these. I could probably eat as much as I want!" She continues laughing. And who would be able to stop laughing when eating such a delicious meal?

While Miya is laughing, the TOKYO X Steak is now ready to eat. Grabbing the scissors, she suddenly becomes serious. "The TOKYO X Steak is really thick and delicious, too! Since it's pork, it's lighter than the ribs and not as tough. You'll want to alternate when eating them." These are two of Nikuya Yokocho's most popular selections.

Just as Miya wonders where her next order is, the staff arrives at her table. This traditional side dish from Nikuya Yokocho is a freshly fried croquette with a crispy outside and fluffy inside. Although full from all the meat, she manages to make room for this, too.

After getting her fill of meat, Miya orders the Truffle-Scented Garlic Rice. She mixes the rice and ingredients together in the hot stone bowl. The fragrant aroma of truffles wafts out with every stir.

"Mmm, this is also really good! The delicious meat tastes exactly like the smell of the truffle. It's a dish any meat lover will enjoy!" And with that, the 'Meat Madness' Course comes to a close!

Yuki's goal is to eat a well-balanced meal consisting of various dishes. She begins grilling the Ume-Shiso Beef Tongue. This is a rather unusual seasoning for beef tongue. How does it taste? "It tastes really fresh! The plum flavor goes well with the lightly salted tongue. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to try something different from the typical meat dishes."

While the Ume-Shiso Beef Tongue cooks, she selects her next piece: Wagyu Hatsu (beef hearts). This thick and healthy cut is a popular organ dish in Japan. Next, Yuki adds in a piece of Wagyu ribs!

"I want to eat ribs first to satisfy my yakiniku cravings!" With that, her plan is revealed. This way of selecting and enjoying your food so freely is unique to all-you-can-eat yakiniku shops!

Next, Yuki selects the Large Wagyu Yaki Suki. This dish contains thinly sliced pieces of ​​meat that you can quickly cook on both sides, just like sukiyaki. "This sliced ​​meat is more like shabu-shabu, and more filling than I imagined! It's also easy to eat for women and elderly people who are watching their fat intake."

Next, Yuki chooses another thinly-sliced cut, the Exquisite Wagyu Beef Tail Shio-Yaki. Once it's cooked, she cuts around the bones. "I'm addicted to this unique crunchy texture!" says Yuki, face aglow.

Before selecting her shime dish, she finishes the remaining ribs from her first order. By the way, her "Bring on the food" apron is quite fitting!

"I held back on the rice so I wouldn't get full before eating my balanced meal, but wearing this apron makes me want to eat some (laughs)." What incredible power this apron must hold to sway a girl away from her focus on balance!

Yuki balances out the fatty meats by eating vegetables in between. The starter set comes with lettuce and cabbage, but you can always order extra salad and lettuce using the electronic menu.

After much deliberation, Yuki selects her shime dish from the electronic menu. It includes Beef Tongue and Green Onion Soup, Refreshing Chilled Noodles, and Cream Cheese Kimchi. This order is as balanced as a standard meal set. The chilled noodles come in a small bowl, so it's the perfect portion for people who want to eat a variety of things.

"Take a look at this soup! There's beef tongue floating inside!" Yuki shows her excitement at the thought of enjoying meat not only as yakiniku, but in her soup, too.

The Cream Cheese Kimchi is rich and delicious. It almost seems like a sake snack (laughs)." Such is the impression of Yuki, who also enjoys alcohol. If your course includes both Japanese beef and sake, be sure to order this as an appetizer!

Yuki, wanting to try even more dishes, doesn't stop there. The last thing to order is dessert. She orders Drinkable Almond Tofu, a dessert you can drink with a straw. It's the perfect way to refresh yourself after a meal. And with that, Yuki's balanced meal of meat, vegetables, side dishes, a closing dish, and dessert also comes to an end!

The average order amount of all-you-can-eat beef at Akihabara's Nikuya Yokocho is about 600g, or 30 pieces of meat. The highest amount eaten by a customer so far is over 1kg! At an average of 50 slices, you can eat a considerable amount by yourself!

Grill, eat, order, and repeat with all-you-can-eat yakiniku. All-you-can-eat Wagyu Akihabara Nikuya Yokocho boasts a variety of cuts from the highest-ranked Wagyu beef! Whether you only want to eat meat, or try a variety of well-balanced dishes, you'll be sure to eat to your heart (and stomach's) content!

*Information in article as of November 2021.
*Offer details and business hours may be subject to change depending on COVID-19 situation. Temporary closures may occur. Please see official website and social media for details.

Translated by: Krys Suzuki