monkei
After returning from a soccer watching trip, we had a victory celebration at a yakiniku restaurant! We arrived around 9:00 PM on a Saturday night, and there were only three groups of customers. First of all, the drinks were cheap! Beer and highballs were both 190 yen. It's recommended for those who want to drink a lot, although the beer is likely a third beer, which tastes a bit light. But since it’s cheap, it’s not a big deal; we were mainly there for the food.
The appetizer was motsu-nikomi (stewed offal), which was quite delicious, though I think it was around 400 yen? The portion was a bit small for the price. For the meat orders, we had the following: a tasting of tongue for 980 yen, black wagyu A5 premium short rib for 680 yen, and a three kinds of wagyu platter for 1280 yen. We compared pork tongue and beef tongue, both of which had no odor and were crisp and tasty. The portion was small, but at this price, it’s definitely worth ordering.
The black wagyu A5 premium short rib was delicious. While it didn’t have a sweet meaty flavor, the fat had a rich taste and was excellent, especially for the price. If you love short ribs, you could eat this continuously; it’s definitely a repeat order. The three kinds of wagyu platter didn’t have an explanation of the cuts, but it was likely short rib, loin, and ichibo. The short rib and loin had a bit more fat, but the meat quality was good. This is also a must order!
The dipping sauce was a bit on the sweet side, but it matched the slightly fatty meat well without being too heavy. The restaurant has a solid concept of providing delicious meat at a low price, and I think it’s a pretty good place. It’s also friendly for solo diners, and considering the meat quality, the cost-performance is good.
Although it might be a lot for one person, I think ordering the Kanamori platter or a course would be a good option. I did think the service was a bit sloppy at times (like when dishes were just dropped on the table), but the staff were foreigners, so this might be just how they operate. I was a bit surprised when my change was lined up on the counter at checkout, though (laughs). If I have the chance to go to Tokyo again, I’d like to visit this restaurant once more. Thank you for the meal!