☆まっちゃん
On August 9, 2024, I visited for the first time with a friend, celebrating my birthday at the “Somen Sakaba Hayashi Park City Musashikoyama” restaurant, which I frequently visit near Musashikoyama Station. I heard that they opened a sister restaurant specializing in yakiniku (grilled meat) near Meguro last November, so I made a reservation right away. Many of you might already know, but this new establishment is the first domestic franchise produced by the famous Yakiniku Jumbo Shinozaki Honten in Edogawa Ward. It's part of the new business venture by Rapin Blanc Co., Ltd., which also operates “Somen-ya Hayashi” and “Somen Sakaba Hayashi” in Oi and Meguro. The president hails from Tottori, which is known for its beef. Tottori wagyu gained fame by winning first place at the National Wagyu Ability Competition, both in its inaugural event as well as the 11th event held in September 2018.
The location is about a 10-minute walk from both Meguro Station and the Tokyu Meguro Line's Fudomae Station, slightly further away, but it's close to Gonnaid Hill and the stylish Meguro Gajoen, situated on the middle floor of a chic building.
We ordered the "Nohara Yaki Course" (11,000 yen), which included:
**Appetizers:**
- **Kimchi Assortment:** Napa cabbage, kubu-kimchi, pickled radish, cucumber kimchi, and shallots. All were delicious Tottori products with just the right amount of pickling.
- **Namul Assortment:** Bean sprouts, spinach, and onion. The onion namul was a first for me and was delicious with a soy flavor. It also featured seasonal vegetables, which were okra, refreshing and easy to eat.
**Grilled Dishes:**
The dipping sauces for the meat included a recipe from Yakiniku Jumbo and a special ponzu made with bonito, kelp, orange vinegar, and kabosu, which was mild and full of umami. The staff, including the manager, cooked the meat for us, so there was no stress in “grilling” ourselves—professionals truly know best.
- **Tottori Wagyu Premium Tongue:** Thickly sliced but wonderfully juicy. Usually, tongue is served with lemon salt, but here it's enjoyed with the mild ponzu, which is surprisingly delicious.
- **Fresh Raw Heart:** A beautiful dark red piece, being the heart of the cow. We enjoyed this with ponzu, and it was the best heart I’ve ever had.
- **Wagyu Sangal Salt:** Sangal is located near the diaphragm, rich in fat. This is the true taste of wagyu.
- **Famous Nohara Yaki:** Named after a regular customer from Yakiniku Jumbo who invented this sirloin in a sukiyaki style. The manager expertly grilled thinly sliced sirloin, which we dipped in the unique yellow yolk of the mystical eggs from Shinohara Poultry Farm in Saitama. I couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!"
- **Thinly Sliced Meat with Grated Daikon:** This featured a beautifully marbled shoulder loin, and wrapping it with the grated daikon made for a refreshing bite.
- **Harami Skewers (with Onion Sauce):** Thickly sliced harami (diaphragm muscle) served on a skewer. I savored the first bite of the grilled meat alone, then enjoyed it with some onion sauce, which was delicious. The onion sauce was exceptionally good and would pair well with rice.
- **Tottori Wagyu Sushi:** Presented with rare Tomo Sankaku cut separately and the sushi rice, we grilled the meat and then wrapped it in fermented brown rice (enzymatic rice), which is on another level compared to regular meat sushi.
- **Tottori Wagyu Premium Cuts:**
- **Misuj:** This cut comes from the shoulder blade and is what I think of when it comes to grilled beef. It’s tender and oozes with juice.
- **Filet:** Located along the spine, this area is less active, making it lean. However, higher quality wagyu filet often features marbling. This filet was beautifully marbled, and just one bite nearly overwhelmed me with delicious juices.
**Ending:** Unlike typical yakiniku courses which often end with heavy dishes like cold noodles or bibimbap, here we had two small dishes which was remarkable:
- **One-Bite Curry:** This looked just like a cute version of curry rice. The flavor makes you feel the shredded beef and has a great scent of spices—absolutely amazing. I wish they would sell it as a retort pouch.
- **Cold Noodles:** Similarly compact, the noodles themselves were of great texture.
**Dessert:**
- **MOCHI cube from the famous Tottori confectionery “Hogetsudo.”** This was served as a special treat. Its softness was unbelievable, presenting a new texture with mochi, sweet bean paste, and cream—superb!
The drinks we had included:
- **Draft Beer (Suntory Premium Malts)** (770 yen)
- **Setouchi Lemon Sour** (660 yen)
- **Sharak Junmai Sake (Fukushima)** (1 go / 1480 yen) x3
- **Black Oolong Highball** (750 yen)
*Prices include tax.*
**What’s Great Here!**
You can savor Tottori wagyu that’s hard to find in Tokyo.
**What I Wish for…**
Nothing in particular. I believe Yakiniku Jumbo’s expertise maximally showcases the potential of Tottori wagyu. In my limited experiences, I’d rank this among the top-tier yakiniku restaurants. The taste of the food was beyond reproach; however, I would note that the color and pattern of the serving plates didn’t quite highlight the meat well, and the noise from children in the family groups might have been distracting, especially on the weekend. They do have private rooms for 2 to 10 people, so I recommend making a reservation early if you’re celebrating a special occasion. Given the popularity, making a reservation is likely necessary.
Thank you for the wonderful meal!