I thought a yakiniku restaurant where you eat at the counter sounded interesting. Based on reviews I had seen, I ordered two types of tongue, three selected cuts of meat, and one type of offal. For side dishes, I got chanja and garlic rice. All the meat was delicious, and it was all Wagyu. In particular, I think the tongue was the best—it was so tender and sweet, easy to chew! As for the sides, the garlic rice was outstanding; it was so good that I thought I could go there just for that! However, from my amateur perspective, I do wish there was a bit more to really stand out. This is mainly because the Gotanda area is a fierce battleground for yakiniku, and there are quite a few restaurants that offer tasty Wagyu at a reasonable price. There are also places with great atmospheres. While eating at the counter might be a unique feature, it felt a bit like that was the only thing they had going for them. I might just not be enjoying it to the fullest since I don’t have a go-to restaurant. I’m wondering if it would be better for those who have already tried other places to come here as a second stop or if they should enhance their drink and food menus to be a strong first option. Alternatively, having a wider selection of small dishes that pair well with the grilled meat could be appealing as well. Given the comfortable atmosphere, it left me wanting more. I hope for the restaurant's growth and to see new offerings in the future!

I visited again. I didn't take many photos last time, so this time I took quite a few! ^_^ This is Masumi, located in the half-basement of Gotanda Hills. It's just three doors down from the famous restaurant Todaka. We started with braised beef tendon as the appetizer. It has a gentle flavor, making it perfect for warming up the stomach. We began with the premium beef tongue for 2860 yen. The difference from last time is that all the red edges have been trimmed off. This was definitely a smart choice, as it doesn’t leave any residue in the mouth! ^_^ The thickness was just right, providing a satisfying chewiness while still being easy to bite into. ^_^ Of course, my teeth smoothly sank into the meat. They even provided finely chopped green chili for free, so I enjoyed it while changing up the flavor. Next, we had the premium flank for 3300 yen. As you can see in the pictures, it has beautiful marbling and the thickness is just right. While the famous Koyo in the neighboring Osaki station is well-known for flank, this one is comparable in deliciousness! ^_^ I forgot to ask whether I could choose between salt or sauce for it. I would have liked to try their marinated version as well. I’ll skip some details, as explaining everything would make this too long! ^_^ Thank you for the meal! ^_^

I visited a yakiniku restaurant called "Yakiniku-ya Masumi Gotanda" that opened last month in Gotanda on a Saturday night. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any offal available that day (sadly), so there was no harami, horumon, or liver. They were also out of high-grade tongue salt, which was quite disappointing. Due to the Obon holiday, they might not have been able to restock. As a result, I had to settle for "tongue salt," "loin," "yukke," and "ichibo." The quality of the meat was excellent, and the cost-performance was quite good. It's a stylish yakiniku place where you can eat at the counter, so I am looking forward to visiting again. Next time, I want to try the harami, horumon, and liver! Thank you for the meal. Date of visit: August 17, 2024.

I visited a yakiniku restaurant called Masumi that just opened in Gotanda after hearing some buzz about it! First, I tried the liver, lightly grilled before eating. It had no unpleasant odor, and the sweetness and melt-in-your-mouth flavor were delightful. Next, I was really looking forward to the [raw tongue]. You could tell from its appearance that it was well-marbled with fat. After lightly grilling it, it was so tender that it practically melted in my mouth without needing to chew! I want to convey that sensation of how easily it could be bitten through, with a thickness and richness that clearly showed it was high-quality beef tongue. I used to enjoy the best beef tongue at high-end yakiniku places in Akasaka, but I'm looking forward to making Masumi my go-to spot. Then, I had a shoulder cut whose name I forgot. The marbling was beautifully done, and the way the lean meat and fat blended together in my mouth was simply exquisite. Although I typically prefer lean meat at my age, this was a wonderful chance to savor the richness of the fat as well. The restaurant has six counter seats and four table seats, so I enjoyed chatting with the owner while dining at the counter. It felt more like a cozy eatery where I could enjoy conversation, food, and drinks all at once. To finish off, I had the sudachi cold noodles and their special curry.

This is a brand new restaurant. The interior has a counter and tables, with a spacious layout that allows for easy viewing. You can feel full even with just a little meat, and I thought they used high-quality cuts. In particular, the salted tongue and liver were delicious. They provided flexible and attentive service typical of a family-run business. Personally, I find the seasoning a bit on the lighter side, which I like, but since the meat is so good, it can get monotonous; I hope they could add more side dishes or vegetables. I believe this restaurant has a lot of potential for growth. I will definitely return.