I had lunch at "Niku no Yoichi Nakano," which opened in the Nakano Renga-zaka shopping district, just a 3-minute walk from Nakano Station. Since it has just opened, the interior is very clean. Each lunch set comes with a kettle of rice cooked in a clay pot for each person. I ordered the monthly special set, which had quite a generous portion, just like in the photos. The rice was freshly cooked. For those who want to try a bit of everything, there is a menu with five different types of meat served in smaller portions, which is great. It was delicious, but everything was served with sauce, possibly to complement the rice. The sauces on the table were also quite strong in flavor, which made it difficult to really taste the meat. It would be nice to have an option to try the meat with salt. That said, I was satisfied with the variety and price. Thank you for the meal!

I visited for lunch and ordered the "Goichi Full Meal Set." ◾️ Content of the meal set: Meat… It included kalbi, pork kalbi, pork toro, chicken, and sausages. The meat isn’t bad, but if you come to a yakiniku restaurant wanting to enjoy the meat, it feels a bit lacking. Rice… While it’s nice to have freshly steamed rice from a pot, it doesn’t taste special enough to stand out, making it feel like regular freshly cooked rice is tastier. Miso soup… The only ingredient was tororo kombu. Side dish… Kimchi. Also, the seating is cramped, making it hard to fit all the dishes on the table. It was barely manageable to place everything on a two-person table while dining alone. There were two types of dipping sauces that were delicious, but it would be better if there were either two small plates or a single dish that can hold both sauces. My expectations were high because of the combination of grilled meat and rice, which is why my feedback may seem a bit critical. However, true to its name, I left feeling full.

At the new barbecue restaurant on Brick Street near Nakano Station, I was told the cooked rice is recommended. I ordered it first since it takes 20 minutes to prepare. I was unsure about the meat portion, so I ordered the recommended marinated hanger steak and a single piece of horumon (grilled offal). The hanger steak was average, but there was an issue with the cutting; the muscle fibers were not sliced correctly, with no cuts on the tough side, only on the tender part. Customers are expected to cut the muscle fibers themselves. The rice had an odd smell, suggesting it might be old. The grains were small, and there appeared to be old rice sitting on top of the pot, raising hygiene concerns. By the way, I was seated at the far end, but the space was too cramped to sit straight; my legs were hitting the table, making it uncomfortable—only a child could manage it. Overall, disappointing experience.

I visited a newly opened restaurant in Nakano around 1 PM on a Sunday. There was no wait, but the place was full. I was able to get seated right away due to a turnover. I ordered the "Full Meal Set" and my wife had the "Monthly Special Set," and we also added "Negi Shio Tan" (green onion flavored grilled beef). The rice and egg were delicious, but the meat... Thank you for the meal!

This is a restaurant located on the brick slope near Nakano South Exit. We were able to make a same-day reservation for a course for four people on Saturday. The 5000 yen course feels surprisingly affordable because we were so satisfied. The meat itself is excellent, and the rice cooked in a pot and the egg to dip the meat in are all delicious and look great in photos!

Today, I visited a place famous for its rice cooked in a pot. Since the rice takes time to prepare, I placed my order first. Since there were four of us, I ordered two servings. Then we ordered some meat. Oh, it looks quite delicious. The color is a bit off; is it aged? However, there's no off-putting smell, and it's tasty. The harami (skirt steak) is great! Overall, the prices are quite reasonable, providing a good value. And then the rice! Wow! ... Huh? Wait a minute. The portion is small. I ordered two servings, right? I thought they made a mistake and only gave me one. When I mentioned this to the server, they said, "This is our restaurant's standard." Wait, isn't it supposed to be two servings? What do you mean by standard? If you're changing the quantity of one serving without informing me, you should just label it as one serving. I thought it was pointless to argue with the staff. That wasn’t enough! For four people, just a little over one serving is really insufficient. So disappointing. But the rice was delicious. It was a bit on the softer side, so if it were a bit firmer, that would have been even better. It was tasty, but I probably won't visit again. Thank you for the meal.

I had the excellent Yoshiyichi set meal, and the quality of the chicken, pork, and beef was surprisingly good. The deliciousness of the rice cooked in a pot made me finish it in no time. The shop's recommended sauce with green chili peppers paired perfectly with the meat! It's also a big plus that they have extra meat available for those who want just a bit more. Lunch can get crowded, so I recommend making a reservation. I wish I could have had a refill on the rice! (laughs)

To be honest, it was lower than I expected. The rice was shiny and delicious, but the key issue was the meat… I’m not sure if it was the sauce or the taste of the meat itself, but there was a strange aftertaste. It’s hard to describe, but it felt like there was an odd flavor layered onto the meat’s taste. Additionally, there’s a seasoning called "umami salt," and when I tried it as a final touch, it completely changed the flavor of the delicious rice into something strange. Well, everyone has their preferences, so it’s hard to say, but I felt like adding it was a mistake for me. On the bright side, the dessert pudding was delicious. Was this a harsh review?

After a good workout, I was really in the mood for some hearty meat, so I decided to go to a barbecue restaurant. I'm someone who always orders rice when I go to a yakiniku (grilled meat) place, and the concept of a restaurant that serves delicious rice is already a win for me! The impressive pot-cooked rice complemented the meat perfectly, and in turn, the meat enhanced the rice, creating a delightful paradise in my mouth. I opted for the "full tummy set" for lunch, but for a man, it was more like a satisfying eight-tenths full. Since I'm on a diet, it was just the right amount for me. The price is somewhat high, but it might be justified for offering the unique experience of pot-cooked rice. However, the seating and table are quite cramped, so if you're going with a group, be careful. There might not be enough space for all the dishes on the table, so just a heads-up!

I went to the restaurant for lunch just before 2 PM and found it was close to last order. The quality of the meat wasn't particularly great. However, the rice was served in a pot, and since I served it myself, it was freshly cooked and delicious. The interior was nice and clean, and it was a two-story building with more seating than I expected.

The thick-cut tongue was so delicious that I came back for more. I enjoyed it along with freshly cooked rice, as well as the ribs and zabuton. I appreciate that it's on the first floor since there are stairs. I had an all-you-can-drink option, but there are also desserts available, so I think it's a place you can enjoy in a variety of ways.

I received a 100 yen discount coupon from Lady Gaga and excitedly headed to lunch. I ordered the Miso Grilled Set Meal (890 yen + tax). The miso grilled dish included beef offal, tonchan (a type of pork), and chicken thigh. The combination felt almost like it wasn't even grilled meat, but since it was the cheapest set meal for lunch, it was fine. The miso was on the sweet side. Among these, the beef offal was the only thing that was somewhat tasty, but surprisingly, the chicken thigh was the most abundant ingredient. There's not much more to say about the miso grilled dish, but the rice cooked in a pot was quite good. As a result, the highlight of the meal turned out to be the egg over rice I had at the end. Now, I usually drink beer during meals, especially if it's grilled meat. However, this time I opted for something different: a Yoichi Highball (490 yen + tax). The Yoichi Whiskey from Nikka, which was the model for the NHK morning drama "Massan," had a limited edition 10-year aged version that was so popular it was discontinued a few years ago. Now, only a non-age-stated version is sold. Even that non-age Yoichi is priced around 8,000 yen per bottle, so if a restaurant serves it as a highball, it would likely cost about 1,000 yen per glass. Yet, at this restaurant, the Yoichi Highball was only 490 yen + tax. I couldn't resist trying it. As for the taste, it was a somewhat diluted highball, and I can't say for certain, but I don't think it tasted like Yoichi. Given that the draft beer is from Kirin Ichiban, the chu-hi is from Hyoketsu, and the sweet tea highball is from Unsweetened Afternoon Tea—clearly favoring Kirin—it's a bit unlikely for them to use Nikka whiskey just for the highball. Just to be sure, I checked the restaurant's homepage, and while the name is "Niku no Yoichi," it has no relation to Yoichi town in Hokkaido and is actually a restaurant that originated in Nagoya.

I checked a certain gourmet website and visited a restaurant, but for some reason, it was closed... So, for Plan B, I headed to "Yoiichi," which just opened for lunch today. I debated whether to get the Yoiichi Full Meal for 1,250 yen, the Premium Yoiichi Meal for 1,990 yen, or the Harami Kalbi Meal for 1,890 yen. After a bit of thinking and quite a lot of indecision, I finally settled on the Yoiichi Full Meal plus a medium bottle of beer for 682 yen. The restaurant seems to take pride in its rice, as they use specially cooked rice that has a nice texture and sweetness. It turned out to be a blend of Hokkaido's Yumepirika and Gifu's Milky Queen, as they proudly displayed the blend in the restaurant (laughs). The quality of the meat is worth the price. The kalbi is called "Family Kalbi." However, the original spicy green chili sauce was delicious and definitely made me want to eat more rice. After I paid with PayPay, I received a piece of candy and a discount coupon as a bonus!

I visited the course meal. It's great that you can cook and eat rice right at the table. The rice was delicious. If you don’t have any dislikes when it comes to meat, it's nice that you can try various cuts with the course. I think it's a good deal at 4,500 yen for 120 minutes of all-you-can-drink.

I randomly walked into a yakiniku restaurant and ate to my heart's content! Every meat was delicious, and the rice was freshly cooked in a clay pot. The platter of tongue was especially tasty, I think. It wasn’t too expensive, and the all-you-can-drink option for 1500 yen was quite reasonable, making it a very accessible yakiniku spot!

This is a new yakiniku restaurant that has opened just off the south exit of Nakano Station, located on Renga-zaka. It seems to be a part of a chain operated by a group based in Nagoya. I noticed the new place and decided to stop by for a quick visit, but since I wasn't having a full meal, I couldn't try everything. The drink menu is extensive, making it suitable for a casual drink-and-grill experience. They also offer half-sized yakiniku options, making it convenient for solo diners. There are two types of sauces available at each table, and the green chili sauce was really delicious. I was intrigued by menu items like the beef tongue tasting and freshly cooked rice, so I definitely want to come back and enjoy a meal at my leisure. I plan to visit again soon!

On August 22, 2024, I visited "Niku no Yoichi," a restaurant known for its premium barbecue, located just a three-minute walk from JR Nakano Station's south exit. After crossing “Nakano Dori” and walking a bit further, I found the sparkling "Nakano Bunga-zaka" where the restaurant is situated. This newly opened establishment offers a cozy wooden-themed space perfect for casual dining while enjoying high-quality meats at reasonable prices. Their signature dish is the "Daisho Gyutan Comparison," allowing diners to savor different textures of beef tongue, from juicy marbled slices to chewy middle cuts. They also recommend their "Grilled Meat Lunch Set," which features a pot of freshly cooked rice. I made my reservation through Tabelog and was seated at a table on the second floor of the vertically designed interior. I opted for a drink from their all-you-can-drink menu for 1,650 yen, starting with a sugar-free lemon sour. Here’s what I had for dinner: 1. **Kama-daki Gohan (Pot Rice) - 594 yen**: This restaurant's specialty, cooked rice using "Yoichi" rice that takes about 20 minutes to prepare. I ordered it first and enjoyed it served in a rice bowl topped with meat, making for a delicious combination. 2. **Goma-dare Salad - 814 yen**: A hearty salad loaded with seaweed, paired with a sesame-flavored dressing for a veggie-first experience. 3. **Sashimi Platter (3 types) - 1,529 yen**: A trio of medium-fat tuna, red meat horse sashimi, and sakura yukke, perfect for revitalizing my energy during the summer. 4. **Marinated Japanese Pork Harami with Homemade Red Sauce - 869 yen**: This featured two large pieces of pork harami in a jar, along with plenty of cabbage. Grilled to perfection and served over rice, it had a robust flavor that was irresistibly good. 5. **Daisho Gyutan Comparison - 1,639 yen**: This included thick cut tongue, thin cut tongue, and rare tongue kalbi. Each provided a distinct flavor and texture, all enjoyed on rice. 6. **Fresh Cucumber Namul - 539 yen**: A must-order for cucumber lovers like me, serving as a perfect palate cleanser. 7. **Shiromai Specialty Kalbi - 979 yen**: With some rice still left, I ordered this as the finale. Grilled to perfection and served atop the last of my rice, it was the ideal way to end the meal. My total bill was 8,613 yen, and I thoroughly enjoyed my solo barbecue experience!

All the meat for the course is served at once, which looks amazing, but it makes me a bit worried about whether it'll be enough. However, it's definitely not insufficient, and I end up feeling super full! The cost performance is fantastic. The cheers when the "meat staircase" arrived were incredible, making me feel like a great organizer.

I reserved a table for five people on a staircase course, but the space was too cramped. There was no room to eat once the plate of meat and rice pot were placed down. I wish the seating arrangements were thought out a bit better.