On November 2, 2018, Friday, around 7:30 pm, I visited a restaurant with two colleagues from work. There were a total of three of us. The beef tongue and other meats were delicious (not eaten raw), and they offered all-you-can-drink with bottled wine too! The atmosphere of the restaurant was great, and the staff was very polite and attentive. Highly recommended. It's a great deal at 4500 yen (tax included) for this taste and all-you-can-drink. Definitely recommended for a date! There is also a counter seat available. I would like to go with my wife next time. This dinner was a monthly gathering with my colleagues from work, and since we couldn't go in October, it had been two months since our last dinner. Last time, one of us couldn't eat shrimp, so when we asked for his preference for the next dinner, he said he wanted to eat beef tongue. So, I searched on Tabelog and found this place, "KURAMOTO," a Japanese beef BBQ bar. I made a reservation for the 4500 yen course. Our dinners usually aim to stay within 5000 yen per person, as an informal agreement, and since two of us are in our 40s, we don't eat that much. We arrived at the restaurant about 20 minutes earlier than our reservation time of 7:30 pm. While walking around the area, I found a delicious-looking taiyaki shop and made the bold move of eating taiyaki before the BBQ. I enjoyed it on a bench outside and then headed to the restaurant. The restaurant is on the second floor, accessible by an outside staircase. As soon as I entered, two more people arrived. The interior had a counter in front and table seats on the sides. It wasn't that spacious, so I was surprised we could get a reservation for a Friday evening. A group of about five people was happily dining at a table on the left side. We sat at a 4-person table on the right side. We started with a toast with our first drinks. I had a draft beer, of course. Then, we were served appetizers and salad. Each of us got a separate plate of salad. The beef tongue arrived promptly. They explained that it was not frozen, and the waitress told us how many seconds to cook it for. I started a stopwatch and cooked it as instructed. It was delicious! The texture was chewy yet tender, and the flavor was rich. I could eat more of this. I noticed a selection of wines on the wall and asked if we could choose from there for a glass. The manager, or someone who seemed to be in charge, said we could even order a bottle. Such generosity! So, I had a glass of red wine from Chile. It was delicious, with a distinct taste and good finish. It should go well with the meat! After that, three more types of meat arrived, and we cooked them for the recommended time before enjoying them. Although all the dishes were served within an hour, I kept enjoying the wine. Honestly, 4500 yen was quite inexpensive for this quality. The BBQ restaurant we visited with the same group recently, "Guu," also in Ikebukuro, was also a great deal, but if you prefer enjoying a small amount of high-quality meat at a reasonable price, I highly recommend this place. It seemed like my colleague who wanted to eat beef tongue was satisfied too. It's located within a 10-minute walk from the station, in a convenient area, so why wasn't it crowded? I wondered. A few more groups of customers arrived after us, but it wasn't fully booked. Maybe it's not well known yet, but it might get busier in the future. The meat and wine were delicious, the atmosphere was cozy, and the service was attentive. There was a group having a great time, but I would definitely recommend it for a date. Enjoy delicious BBQ and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. There are no private rooms, and the table spacing isn't that wide, so if you're on a date, how about sitting at the counter? Just make sure not to drink too much if you have to go somewhere afterward. I drank too much. I have someone waiting for me at home, so I managed to get back safely.

I was looking for a restaurant with a variety of yukke options and ended up here. The galbi, harami, and loin were all very easy to eat and tasted delicious with both salt and sauce. Personally, I really liked the tongue and grilled yukke. The tongue was sliced to a perfect thickness, providing a good chew and allowing me to fully enjoy the flavor. The yukke, as expected, was delicious. There's nothing happier than mixing fresh meat with raw egg yolk and eating it. The price may be slightly higher for the portion size, but the satisfaction level is even higher, making it a great restaurant.

I have been here for lunch several times, and it's really delicious! The prices are cheap, but the meat is tender and tasty, so the cost performance is really good! The all-you-can-drink option is also cheap, so even with the all-you-can-drink option, you can get full for just a little over 5000 yen per person. I will definitely come back again!

I felt like having yakiniku during the day, so I searched for a yakiniku restaurant in Ikebukuro that was open for lunch and found this place. The restaurant offers reasonably priced black wagyu beef. I ordered a set meal for lunch and ended up ordering more meat because it was so delicious. It was a satisfying lunch. Thank you for the meal!

We made a reservation for a course with all-you-can-drink included, and were pleasantly surprised to find that instead of sitting at the counter, a table was prepared for the two of us. The food at this restaurant was amazing, especially considering the price. My companion was so impressed by the quality of the meat for the price. We will definitely be going back again.

It was quite delicious. The quality of the meat was good and the portion was just right. The restaurant was a bit small, but that was actually quite nice. It's a perfect place for a casual date. Everything was delicious. I highly recommend it. Especially the beef tongue, assorted platter, everything was impressive.

After finishing some errands in Ikebukuro, I made a reservation to visit a restaurant located in the south area of the East Exit. I did some research beforehand and reserved only the seats. The restaurant is on the second floor of a building, but the entrance is narrow, so you have to be careful not to miss it. There are not many seats, with only about 4 or 5 tables in addition to the counter. They have a roaster for grilling, with three types of sauces: lemon salt, regular sauce, and a unique seaweed-flavored sauce. They offer thick-cut premium raw tongue, and they don't freeze the tongue base, so it is advertised as raw. They also have a kimchi platter with five varieties. I tried to avoid fatty cuts and opted for lean beef loin instead of the usual menu. In addition to the regular menu, they have recommended specials on the blackboard, such as Gunma's Ota beef, which is raised similarly to Kobe beef. They also offer self-yukke and sirloin yukke, but I chose the senbon (thousand stripes) from the hind leg. It's a part that you occasionally see these days. I grilled it for about 20 seconds on each side and also ordered wagyu seared otoro sushi. I couldn't resist adding sausages and chicken seseri. Lastly, I finished with cold noodles. They had Maker's Mark highballs, which was a lifesaver for me. After the first glass of draft beer, I switched to Maker's Mark, whiskey highballs, and lemon sours. Alcohol goes well with grilled meat on hot days. The restaurant operates on a strict two-hour time limit, so we ate and drank without lingering and left. The staff were friendly and the service was surprisingly good. It would be even better if they expanded their selection of lean meats.

This is a yakiniku restaurant located a 5-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station East Exit and a 3-minute walk from Seibu Ikebukuro Line Ikebukuro Station South Exit. It is one of the restaurants my friend and I often visit when we have meetings in Ikebukuro. The restaurant serves delicious meat that can be enjoyed with tasty wine, but it is a place where you can truly savor the meat little by little, so it's not suitable for young employees who like to eat a lot. Ordering a course is very reasonably priced, and you can add more to get full without spending over 10,000 yen per person. It is a cost-effective restaurant with high-quality meat. Since both of us like tongue, we always order the salted green onion tongue, which is thinly sliced but very juicy and flavorful. The kalbi and loin have a good thickness and are delicious. Enjoying delicious meat while sipping wine is a blissful moment, and we will definitely visit again soon as a pair.

Ikebukuro Station South Exit Meiji Street towards Mejiro, past the surprising guard, on the 2nd floor, the menu board caught my eye. I entered for the first time, climbed the stairs, turned left, and was greeted with a lovely smile and a small sky-blue teacup served with alcohol disinfection. I ordered the Wagyu Kalbi set meal and chose almond jelly (from coffee, iced coffee, almond jelly). I poured cold barley tea from the pot myself. A mini salad and chopsticks were served. It took about 8 minutes to experience the meat, rice, and soup being served. The Kalbi meat was a beautiful pink color and quite thick. The portion seemed a bit small, and the place felt cozy. It took a bit of time for the gas to be turned on and for all the items to be cooked. The rice was small-grained, white, slightly sweet, and a bit undercooked but tasty. You could also get a large serving or extra rice. I had three pieces of meat as an extra, so I got an extra half portion of rice. The soup was seaweed soup. The mini salad was fresh with a tasty sesame dressing. The sprinkle seemed to be an original dried version. The Wagyu Kalbi was a bit difficult to cook due to its fatty nature. The 6 pieces of Kalbi meat seemed to be more fatty than sweet, and the meat was not as tender as expected. After having a total of 9 pieces of meat, the last one finally reached the desired tenderness. The taste was mediocre, and the goodness of the Kalbi meat did not come through. The extra meat cost 310 yen for 3 pieces, which was quite cheap, so I ordered it. There were three types of sauce, including a sweet sauce for Wagyu and a kelp-infused ponzu, which I tried. It was not to my taste, but it had its own uniqueness. Three side dishes (pickled daikon, bean sprouts, cucumber pickles) were served, but I only realized they were missing after seeing them on the neighboring table. The pickled daikon was firm with a good spiciness and aroma. The almond jelly was smooth but slightly firm, and the almond flavor was light. The syrup was surprisingly sour, almost like lemon flavor. Tasting the syrup alone revealed a strong lemony sourness. While not typical for a Chinese dessert, it did provide a refreshing end to the meal. The staff's service after the meal was a bit lacking, but their lovely smiles and efforts were appreciated. The small restaurant had staff constantly looking downwards, so you had to call out to get their attention. The kitchen staff covered for the service shortcomings. The thick-cut Kalbi meat was good, and the rice was decent (although too soft). However, the lack of charcoal grilling was disappointing. The homemade sauce, garlic chips, and sprinkles added some originality. The meat, rice, drink, and original almond jelly for 1,000 yen were a good deal. The daily special meat seemed popular, but it was not available that day. They also offered takeaway bento boxes. The extra meat option seemed like a great deal. Thank you for the meal.

Exiting from the east exit of Ikebukuro Station and walking straight on Meiji Street, you will find this restaurant located just before Junkudo bookstore. If you make a reservation for 6:00 PM on a weekday, you will find only two groups of customers inside the restaurant. The place is quite spacious, so about 50% of the seats are empty. The meat is never frozen, so it is best to grill it quickly for about 20-30 seconds.

3.37 A shop a little away from Ikebukuro Station. A hidden gem! It's great for families to enjoy yakiniku, with some meats only available that day. I think it's fun to go there every time. Busauma Kalbi, Harumi, Negi Tan, Shio, Senmai Sashi, Senbon Niku, and Adult Kalbi.

I wanted to eat yakiniku, so I went to Kuramoto for the first time! The place had a cozy atmosphere and maybe due to the influence of Covid, we were the only customers. We decided to try various cuts of meat little by little. I'm not an expert on the quality of meat, but I still enjoyed eating it! We also ordered a limited menu item, myoga namul, which was a big hit for me! It might be a summer limited item, so if it's available, I recommend trying it! It was so delicious that I even tried making it at home afterwards. For the horumon, you can choose between miso and salt. I chose miso, but I want to try salt next time... I wonder if they can do a half-and-half order... The staff kindly recommended us different cuts of meat and how to cook them, which made me very happy! Thank you very much! If you're going for yakiniku in Ikebukuro, I would love to visit Kuramoto again! Thank you for the meal!

Since the self-restraint has been lifted, I used it for a date ^^ I was a little disappointed that the 10 kinds of assorted meats that were available last time were not there, but instead, Matsusaka beef was recommended for today, so I had a 3 kinds assortment and ribeye. It was wonderful (*‘ω‘ *) The standard menu items like kalbi, harami, and tongue salt, aside from the Matsusaka beef, were also great in terms of flavor and satisfaction. I think the original meat is also great, but the sauce they use for seasoning is so delicious (lol) Especially the harami and kalbi are a must-try. The interior is stylish and clean, suitable for families, friends, and dates, so I would like to come back again in the future (´∀｀)

During the self-restraint period, I made a reservation for a course meal at a place in Minami-Ikebukuro that is operating with shortened hours. It's a bit of a walk from the station, but it's easy to find as it's along Meiji Dori. The meal starts with appetizers and salad, followed by a gradual serving of meat dishes. There are also small side dishes served in between, so you won't get bored. The course features high-quality red meat with a good amount of marbling. They explain how to cook the meat properly, so you won't make any mistakes. Finally, they serve a soup dish and sherbet at the end for a refreshing finish.

I tried to find a yakiniku restaurant in Ikebukuro but everywhere was fully booked. Initially, KURAMOTO was also full, but they mentioned that a table would be available in about 40 minutes, so I contacted them again and made a reservation. They said they would let me know if a table became available earlier. When I arrived, I noticed that the restaurant was almost full and there were only two staff members in the dining hall, who also helped with washing dishes and cooking, but still managed to seat us promptly. We ordered the recommended items for the day: salted yukhoe, top loin, negi-tan salt, cholegi salad, wagyu aburi otoro nigiri, and kalbi soup. Overall, the quality of the meat was high and I felt that it offered good value for money. I didn't realize they had an omakase assortment menu, which includes 4, 6, or 10 types of meat, but considering the high quality of individual meat items, I believe ordering that would also be a good choice. The wagyu nigiri had a slightly tough texture, but at 600 yen for 2 pieces, it was still reasonably priced. This restaurant is recommended for those looking for good quality meat with good cost performance. Thank you for the meal.

Today we felt like having yakiniku! Dinner with my best friend on the 29th, the day of meat, and we didn't eat any meat! "I made a reservation for tonight." Unusual ( ・∀・) And it's only our second time here, but we forgot about it again⁉️ Is it normal to forget? We got a good deal with a 2-hour all-you-can-drink plan for 4600 yen this time too, so cheers with a beer!! Lately, we've been so busy that our schedules never seem to match up. Enjoying some rare time together!! - Vegetable salad - Namul & Kimchi - Tongue - Lean meat - Marbled meat - Beef harami - Potato salad - Ramen as the finishing touch - Yuzu sherbet I actually like sitting at the counter and grilling the meat. It's easy to chat with each other when you're sitting next to each other ( ・∀・). The service isn't bad, and the drinks for the all-you-can-drink plan come out quickly, so that's good. Each person gets 3 slices of meat, which is just the right amount. I can't eat as much as I used to! I couldn't finish the namul and salad today either. "What's wrong?" "I just can't eat much today." Lately, there are times when I can eat a lot and times when I can't. Gotta be mindful of my health when ordering. All the meat is tender and delicious. I ordered a shochu on the rocks for drinks, and it was served promptly. For the price with dessert included, I think it's worth it. Thank you for another enjoyable time today.

I found this restaurant while looking for a place in the neighborhood to have lunch. It was perfect for those who want to have a quiet meal during the weekend lunchtime. I ordered the mixed lunch, which came with meat, wakame soup, rice, salad, and appetizers. The meat was juicy and not tough even after being grilled. The portion size was just right. I was able to enjoy a meal while having a calm conversation. It is a rare place in Ikebukuro where you can have lunch without the hustle and bustle. However, it may not be suitable for those looking for all-you-can-eat options.

After exiting the Seibu exit of Ikebukuro Station and walking a few minutes towards Mejiro on Meiji Street, you will find the restaurant above Dandadan Sakaba. This was my first visit to Yakiniku Bar KURAMOTO. On this day, I ordered the Rich Course (5500 yen with all-you-can-drink). The menu included appetizers, salad, tongue salt, kalbi, premium kalbi, steak of rare parts, raw liver sashimi, simmered in salt, loin, harami, kuppe, and dessert. Instead of one piece of meat per person, we were served three pieces each! They mentioned that the tongue had never been frozen, and it was indeed very tender! They advised to grill each side for about 40 seconds. The staff were cheerful and the service was great! This is a definite repeat visit for me!

I was moved by the explanation that the meat was not frozen. The meat was so tender...eating it rare was truly delicious and I was amazed. It was a wonderful place that made me think of it as a treat. The entrance was a bit hard to find, but I think it added to the flavor.

If you want to eat normally, it's best to go to Seiei-en, but it seems like they also have raw tongue here, so we decided to sit at the counter since there were two of us. First of all, it's cramped. Well, as long as the food is good, I'll tell myself. First, a small glass of draft beer (Premium) for 550 yen. What! Such a small amount in a small glass. Oh no. Honestly, with the atmosphere of this place, I wouldn't mind a big mug. It's like a horumon-yaki (grilled offal) shop. Well, let's hope the meat is good. We started with the premium raw tongue with salt for 980 yen. Hmm, it's a bit thin but tasty. This one's good. We added the premium loin for 1,480 yen. Hmm, this one is also quite good. It goes well with wasabi. Still not enough, so we got the red meat platter for 800 yen each for two people. Each of them has good flavor and tastes great. The sausage from the butcher shop for 630 yen for 4 pieces. I think I've had the same ones at other places, but I like them, so it's good. We tried some other dishes, they were okay, not bad, but not great either. The problem lies with the drinks. It's good that they're all 500 yen, but the glasses are small and the alcohol is weak. I'd rather go to a more comfortable place with the same price. Also, the counter is extremely narrow, so if there are no table seats, it's better to avoid it. If they have table seats with all-you-can-drink, I would definitely want to go, but I'm good for now. Let's go to our usual place.

=H31.4= Occasionally, I aim to visit a restaurant for lunch that I have never been to before. I went to a yakiniku restaurant on the second floor along Meiji Street for their lunch menu, attracted by the daily special lunch of beef tongue stew. Unfortunately, it was sold out when I ordered, so I decided to go with the beef stew topped with soft-boiled egg for 880 yen instead. The counter seats in the restaurant had a fixed grill, which was a bit inconvenient. The meal came with salad, soup, and three small side dishes. The beef stew had five large chunks of meat, a bit tough but satisfying to eat. I wondered if it was also used for galbi soup. The portion of rice was generous, and I thoroughly enjoyed mixing in the soft-boiled egg. The almond jelly dessert was surprisingly delicious.