When it gets cold, hot pot is always delicious. And when it comes to a feast that warms both the body and the soul, in my opinion, it's shabu-shabu and sukiyaki. So for the past few years, I have been eating shabu-shabu here at the end of the year. Since it was Christmas Eve on the day of my visit, I thought it would be impossible to make a reservation a week in advance, but there was availability for a table seat, so no problem at all. I was considering the fugu course, but I just finished my diet and want to avoid rebounding, but I still want to eat fugu! Then, a staff member in a kimono announced, "Today's special is Matsusaka beef." Matsusaka beef... what an attractive name. So, I settled for shabu-shabu and half of the fugu. I also used a coupon from a certain website to get a seasonal dish (I forgot the name, but it was a soup in a pot). The first slice of meat is prepared by the staff. Today, I can finally have sesame sauce. Ah, the sesame sauce at Kisoji is delicious. Of course, I also love ponzu sauce. The meat is very tender, and each slice gives a high level of satisfaction. Since it was Christmas, the half of fugu came with radish and carrot cut into reindeer shapes. It was a bit cute and comforting. For the finishing touch, I wanted to have kishimen, but my husband preferred Chinese noodles. However, they were delicious. The soup in the pot was seasoned with salt and pepper, so the Chinese noodles had a similar flavor, but they matched perfectly. The restaurant was very busy on that day. The staff members were busy, calling out "Excuse me!" to avoid collisions while rushing around. Nonetheless, the service was polite and friendly, and they chatted with us. The customers were also rotating quickly, with new ones coming in constantly. The restaurant is spacious and lively, which is nice, but it may not be the best place for a calm and relaxing atmosphere. I was very satisfied because the food was delicious.

I entered the restaurant at 7:00 PM, and it had a quite spacious interior with many private rooms. The course meal was mainly shabu-shabu, with appetizers, sashimi, grilled fish (grilled ayu), a vegetable platter, and dessert. Overall, the food was delicious. I wish the portion sizes were a bit bigger.

The organizer made a reservation at this restaurant. Today is a gathering of former colleagues from the previous company. The restaurant has adjustable partition walls to accommodate different group sizes. It's more cost-effective to visit before 5:00 pm on weekdays, as a 10% service charge is added on weekends. The menu seems to be a custom selection by the organizer this time. The course included: 1) Appetizers, 2) Simmered dish, 3) Main course, 4) Dessert, 5) Drinks. The appetizers included a sashimi platter, steamed egg custard, a pre-meal sake, rolled omelette, and grilled cod. The pre-meal sake and steamed egg custard on the appetizer plate were a unique touch. The simmered dish was a tomato basil beef hot pot with a side of soft-boiled egg. It's quite bold for a Japanese restaurant. The main course consisted of rice, soup, and pickles, but also included a tempura assortment. It seems that cold dishes are common for group meals. The tempura dipping sauce was warm, which was a nice touch. The dessert was sweet red bean soup with rice cakes, nothing special. It was surprising to have coffee served at the end, considering we already had tea with the dessert. Overall, the service from the staff in traditional Japanese attire was excellent.

We used it for a Buddhist memorial service (Shiragiku course). As it was just after the coronavirus pandemic, the restaurant was quite crowded, but we were able to have a calm meal in a reserved private room. The staff in the room were polite and I had a good impression of them. The food was prepared without meat and with subdued colors for the memorial service. Overall, the dishes were lightly seasoned and easy to eat. They quickly accommodated my request for a meal suitable for allergies and pregnant women avoiding raw foods. Next time, I want to try the meat dishes.

The practice of serving all dishes at once in a set meal has become established. Before the pandemic, even during lunch, dishes like freshly fried tempura would come with a time difference... Well, it can't be helped. I occasionally visit Kisoji at different locations, but I feel like the variety of dishes with a great deal of value has disappeared. The Ueno branch, due to its location, has narrow seating and is not very comfortable, but the service is stable and proper, so you can have a reliable business meal without any disappointments.

Kisoji has also evolved. They have increased the variety of condiments. There are many elderly customers here. I heard that Taito Ward has a lot of elderly residents. About 80% of the customers were elderly. I tried to make a reservation for shabu-shabu with two friends for my birthday at Kisoji in Ginza, but couldn't get a reservation, so we came here instead. The shabu-shabu was delicious - I love it. However, I realized that I am starting to not be able to eat as much as before. A few years ago with this group, we used to get about two extra servings of meat (laughs). This time, we only added one extra serving. We laughed sadly at how we can't eat as much anymore. You can change the dessert from ice cream to strawberry daifuku. They said it would take time because they make it to order, but I said I can wait! It was delicious.

I went to have dinner and tried shabu-shabu. I compared Matsusaka beef with a special selection. They look similar but the tenderness and quality of fat are completely different. Matsusaka beef has no odor, melts in your mouth, and is very tender. If you're going to eat, go for Matsusaka beef. The sesame sauce is delicious. The staff at the restaurant are polite. For dessert, there was ice cream, sherbet, and warabi mochi. I chose matcha ice cream. It was a satisfying experience.

Shabu shabu restaurant in Ueno. Although it's a shabu shabu place, they also offer sukiyaki, which I ordered this time. I chose a mid-priced course and added some Matsusaka beef. I had a lemon sour drink, where you squeeze the lemon yourself, which was refreshing. The chilled tomato served at the beginning was delicious and refreshing, with the onion topping adding a nice flavor. The staff cooked the first round of meat for us, which was tender and easy to eat. The meat melted in my mouth and before I knew it, it was gone. You can enjoy plenty of delicious meat at a reasonable price, making it a hidden gem.

I walked around Ueno in Tokyo with a friend after the cherry blossoms had fallen. It was still before noon, so we decided to have an early lunch to avoid the crowds. I remembered how delicious the "sukiyaki set meal" I had in Nagoya was. There was a restaurant in Ueno that was part of the same chain, so we decided to visit. Since it had just opened, we were able to find seats easily. I ordered the "American beef sukiyaki set meal" for 1,760 yen including tax, while my friend ordered the "Kiso lunch" for 1,650 yen. We also had a draft beer for 770 yen while waiting for our food. The sukiyaki pot arrived with rice, egg, miso soup, and pickles. Unlike the Nagoya restaurant, there were no grilled tofu, shiitake mushrooms, or konjac, but there was plenty of green onions. Underneath the beef, there was "kishimen" noodles. The sweetness of the dish was strong, just like in the Nagoya restaurant. The flavor was rich, especially when eaten with the egg. I ordered extra meat, so the portion was satisfying and delicious. This place is known for its authentic "shabu-shabu" and "sukiyaki" using high-quality beef. Even though I chose the cheapest American beef, it tasted great without any discomfort. The quality of the meat matters, but I think the flavor of the sukiyaki sauce is key. The service at the Nagoya restaurant was excellent, and while not as good, the service here was still decent. It may be intimidating to go alone, but it's a great place to enjoy authentic sukiyaki in a casual setting.

I really liked it. At the beginning of the new year, I had a dinner with my companion. The seasonal sashimi assortment cost 3630 yen and the Wagyu beef shabu-shabu cost 6292 yen each. The sashimi assortment included tuna, sea bream, yellowtail, scallop, and squid, which were all fresh and flavorful. The yellowtail was particularly good. The shabu-shabu had more meat than I expected, with each serving being 120g. Although there were only three slices, the quantity and quality were just right and very delicious. The vegetables, tofu, and glass noodles were also very good. The service was excellent, with beautifully dressed staff providing attentive service. If you ask, the staff will take care of the hot pot for you at the beginning. I will definitely visit again.

I had high-quality beef for the first time in a while, enjoying sukiyaki and kaiseki cuisine. I dined with three other people, including some senior figures. It was a nerve-wracking experience trying to take a good photo. While Kisoji is known for shabu-shabu, I'm not a fan, so we opted for sukiyaki instead. It was delicious! We also toasted with beer to celebrate a birthday.

Long time no see, Kisoji! I love shabu-shabu~ It feels healthier than yakiniku because you can eat lots of vegetables too! I'm torn between sukiyaki and shabu-shabu, but if it's Kisoji, I'd go with shabu-shabu. I tend to choose sukiyaki at Imahan, but lately I've been struggling to make it to the end of the meal. I always go for the Chinese noodles, which have a gentle flavor. It doesn't taste like much unless you add pepper. It's a bit time-consuming, so it's not recommended when you're in a hurry, but it's safe, delicious, and I like it. For dessert, I chose mango. Thank you for the meal.

I hesitate to post reviews of chain restaurants, but this one was really good so I'll share. On a holiday evening, I was aiming for a popular all-you-can-eat place nearby, but unfortunately it was full. My motivation was "I must have sukiyaki!" so I ended up here. The interior was spacious and calm, with a nice atmosphere. Personally, I felt reassured by the clean and spacious restroom. The staff seated us and showed us how to cook, which was nice. The meat was delicious and melted in my mouth! I ordered a course menu and thought it might be a bit small in portion, but it was surprisingly just right. I want to go again.

A little luxury: Wagyu beef sukiyaki with marbled meat for 5,500 yen. The waitress takes care of you throughout the meal. First, she coats the pot with beef fat and prepares the first slice of meat on the grill. "Please enjoy," she says. The first slice is meant to be savored on its own. It's really delicious. Then, she lines up the vegetables and you can eat the meat and vegetables at your own pace. The rice is brought out when you're ready. It seems like an unwritten rule to eat the rice with the meat. It made me realize that in the modern era, this was the proper way to enjoy precious beef to the fullest. It's nice that they preserve this tradition.

Today's lunch was shabu-shabu at Kisoji. I had the domestic beef loin for 3,200 yen, which came with an appetizer, shabu-shabu (meat and vegetable platter), noodles, rice, pickles, and dessert. The service at Kisoji was excellent and the meal was luxurious. The best part was that rice was all-you-can-eat, so I ate a lot until I was almost full. It was a truly indulgent lunch.

Kisoji is a place that not many people may be familiar with. I personally visit this place once or twice a year, but I have been going there consistently for over 20 years. It is a restaurant that I consider one of my go-to places, so I often feel a disconnect with others who may not know about it. I visited Kisoji for the first time this year in early February, right at the beginning of the Corona period. I chose the middle-priced option, which was the Wagyu Special Prime Marbled Beef (6,270 yen). Although the cheaper Wagyu Marbled Beef (5,500 yen) would have been sufficient, I was drawn to the "special" label. For those who are not fond of the oiliness of beef, I recommend the regular Wagyu Marbled Beef. The difference in marbling was quite noticeable. The staff at the restaurant shabu-shabu the first piece of meat for you, which I consider a nice touch, but it does lead to a pause in conversation. The same goes for when they prepare the udon noodles at the end. It felt a bit like excessive service to me. However, the service overall was friendly and attentive, striking a good balance between being present when needed and giving space. While you might feel like you need to order more meat at the beginning due to the small portions, once you finish everything including rice and vegetables, you will start to feel full before reaching the end. I remember having a bad experience in the past when I ordered additional meat and almost couldn't finish it. I only had one glass of oolong highball to drink, trying to control myself. As I get older, it's getting harder for me to finish everything. I wonder if I'll be okay next time.

I didn't take a picture of the main meat dish, but we had fugu sashimi, shirako tempura, shabu-shabu, marbled meat, and premium marbled meat for dessert. The fugu karaage was also delicious. It cost around 10,000 yen per person. The premium marbled meat was so fatty that one slice was enough, it melted in my mouth as soon as I took a bite.

For a birthday celebration among friends, we visited Kisoji for their Hokkaido Fair featuring shabu-shabu. The tempura and king crab in the course were delicious. I especially love their 15-grain rice. The manager seemed to notice it was a birthday celebration and took a photo for us, giving us a commemorative photo as a gift. I highly recommend the daikon mochi dessert as well!

I thought it was from 11 o'clock, but it was actually from 11:30, so I waited nearby while drinking tea. I wanted to eat shabu-shabu, so I waited. It was great with lots of vegetables, delicious ponzu sauce, and sesame sauce with toppings like green onions, garlic, chives, and shiso. Everyone was nice and the atmosphere was pleasant. The finale of Chinese noodles and soup was also delicious with great seasoning. I will definitely go again!

Matsutake mushrooms were expensive but disappointing. The meat and vegetables were delicious. The final dish of kishimen had no flavor, which was disappointing. There was a noticeable difference between the attentive staff and the others.

Shabu-shabu was super delicious! The service at Kisoji was excellent.