14 Yakiniku Restaurants in Kyoto with Noteworthy Menus Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Dec 11 2023

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

14 Yakiniku Restaurants in Kyoto with Noteworthy Menus

Anyone who loves meat should try yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) at least once! In Kyoto, there are many yakiniku restaurants that are dedicated to serving high-quality meat. This article looks at 14 places that come highly recommended.

See full listings of Yakiniku restaurants found in and around Kyoto.

1. Nikuya no Daidokoro - Kyoto Kiyamachi Meat (Sanjo)

Enjoy bottomless servings of high-quality Kuroge Wagyu (a type of high-quality beef) at this restaurant! They procure several kinds of Kuroge Wagyu from around the country, especially Kobe beef, in blocks and cut them by hand only after an order is placed. The recommended menu item is the [Nikuya no Zeitaku Mori] in the [Select Course (120-Minute All-You-Can-Eat-and-Drink)] (5,000 JPY). The flavors of the premium cuts of Kuroge Wagyu in this dish are outstanding! The [Wagyu Rib Eye Sukiyaki] in the [Premium Wagyu Course (120-Minute All-You-Can-Eat-and-Drink)] (6,000 JPY) is a hot pot stew that is also highly rated as a way to enjoy high-quality meat that you can only get at a proper yakiniku restaurant.

Niku no Daidokoro Kyoto Kiyamachi Meet

Open: [Weekday,Day Before Holidays] 17:00 - 23:00 (last order 22:30)[Sunday,Saturday,Holidays] Dinner 16:00 - 23:00
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 3 minutes walk from Sanjo Station on the Keihan Line
Address: 3F Kozakura Kiyamachi Bldg., south corner of Ichijinichi Higashi, Kiyamachi Sanjo-sagaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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2. Kyo no Yakinikudokoro Hiro Kyoto Tower Sando Branch (Kyoto)

Instead of grilling yakiniku ingredients separately, this restaurant chooses to serve them on skewers. The secret to its popularity is the reasonably-priced Kuroge Wagyu that is carefully picked at the Kyoto Meat Market. The [Chef's 5-Kind Assortment] (980 JPY) is a recommended set meal for enjoying main menu items like beef skewers and smoked beef tongue. The [Wagyu Yukhoe] (980 JPY), made from fresh raw meat that meets regulatory standards, is also a must-eat! You'll be hooked by the fantastic combination of the sweet Wagyu and egg.

Kyo no Yakinikudokoro Hiro Kyoto Tower Sando branch

Open: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: 2 minutes walk from the central exit of JR Kyoto Station, in Kyoto Tower
Address: 721-1, Higashishio-Koji Cho, Karasuma Dori Shichijo Sagaru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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3. Yakiniku no Bunya (Kyoto)

This is a restaurant where you can munch on domestic Kuroge Wagyu yakiniku and a wide variety of Korean dishes. It is in an expansive traditional townhouse that was renovated into a chic restaurant to enjoy yakiniku. Recommended is the high-quality, lean, and tender [Premium Tenderloin] (1,680 JPY). Enjoy it cooked rare with either the homemade sauce or salt. The [Homemade Wagyu Tail Soup] (1,080 JPY), made by cooking Wagyu tail for more than 10 hours, is another wonderful dish packed with collagen and nutrients.

Yakiniku no Bunya

Open: [Saturday/Sunday/Holiday] Normal hours 16:00 - 23:00[Monday-Wednesday/Friday] Normal hours 17:00 - 23:00
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 3,500 JPY
Access: Twenty minute walk from JR Kyoto Station/ Eight minute walk from JR Tanbaguchi Sation
Address: 2-3 Sujaku Uchibata-cho , Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

4. Yakinikuan Kizashi (Kyoto)

This restaurant prides itself in its Kuroge Wagyu carefully selected by its keen-eyed buyers. The [OMAKASE] (1,980 JPY (plus tax)) is a wonderful way to try 11 recommended cuts of meat and to thoroughly experience the restaurant's commitment to the quality of the meat it serves. It will come as an assortment with a slice of each cut for anyone who ordered. There is also a wide selection of red and white wines picked specifically to go with the meats, so enjoy pairing them together!

Yakinikuan Kizashi

Open: Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm), Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Food L.O. 11:00 pm, Drink L.O. 11:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: A 10-minute walk from JR Kyoto Station. Located towards Wakamiya Street after the Shichijo Shinmachi intersection.
Address: 709, Ebisuno-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

5. Honkaku Yakiniku Chifaja Bukkoji Branch (Shijo)

This restaurant is dedicated to serving quality domestic beef and marinades, and offers yakiniku in a variety of flavors. In addition, it has a wide selection of salads and a-la-carte items to finish your meal with, as well as all-you-can-eat options. It offers seven different yakiniku marinades: stamina, lemon, soy sauce, sumashi (clear sauce), komi (herb sauce), doro (thick sauce), and salt. This means that you can keep your palate enticed by using different sauces depending on the cut. The recommended cut is the [Domestic Premium Loin]. Dip it in their special sumashi sauce to cut out the fat and enjoy it with another sauce that brings out the umami (Japanese savory taste) of the meat. You won't be able to get enough of how deliciously light it tastes!

Honkaku Yakiniku Chifaja Bukkoji branch

Open: 5:00 pm - 1:00 am　
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY
Access: 2 minute walk from exit 6 of Shijo Station on the Karasuma Subway Line.
Address: 1F Kiyoteru Building , 248-4 Kugikakushi-cho, Karasuma Nishi-iru, Bukkoji-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto

6. Yakiniku DAISEN Main Branch (Nijo)

This yakiniku restaurant was established more than 50 years ago and is beloved by locals. Here, you can enjoy high-quality Kuroge Wagyu and domestic horumon (offal) procured through an independent channel, together with a traditional sauce that has been unchanged since the restaurant's opening. It is recommended to first enjoy the [5-Kind Premium Wagyu Assortment] (5,980 JPY) with their special sauce, and then savor the [Yakishabu] (1,480 JPY). The [Yakishabu] consists of thin slices of Wagyu sirloin that is lightly chargrilled and then enjoyed with homemade fermented ponzu (citrus-seasoned soy sauce). The umami of the top-quality meat is sure to leave you wanting more!

Yakiniku DAISEN Main branch

Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Access: 5 minutes walk from Nijo Station on Sagano Line. On the north side of Onmae-dori Oike Higashi-iru
Address: 16-9, Nishinokyo Funazuka-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto Map
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7. Niku dokoro Gion Ryuan (Gion-shijo)

This is an all-private-room yakiniku and shabu-shabu (sliced meat parboiled with vegetables) restaurant. The owner's policy is to procure only the finest quality meat from the best breeds of cattle belonging to the best producers across the country. In particular, the [Ryuan A5 Chateaubriand] (6,200 JPY (plus tax)) boasts the highest quality meat. Light and smooth shochu (Japanese alcohol) matche perfectly with this umami-laden beef, and this restaurant has a large selection of such drinks, so be sure to try some!

Niku dokoro Gion Ryuan

Open: Normal hours: 17:00-23:00 [Monday-Wednesday, Friday-Sunday, Holidays, Days Before Holidays] Lunch 11:30-15:00
Closed: Thursdays
Average price: [Dinner] 7,000 JPY
Access: Right outside exit No. 9 of Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line. 4 minutes from the Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line.
Address: Kawabata-dori Shijo-agaru Tokiwa-cho 169, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Map
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8. Ichiyoshi (Kyotanabe)

This is the yakiniku restaurant of a meat wholesaler that is committed to selling tasty meat at the value prices. It procures and serves high-quality Wagyu, regardless of brand name, from around the country using its channels. One of the must-tries here is the [Seared Yukhoe Loin] (400 JPY/slice). This lightly seared dish should be enjoyed with a mixture of sauce and egg yolk or ponzu so that the sweetness of the tender meat fills your mouth. The [Chateaubriand (Tenderloin) Sauce/Salt] (3,750 JPY (*100g - 150g per serving)) is another highly recommended item which is offered at no markup. Give this restaurant's food a try!

Ichiyoshi

Open: [Monday - Wednesday, Friday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:45 am - 2:00 pm, Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Closed: None *Open on Thursday for dinner service only
Average price: 4,000 JPY
Address: 3-7-8, Tanabe Chuo, Kyotanabe-shi, Kyoto

9. HIRO Yasaka-Tei (Gion-shijo)

This restaurant has an innovative menu that combines yakiniku and Kyoto-style kaiseki (traditional Japanese course cuisine). As it is housed inside a renovated mansion, you can dine in its chic and luxurious interiors while enjoying a view of the vast Japanese garden. The meat is procured whole, so there is a variety of different cuts, with the rare "mango tongue" - an outstanding beef tongue cut that is exceptionally soft - being used for the [Salt-Grilled Select Wagyu Assortment] in the kaiseki course.

HIRO Yasaka-Tei

Open: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: 10,000 JPY
Address: 11, Komatsu-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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10. HIRO Kyoto Station (Kyoto)

This is a restaurant where you can casually enjoy carefully-selected ingredients as yakiniku. The 3-story restaurant has a total of 200 seats in a variety of different styles to accommodate all customers, from those dropping in on their own to large parties. It is dedicated to serving high-quality Kuroge Wagyu, with one particularly good recommendation being the [Tonight-Only Assortment] (6,980 JPY), made possible because the restaurant procures entire heads of cattle. Another signature dish is the [3-Kind Meat Sushi Platter] (980 JPY), which consists of lean meat sushi, best for enjoying the natural flavors of the meat; aromatic seared meat sushi; and a gunkan maki (battleship roll) of raw, seasoned meat and rice wrapped in seaweed.

HIRO Kyoto Station

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: 4,500 JPY
Address: 510-1, Shiokoji-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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11. Minamiya Wagyudo (Kitayama)

This restaurant serves reasonably-priced Kuroge Wagyu and domestic horumon (offal) procured through an independent channel. It has a peaceful atmosphere and is especially recommended for couples. The restaurant's specialty item is the [Negishio Beef Tongue] (1,230 JPY), consisting of salted beef tongue with scallions. The aroma of the large serving of flavored scallions brings out the umami of the pleasantly chewy beef tongue. The restaurant also has a wide selection of shochu that goes wonderfully with its meat dishes.

Minamiya Wagyudo

Open: [Monday, Wednesday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
*Also might take additional irregular holidays
Average price: 4,500 JPY
Address: 1F, 38-2, Omiya Higashi Somonguchi-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

12. HIRO SHOTEN Karasuma Nishiki (Shijo)

This is a restaurant where you can enjoy a wide selection of meat dishes and wines that go well with them at reasonable prices. It serves several different cuts of Wagyu, with the specialty menu item being the [Akami Sugatayaki] (1,980 JPY), which uses a part of the shoulder called "kuri" that's been cut to the same size as the iron griddle. They also have the incredibly flavorful [Tail Ramen] (680 JPY), which features a soup made by simmering the tail for eight hours. The soup is so good that you'll want to drink it all up! The wines are sold at a uniform price regardless of whether you order bottles or glasses, so you can drink as much as you want without worrying about the payment.

HIRO SHOTEN Karasuma Nishiki

Open: 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: 4,500 JPY
Address: 681, Motohonenji-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map
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13. SUMIBIYAKINIKU OU (Nijo)

This restaurant puts extra effort into its original sauce, which was awarded the grand prize by a famous magazine. Sweet and savory with a soy sauce base, the sauce was made to go well with not just meat, but also with drinks and rice, and is so good that you might get hooked on it. The recommended meat is the [Kinoshita Farm Omi Beef] (from 1,600 JPY (plus tax)), whose fat has a low melting point, allowing it to melt quickly and leave behind the fantastic umami. The [Grilled Wagyu Lean Meat] (1,200 JPY (plus tax)) is another particularly popular meat dish that lets you thoroughly enjoy the flavors of lean meat.

SUMIBIYAKINIKU OU

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm *You can enter even at 10:00 pm!
Closed: Wednesday
*Open if it falls on a national holiday
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY
Address: 84, Nishinokyo Minamihara-machi, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

14. Taisho (Gion-shijo)

This is a restaurant dedicated to Wagyu carefully selected by the head chef, who trained at numerous famous yakiniku restaurants. These meats have the perfect amount of marbling and are of such a high quality, so you won't get sick of eating them. Also, they use special roasters that ensure guests won't have to worry about the smoke or smells emitted when cooking the meat. The recommended item is the [Phantom Tongue] (2,000 JPY (plus tax)), which is a cut of meat with outstanding quality. It is cut thicker than steak and has plenty of scallions sandwiched in it, providing the perfect combination of umami and richness. It is so good that you may feel like you want to eat it forever!

Taisho

Open: [Monday - Thursday, Sunday] Dinner 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Food L.O. 11:30 pm, Drink L.O. 12:00 am)
Closed: None
Average price: [Lunch] 1,000 JPY *Reservation required at leat one day in advance / [Dinner] 4,000 JPY
Address: 2F, 199-6, Shimokoriki-cho, Kiyamachi-dori Shijo-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

15. Yakiniku Horumon On The Rice

As the name indicates, at Yakiniku Horumon On The Rice guests can enjoy a harmonious mix of rice and Japanese BBQ. The stylish interior has an open feel, and guests can also dine at the terrace seats in front of the restaurant. They have a wide lineup of meat, from Hokkaido brand Saroma Beef to various kinds of offal. There are 3 kinds of sauce that draw out the delicious meat flavors - Japanese BBQ sauce, miso sauce, and homemade ponzu sauce. Dipping the meat in their preferred sauce, guests are sure to find their rice disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Yakiniku Horumon On The Rice

Open: [Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays, Day Before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / Dinner 5:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Monday, 2nd and 4th Tuesday (Summer holidays and January holidays)
Average price: [Dinner] 5,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,000 JPY
Access: 6-minute walk from the West Exit of Ryukokudai-mae-Fukakusa Station on the Keihan Main Line
Address: 4-33-2, Fukakusa Nishiura-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Map

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Use this article as a reference and enjoy some top-class yakiniku while in Kyoto!

Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.