Pretty new Yakiniku spot, took over the old Shimifuri spot that got caught in Covid Era shutdowns. I think the set up is the same, gas grills with hoods at each table. Yakinuku is super similar to KBBQ, but the only differences to me are there are no banchans given at the beginning of the meal; and the meats aren't marinaded so heavily, and if there is a marinade here, it did seem on the lighter side.
Service is decent, very casual. Even the decor seemed really bare bones, maybe it is a work in progress. The specialty here is they offer real deal wagyu from Nagano, Japan. Even though pretty pricey, at least $40ish for 4 little slices, I feel this is a must get here, as you don't run into this on a regular basis. I like to get some American Prime grade beef which is significantly less expensive than the Japanese beef. But to get both, I feel you get a clearer picture on the merit/value of different levels of beef. Take a bite of the domestic beef, it is no slouch, crazy solid and dependable. Take a bite of another wagyu. Then take a bite of that Japanese wagyu. You will see a definite progression that I feel is the hallmark to this type of dining.
Kirin Big Bottles ($8/4*) Nice to have this amongst the first few bites as to get the palate ready for the diverse foodie ride that is to come.
Hakkaisan Tokubetsu Sake ($60/4*) They'll feature a specific sake from time to time. For a big bottle this was a decent price. We aren't sake connoisseurs that can call them by name. As long as it is crisp and dry with a slight fruity nuance then it would be a big hit for us. This fit the bill.
Pork Cheek ($13/4.5*) Love this cut as it is firm but yet with lots of marbling so it pops when fresh off the grill. This was cut into thick strips so the chew hit big time for me. I think this was lightly marinated in something. You are given a little dish of sea salt and some yakiniku sauce, if you want to dip your grilled meat into it for a flavor boost.
Prime Grade American Outside Skirt ($22/4*) Loved the texture as skirt steak has a nice spring-y texture with a big beefy flavor. This was marinaded in a heavier marinade but still a touch lighter than most KBBQ places.
American Wagyu Zabuton ($22/3*) I was most excited for this as this is a tender steak from the chuck (shoulder) area, a Denver steak as it is called in the U.S. I think my issue with this is that I like this steak, when grilled as a big steak. Here it is so thinly sliced that when put on the grill just turns grey and shrivels to an unappealing state. I think I would have liked this more in strips or chunks over thin slices. Also parts of this had oxidized spots, which made the freshness seem questionable.
Calamari Steak ($12/4.5*) Pretty much you grill a small calamari steak, then cut it up with scissors. I love the chew of calamari steak and actually went well with the other proteins.
Asparagus ($7/4*) This came in a foil packet. But we took it out and grilled it directly on the grill over fire. That way we a got a touch of char on there, which is awesome on asparagus. Plus it would have taken forever to cook the thickish spears inside the foil. By taking them out, they cooked in a matter of a couple of minutes.
Mushroom Medley ($8/4*) These were dainty little mushrooms, like shimjemi. Kinda wished it were meatier like shitaki, trumpets or king mushrooms. Heck I woulda took criminis over this but this still added a nice mushroom bite to the steak bites. These cook in the foil much faster than the asparagus.
Japanese Wagyu New York Strip ($39/5*) You'll get 4 little slices, maybe 2 oz per slice. So you may get close to half a pound per order. But if being shared, than you're talking a quarter pound per person, which is very light. Which is why we got the other meats as to get more of a 'ride' and to also get more value for the amount of food.
But man is this special. Super intense marbling that only A5 wagyu can bring. And when grilled a minute per side, is just the beefiest and most juicy bite of steak there is. I am seriously considering getting an order to myself next time around. This is definitely splurge worthy.
So I think there will definitely be a return here. It is much more casual than many other places that offer a similar menu, so it is a good fit for me. I just never understood why peeps would get all dressed up to go cook their own food with smoke and oil splattering about. *insert shrugged shoulders emoji* I enjoy my bites of wagyu in shorts and a comfy T. No shame in my Bay Area game. read more