Shinjuku is one of Tokyo's representative bustling districts, popular among both Japanese and foreign visitors. It boasts one of the highest foot traffic in Japan, with Shinjuku Station recognized by Guinness World Records for its average daily passenger numbers.
Moreover, with department stores, electronics retailers, and fashion buildings lining the streets, it's no exaggeration to say that there's nothing you can't buy in Shinjuku. Furthermore, as the location of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Shinjuku plays an important role as a political center.
Even at night, the crowds in Shinjuku never cease. The entertainment district centered around Kabuki-cho is filled with people until the early hours of the morning every day.
With so many people, Shinjuku is home to numerous restaurants. In this article, we'll introduce recommended yakiniku restaurants in Shinjuku.
What is Yakiniku in Japanese Cuisine?
While yakiniku is part of Japanese culture, its history is surprisingly short. Its origins are traced back to the post-World War II food shortage, when Korean residents in Japan began serving grilled offal, which wasn't traditionally eaten, from food stalls. This trend sparked the yakiniku culture in Japan, giving birth to the culture of "grilling meat over direct fire."
Over time, the business format shifted from food stalls to restaurants, and the variety of meats expanded to include cuts like loin and kalbi. Yakiniku became an essential part of celebrating special occasions like birthdays and exam successes.
Today, with the increase of yakiniku restaurants that are easy to enter even alone, it's becoming more of an everyday, accessible experience.
Best Yakiniku / Japanese BBQ in Shinjuku 2024
Rokkasen
source：Tabelog
Rokkasen is a Japanese-style yakiniku restaurant where staff in kimono provide service, offering a taste of Japanese ambiance. The charm of Rokkasen lies in the quality of its meat, with only cuts meeting the store's strict standards being served. Another recommended point is that you can enjoy seafood like shrimp and crab alongside the meat. Of course, the seafood is also carefully selected and of the highest quality, allowing you to fully savor the excellence of the ingredients in every menu item at Rokkasen.
<Recommended Menu>
・Matsusaka Ribeye Assortment
You can enjoy three types of meat from "Matsusaka beef," arguably the most beloved wagyu in Japan. Matsusaka beef is characterized by fine marbling between the muscles, which releases rich fat flavors when heated.
<Basic Information>
・Address: 110 Building 10F, 1-10-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
・Business Hours: 11:00 - 23:00
・Closed: None
・Phone Number: 03-3348-8676
・Official Website
・Official Instagram
Hinomaru
source：Tabelog
Hinomaru offers attractive courses for everyone, from those wanting to enjoy yakiniku at a good cost-performance ratio to those seeking to indulge in luxury high-grade meat. You can choose from nine different courses to meet various needs, such as the "Ume Course" at 3,300 yen with 10 items including beef, or the "Extravagant Large Barrel Assortment" at 19,800 yen using over 1kg of high-grade Japanese Black beef.
<Recommended Menu>
・Thick-cut Tongue
This uses "Kagoshima Black Beef," a high-grade wagyu from Kagoshima Prefecture. It's characterized by a well-balanced fat content, neither too greasy nor too lean, with tender meat texture.
<Basic Information>
・Address: Hashimoto Building B1F, 1-6-6 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
・Business Hours: 11:30 - 05:00
(L.O. Food 04:00, Drinks 04:30)
・Closed: New Year's holidays
・Phone Number: 050-5872-5582
YAKINIKU WASHINO SHINJUKU
source：Tabelog
Yakiniku Washino is a high-end yakiniku restaurant where even amateurs can instantly recognize the superior quality of the meat.
The restaurant's official Instagram introduces essential tips for grilling meat and how to receive services at Washino. Checking it before your visit can help you enjoy yakiniku without any worries.
<Recommended Menu>
・Meat Sushi
Unlike traditional sushi where fish is placed on top of shaped rice, meat sushi has meat instead of fish. When the shaped rice melts in your mouth, the sweetness of the meat spreads throughout, creating an exquisite taste. You can choose from single pieces, three types, five types, or seven types, but since each meat sushi offers a different flavor and texture, it's recommended to try the seven-type assortment to enjoy the full experience.
<Basic Information>
・Address: Diane Shinjuku 4F, 3-11-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
・Business Hours: 17:00~23:00 LO.22:00
・Closed: Open year-round
・Phone Number: 03-6457-4429
・Official Website
・Official Instagram
Yakiniku Goku
source：Tabelog
Yakiniku Goku's motto is "A hidden gem you won't tire of even if you visit weekly." The menu is extensive, from meat to noodles and side dishes, so much so that you might feel full before ordering everything you want to try.
There are also plenty of "assortment" menu items where multiple types of meat are served in small portions on one plate, which is recommended for those who want to try various menu items.
The interior, with its subdued colors and dim lighting, truly feels like a hidden gem where you can relax and forget the hustle and bustle of the city.
<Recommended Menu>
・Chef's Omakase Course
This course includes two meat dishes recommended by the chef that day and two "secret menu" items not listed on the menu. You might get to taste some rare meats that you don't often encounter.
<Basic Information>
・Address: Cross Building 103, 3-8-2 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
・Business Hours: [Mon-Thu, Holidays] 12:00-1:00
[Fri, Sat] 15:00-1:00
[Sun] 15:00-23:00
・Closed: Open year-round
・Phone Number: 050-5872-4786
・Official Instagram
Yakiniku Kanau
source：Tabelog
Yakiniku Kanau is a place where you can enjoy delicious yakiniku any time, open 365 days a year until 5 am every day. The name "Kanau" means "Dreams come true" in Japanese, and there's a rumor that eating here can make your dreams come true, making it a power spot. For those with dreams to fulfill, it's also recommended to write your wish on an "ema," a pentagonal wooden board.
Ema is part of Japanese culture, where it's believed that if you hang up a board with your wish written on it, the gods will grant it. If you're interested, ask a staff member for an ema.
<Recommended Menu>
・Kanau Yukhoe
Yakiniku Kanau is one of the few restaurants that have obtained permission to sell raw meat by meeting strict safety standards, allowing you to enjoy raw meat yukhoe. You can taste the natural sweetness of the meat mixing with egg and sauce, creating a melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.
<Basic Information>
・Address: J・GOLD Building 1F, 1-22-9 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
・Business Hours: 17:00 - 05:00
・Closed: Open year-round
・Phone Number: 050-5597-1280
・Official Website
・Official Instagram
Yakiniku Niku no Ne
source：Tabelog
"Yakiniku Niku no Ne" is a high-end yakiniku restaurant where everything is at the highest level, from service to meat quality to drinks that enhance the appeal of the meat. Particularly with regards to meat, the most delicious cuts are carefully selected for each part, regardless of the name value of famous brand beef. It's my personal recommendation as every cut you try is guaranteed to be delicious.
<Recommended Menu>
・Chateaubriand with Truffle Salt
Chateaubriand is one of the rarest cuts of beef, said to yield only 600g per cow. It's considered the top cut of beef, being extremely tender and having the best flavor.
At Niku no Ne, you can enjoy Chateaubriand with a simple seasoning of black truffle salt. With each bite, the meat's inherent umami and the sweetness of the fat melt in your mouth, providing an unforgettable experience.
<Basic Information>
・Address: Kabukicho Shotenkai Promotion Association Building 8F, 3-38-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
・Business Hours: 17:00-4:00
・Closed: None
・Phone Number: 03-6457-6782
・Official Website
USHIGORO S. SHINJUKU
source：Tabelog
USHIGORO S. SHINJUKU is a restaurant where you can enjoy a luxurious time in completely private rooms, each with a dedicated professional meat griller. You can fully enjoy meat grilled to perfection, bringing out the best characteristics of each cut.
The restaurant also has a strong commitment to meat selection, choosing high-quality meats not just by brand, but down to the specific farm and bloodline.
<Recommended Menu>
・Ultimate Black Tongue
You can luxuriously enjoy thick slices of "black tongue," which is said to be more tender and fattier than regular tongue. Experience the black tongue that is chewy yet soft, and surprisingly easy to bite through despite its thickness.
<Basic Information>
・Address: HULIC & New SHINJUKU 12F, 3-17-10 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
・Business Hours: [Mon, Tue] 17:00～23:30（L.O. 22:30）
[Wed-Fri] 11:30～15:00（L.O. 14:00）／ 17:00～23:30（L.O. 22:30）
[Sat, Sun, Holidays] 11:30～23:30（L.O. 22:30）
・Closed: Open year-round
・Phone Number: 03‐3358‐4129
・Official Website
Kabukicho Yakiniku Ittouya
source：Tabelog
At Kabukicho Yakiniku Ittonya, they purchase whole cows, allowing you to enjoy beef from head to toe without waste. This restaurant also has a strong commitment to beer, offering beers with a strong barley aroma. The fatty meat pairs exceptionally well with beer, enhancing each other's appeal.
<Recommended Menu>
・Filet Cube Steak
You can enjoy soft filet mignon cut into cubes. Although it's bite-sized, it's packed with fat and meat, making for an impactful dish. It combines tenderness and meatiness, providing a satisfaction that's hard to believe comes from just one bite.
<Basic Information>
・Address: Shinko Building 1F, 1-2-13 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
・Business Hours: 17:00~5:00(L.O.4:00)
・Closed: None
・Phone Number: 03-6457-3003
・Official Instagram
Tips for Yakiniku
While some yakiniku restaurants have staff grill the meat for you, in most places, you grill the meat yourself. Since the way you cook the meat can make it even more delicious, here are some tips for yakiniku.
First, don't grill too much at once. This prevents excessive fat from falling onto the heat source at once, which could cause the heat to rise too much and burn the meat.
Next, don't flip the meat too often. Each time you flip the meat, fat drips down, so to enjoy meat with its fat intact, limit flipping to basically once.
It's also important not to overcook. While you might worry that the meat isn't cooked enough, remember that meat becomes tough if overcooked, so be sure to judge the right timing carefully.
Lastly, lemon and sauce are usually provided on the table, so use them according to your preference.
Conclusion
In this article, we introduced 8 restaurants where you can eat delicious yakiniku in Shinjuku. Did you find any that caught your interest?
As mentioned at the beginning, yakiniku is a relatively new Japanese food culture and is still developing. As a result, many stores have developed their own unique cultures, and as you can see from the 8 restaurants introduced here, yakiniku restaurants are very diverse.
In Japan, yakiniku is often chosen for celebrating special occasions. Why not spend a luxurious night with yakiniku to make your special day in a foreign country even more special?