USHIHACHI Akihabara

Above the entryway of every Ushihachi restaurant, there is a bold proclamation: “King of Yakiniku”. With hundreds, if not thousands of yakiniku restaurants across the country, Ushihachi’s claim to the monarchy does not go unchallenged. But where it definitely holds the crown is what is known in Japanese as “cospa”—cost-performance ratio. As a celebratory meal, yakiniku shouldn’t have to be expensive, according to Ushihachi’s philosophy. As such, it aims to be the most reasonably-priced yakiniku franchise in Japan: a place where you can bring your family, your partner or a group of friends to enjoy high-quality grilled meat, all without worrying about breaking the bank. And it’s not as though the quality suffers for it either. Ushihachi is uncompromising on its choice of meat, purchasing and using only female kuroge wagyu cows. Its drink spread accommodates over 70 different types of spritzers and other assorted alcoholic beverages. While the promise of affordable yakiniku holds true at each Ushihachi branch, each of the 12 branches has its own distinctive trait. Located in the centre of Tokyo’s technology and pop culture mecca, Ushihachi Akihabara brings in dozens of weary gearheads and otaku each day, with the promise of luscious grilled meat—easily affordable even after a full day of shopping for computer parts or anime merchandise. In contrast to the intimate, warmly-lit earthy tones of other branches, the Akihabara outlet is styled in accordance with its high-tech surroundings, monochromatic and minimalist.