Yakiniku Kokutoan

Warm light shines on private dinner tables set for one to six guests, while the intoxicating aroma of flame-grilled meats fills the air. Located in Tokyo’s famed nightlife district of Azabu-Juban, Yakiniku Kokutoan is the perfect, mature spot to spend time with friends or family over good conversation and delicious wagyu. But it’s Kokutoan’s raw meat handling license that really sets it apart from other yakiniku restaurants. This gives guests an extra of peace of mind no matter what level of doneness they like their steak, and also certifies the restaurant to serve dishes that cannot be found at other restaurants, like the restaurant’s signature yukhoe — a Korean-style dish of marinated beef with raw egg — and beef tongue sashimi. Other go-tos are the seasonal grill selection, which shows off the best product and cuts for the season, roast beef made in-house, and of course the dish that put Kokutoan on the map: a huge slice of salted beef tongue, and topped with a thick layer of minced green onion. As the meat cooks through, it thoroughly infuses the tongue with the aroma of green onion, providing the perfect harmony of flavors.