Restaurants in Japan

What a find. What a place! Tucked away and little bit of a walk but so worth it. The room has genuine old world charm. The service is so freindly despite the language barrier. The food is epic. Hida beef is awesome. We went back for seconds of the magnolia leaf beef. And the price is very reasonable. If you're in Takayama and want a fabulouse dining experience then this is it. Just go!

The best experience of my life! Thank you so much

Our experience at YAKINIKUMAFIA IKEBURO was fantastic, and the highlight was definitely the meat. The wagyu was incredibly tender and flavorful, and each cut had its own texture and taste. The show when they cut the meat was also very entertaining and fun! I especially enjoyed experiencing the wagyu in different ways throughout the meal. The richness of the meat paired well with the other dishes, and every course felt carefully thought out. The ramen at the end was a nice touch. The broth had a deep, rich flavor and was a satisfying way to finish the meal. The staff were incredibly kind and energetic. Their enthusiasm made the atmosphere lively and fun while still feeling professional. Overall, the high-quality wagyu, variety of flavors and textures, and great service made this a memorable experience. I would happily recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy Japanese wagyu in a fun and welcoming atmosphere.

Had dinner at Yakiniku Mafia Ikebukuro and really enjoyed it. The meat was fantastic. I go to yakiniku places pretty often and like trying different grades of meat, and the quality here was definitely up there. Everything tasted great on its own, to the point where you really didn’t need any extra seasoning. Usually a good sign when the meat is that good. I also really liked the seating. They have this huge counter that seats around 25 people, which is pretty unusual compared to the smaller 8-seat counters you often see in omakase places. It gives the whole place a lively, open atmosphere. There are also regular tables in the back if you’re coming with a group. Next, the staff. Super high energy, very respectful, and they took the time to explain everything properly. You could tell they actually cared about how the food was presented and served. We were a group of four, and if I had one small improvement, I probably would’ve liked just a little more meat. But with the veggies and the final “ramen” they cook using all the flavor from the meat, we all still left satisfied. Easy 5 stars from me. Would definitely go back, which I don’t say quite often! Arigato!

"1: the food tasted great and the quality was amazing. Every ounce of care that could be put into the meal was there, and we really enjoyed our time. 2: the staff was great and I’m so surprised they could keep that energy throughout the whole time. On top of that, they were unbelievably kind, and I felt like they could have been my friends. 3: the restaurant was clean and the atmosphere was lively. Simply a fantastic balance of entertainment and professionalism."

I thought the presentation of the food was a bit basic, for the price. And meat of such good quality should be presented in a nicer way. The meat was delicious, a good portion and very soft. We had various cuts (although it wasn’t explained what each cut was) the variety was good I felt. The flavour was good, a good amount of fattiness, very soft and melt in the mouth. I thought the meat was fresh and it wasn’t chewy at all. Just very soft and easy to eat. I was not particular surprised by anything. Probably some of the cuts of meat were really good, the melt in the mouth texture was excellent (can’t say exactly which cut as we didn’t know) The presentation was far too basic, the silver plates felt a little cheap. But the box with the chopsticks was a nice touch. The meat accompanied by vegetables was good, I think the vegetables refreshed the taste between bites of meat. The ramen was a surprise and the soup was salty without being too rich. Probably the best thing about the restaurant is the service. It was above many other places with a very lively atmosphere and the staff were very enthusiastic about their jobs which was great to see. They were attentive and the service was quick.

Such an amazing experience

The restaurant has a beautiful, quiet entrance without being intimidating. When you think of omakase, it can feel quite strict and severe, but I felt comfortable to talk and interact with both the staff and my seatmates. The staff fluently speaks Japanese and English, making the experience easy for both local and international customers. It was great to hear both the English and Japanese names and origins for the fish. The sushi was incredibly tender, melt in your mouth, with subtle flavors and perfectly seasoned. It's difficult to choose an outstanding dish, as the quality was high. The chutoro and uni were my favorites. That said, the anago was a surprise hit! There were a lot of servings but it was just the right amount, so you won't feel too full to move after. The post-meal tea ceremony in the special room was a great ender to the meal.

I had such a wonderful experience at Sushi Tanji! Everything was delicious, but as a huge matcha lover, I especially loved that the experience ended with a traditional tea ceremony. It was such a beautiful and unexpected way to finish the omakase. Even though I live in Tokyo, as a foreigner, I’m always happy to discover and experience more of Japanese culture, and this was such a special way to do so. I also loved sharing the omakase experience with my friends. I think it would be such a lovely choice for a birthday, a girls’ night, a date night, or any special occasion. The chef was incredibly kind and explained everything to us in both English and Japanese, which made the experience feel very welcoming and easy to enjoy. Special mention to the anago (eel?) that was melting in our mouth, first time I eat something like that, it was exquisite!

It was my first omakase sushi experience and I am extremely happy with my choice. The restaurant offers counter seats with a great view of the sushi chefs skillfully preparing each piece and delivering it in front of you. The chefs were friendly and spoke English, which was very useful when trying a surprising variety of different fish. The sushi itself was well-balanced and fresh, showing amazing attention to detail and quality. From medium fatty tuna to sardines, each bite was a unique and satisfying experience. I especially enjoyed anago (sea eel), which instantly melts in your mouth. I feel like it helped me learn a lot about traditional Japanese cuisine. Another highlight of the dinner was ending it with a tea ceremony. It is held in a separate room, which you have to enter by crawling through an opening in the wall. Once inside, you can enjoy the calm of a beautiful Japanese style room while the chef prepares high quality matcha in a traditional way. It was a nice opportunity to appreciate and reflect on the whole experience while drinking tea. As the restaurant menu changes seasonally, I would love to come back again!

Excellent Omakase. Friendly staff. Everything was amazing. The produce was on a really high level. Recommend this place.

Exceptionally great antipasti, pizzas, dolce (tiramisu, gelato) - everything was outstanding.