Other Japanese Food Restaurants

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.

Wow - what an experience! Every detail is looked after. Excellent English (thanks for that!). Remember to book in advance.

Hands down this is the best meal we’ve had in Tokyo so far! And in general across my travels all over the world this is the best beef I’ve ever tasted in my life! More than the food the staff has been so entertaining and so hospitable that it’s an experience without trying!

Hands down the best wagyu beef (and meal!) I had in Tokyo! We had the whole place for us and the service was even better than the food! They even got us a “thank you” cake at the end of our meal 🥹 11/10! Thank you Jin & YamaP!

Great food, great service, and an amazing range of hard-to-come-by regional saké - all in a stylish and intimate venue. Menu and service in excellent English, despite the crowd being 100% locals when we were there. Just follow the staff recommendations for the saké, as they are really knowledgeable. Better to go on a full stomach though, as there will be a lot of good saké involved!

Excellent selection and very cool concept! I love how this bar rotates their selections based on season and prefecture so that customers can enjoy time and time again and discover new favorites. The course meal was delicious and I wish there could have been more especially for those who are more lightweight. I normally am not one to like sake so much but learning the history and reasoning behind each choice was incredible and every taste was incredible!

An amazing experience, the best steak we have ever eaten. The steak sandwich was absolutely amazing - both that and the filet were like butter. Meal cost includes a palette cleanser (sorbet) and coffee/tea, definitely worth the money spent and I would return every night if I could stay in Tokyo that long! The owners are absolutely lovely people who remained sat talking to us for sometime after our mean and even gifted us a cheesecake as we mentioned we were ok our honeymoon. I would highly recommend this place to everyone, it’s a gem of a find.

Delicious vegetarian fare! We enjoyed our meal and the peaceful ambiance. Staff were kind and very polite.

Shima was our favorite restaurant of the entire trip. Amazing food and stellar service. The staff there is unlike any other. We have told everyone we know about Shima — we’ll never stop talking about it!