When I think of Izakaya Watami, the image of large, noisy groups of around 10 people immediately comes to mind. Because of that, I’ve never visited one—and to be honest, I don’t think I ever will😅 However, Watami has recently started transitioning some locations into Yakiniku no Watami (焼肉の和民) in Tokyo. For tourists, convenient locations include Kinshicho,
Ikebukuro,
Shimura-Sakaue, Yokohama,
Namba and
Nagoya, among others.
Even though I avoid noisy izakaya, I love yakiniku! So, I’ve visited Yakiniku no Watami a few times. The Kinshicho branch is particularly convenient for me—it’s located in a complex building near the station. The entrance is a bit chaotic, as the building houses several izakaya. By the way, Torimero, another Watami group establishment, is also located here.
One great thing is that you can make reservations online, even for lunch.
The elevator takes you directly to the restaurant’s interior. The layout features tables with sofa seating for up to six people, as well as a few counter seats. Each table is equipped with a straight conveyor belt, which delivers all your food and drinks. You place orders via a touchscreen, and essentials like sauces, lemon, and chopsticks are already prepared at each table.
If it’s your first visit, the staff will explain how to enjoy the experience in detail. Lunch is available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day, and all lunch sets come with free refills of rice.
Even during lunchtime, you can order from the regular menu. Most meats are reasonably priced at just 429 yen (tax included).
For drinks, they offer Perfect Suntry Beer, which is smaller than regular draft beer but perfect for lunch. It’s also sugar-free and surprisingly tasty.
I ordered the Watami Karubi & skirt set, which arrived on a tray via the conveyor belt. This set includes Watami Karubi (short ribs), skirt steak, salad, kimchi, wakame soup, and rice. They highly recommend their Watami Karubi, and I must say it was delicious!
The dish included 120g of meat, which was just the right amount. I especially enjoyed the grilled bell pepper. The meat was thick, so it took some time to cook, but that made it perfect for savoring slowly. The meat was marinated in a rich, flavorful sauce, making it delicious even without adding any extra sauce. It had a slight spiciness, which I appreciated.
This was the Watami’s short ribs set. I was amazed that it cost less than 1,000 yen!
I also tried something from the regular menu: the salted beef heart. It had a refreshing taste and was cut into small pieces, so it cooked quickly on the grill.
If you love yakiniku and want a convenient, family-friendly option, Yakiniku no Watami is worth a try. The Kinshicho branch, in particular, is easy to access and offers a comfortable dining experience.
About
Name Yakiniku no Watami
Open Day through night
Reservation Available (Hotpepper :
Kinshicho,
Ikebukuro,
Shimura-Sakaue, Yokohama,
Namba,
Nagoya)
Credit card Available
URL Website / Twitter / Instagram
