Niku Kaiseki Yukawa

Niku Kaiseki Yukawa prides itself on offering robust wagyu-centric courses that uphold the details and traditions of Japanese cuisine. Nowhere is this better expressed than in Chef Nishibana’s use of Kaga vegetables, sea salt from the Noto Peninsula and preference for a lighter, broth-based soup. Yukawa creates balance through premium dishes that don’t eclipse wagyu’s famous richness or overwhelm the palette. This thoughtful approach extends to the venue’s historical architecture and hospitality. Yukawa features only private dining rooms as seating options, to ensure a quieter and more intimate dining experience. Service staff wear kimono, in a spiritual homage to the high-class ryokan where head chef Nishibana spent his early career. As a complement to its menu, the beverage list of Ishikawa sake and Noto Peninsula wines — heavy with the region’s terroir — offers a rare peek into often overlooked producers. Guests can dip their toes into the tradition and flavors of the Hokuriku region with this culinary tour of Chef Nishibana’s heritage, yet all without leaving central Tokyo. Yukawa’s location in the old geisha district of Kagurazaka makes it easily accessible, and yet the flavor of the region comes through so strongly in the fare and drinks, it’s as though the rolling waves of the Sea of Japan are right around the corner.