Yakiniku Kokonomi
Some of the country’s rarest beef is served here at this Ebisu yakiniku restaurant, specifically the ultra-rare Takenotani-tsuru beef.
Restaurant Details
Yakiniku Kokonomi’s name in Japanese means “only here”: in reference to the fact that the restaurant serves beef that is so rare, it can only be eaten there.
The beef in question is Takenotani-tsuru beef, a purebred Japanese breed that is raised in Niimi City in Okayama Prefecture. Only a few heads of cattle are slaughtered each year for sale on the market.
While “wagyu beef” is commonly associated with purity of bloodline, due to the name only being conferred on beef sourced from Japanese Black cattle, Kokonomi claims that the wagyu sold on the market is no longer purebred, due to the industry’s unhealthy focus on marbling leading to hundreds of years of cross-breeding.
Takenotani-tsuru beef, on the other hand, has had its bloodline preserved since the Edo period, spanning almost 200 years; Kokonomi claims that it is the oldest purebred Japanese breed in Japan. The first bite already sets the beef apart: in sharp contrast to the finely marbled, fatty beef from the modern Japanese Black cattle, Takenotani-tsuru beef has little marbling, and has a much stronger meaty taste. Yet, the meat is neither chewy or tough, and lets diners enjoy what Kokonomi calls the “true flavor” of wagyu beef.
This flavor is further augmented by three different sauces given to each guest when they take their seat: soy sauce and green pepper sauce, to be eaten with fattier cuts, while truffle-infused sauce augments the red meat. And for beverage pairings, the restaurant proudly offers the Californian-Japanese Kenzo Estate wine, as well as a wide selection of fine sake.
A course that makes heavy use of Japanese domestic kuroge wagyu black beef.
A course that makes heavy use of Japanese domestic kuroge wagyu black beef.
Depending on the day, this course offers a selection of the extremely rare Takenotani-tsuru beef, as well as other breeds of domestic kuroge wagyu black beef. The kuroge wagyu, in particular, is sourced from farmers who breed their cattle for especially delicious lean meat, which is different in flavor from typical fatty wagyu.
Depending on the day, this course offers a selection of the extremely rare Takenotani-tsuru beef, as well as other breeds of domestic kuroge wagyu black beef. The kuroge wagyu, in particular, is sourced from farmers who breed their cattle for especially delicious lean meat, which is different in flavor from typical fatty wagyu.
Not for beginners. Kokonomi recommends this course for wagyu veterans looking to try something new — connoisseurs already familiar with the taste of kuroge wagyu beef.
Not for beginners. Kokonomi recommends this course for wagyu veterans looking to try something new — connoisseurs already familiar with the taste of kuroge wagyu beef.
Yakiniku Kokonomi Remarks
Guests with dietary restrictions and/or food allergies should inform the restaurant beforehand. The restaurant might not be able to accommodate guests who make same-day requests.
The restaurant reserves the right to refuse reservations to guests who have excessive dietary restrictions, particularly those of fish or vegetables.
The course menu content listed below is an example, and is subject to change based on seasonal availability.
The restaurant cannot always guarantee that it can provide guests with their preferred seating options after a reservation due to availability.
The pictures provided are for illustrative purposes.
Yakiniku Kokonomi Business Days
Yakiniku Kokonomi Address
High Life Building 103, 1-7-9 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-0013
Yakiniku Kokonomi Access Info
Yakiniku Kokonomi is located a 3-minute walk from Ebisu Station.
Yakiniku Kokonomi Phone Number
Yakiniku Kokonomi Cancellation Policy
Cancel your reservation at least 2 days before the dining start time to receive a full refund minus a 3.2% transaction fee.
Restaurant location
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