Zassoya

Tucked away in the luxurious Minami-Aoyama neighborhood, Zassoya offers a culinary experience that nourishes body and soul. From Gaienmae Station, stroll past designer boutiques before stepping into a softly lit sanctuary modeled after a Korean temple, said to relax and heal the moment guests step in. For the better part of 20 years, Zassoya has been a beloved local gem, renowned for its innovative combination of yakiniku and yakuzen (traditional Japanese medicinal cuisine). Yakuzen, a centuries-old practice, utilizes medicinal ingredients based on Eastern medicine principles. At Zassoya, this translates to exquisite dishes featuring domestic vegetables packed with circulatory benefits, specially raised akage (Japanese Brown cattle, as opposed to the typical Japanese Black) wagyu beef fed with medicinal herbs, and Sangenton pork prepared in a herbal Chinese-style stew. From nutrient-rich vegetables to medicinal black chicken soups, every dish overflows with both rich flavors and health benefits. Every season, each course menu is carefully crafted by a yakuzen expert, who supervises the craftsmanship of each by assessing the best use of seasonal ingredients. Even the charcoal for the yakiniku — bincho-tan charcoal that burns with minimal smoke — is fastidiously chosen.