This restaurant has permanently closed.

Introducing Yakiniku Sakuraya

Hello travelers! This is Aikero, writer for [SaruKuma].

Today I’m introducing Yakiniku Sakuraya, a wonderful spot located in Minami-Tsuboi, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City.
【Yakiniku Sakuraya】

While the name Sakuraya might make Japanese visitors think of horse meat (a Kumamoto specialty), the name actually comes from the previous owner, Mr. Sakuragi. The star of this restaurant is premium Japanese wagyu, especially the prized Kuro-Kaba beef.
This yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) restaurant just opened on April 17 in the Namiki-zaka area, and it’s run by a specialty meat shop!

That meat shop is none other than…
【Aso Niku Kobo】, located in Nishihara Village.

Until now, you could only get their premium quality beef at their shop in Nishihara Village or via online shopping. They opened this yakiniku restaurant to share their premium meat with more people, and to use 【Yakiniku Sakuraya】 as a way to introduce 【Aso Niku Kobo】 in Nishihara Village to a wider audience.
I walked through Kamitori shopping arcade up to Namiki-zaka.
It sits right along the road with a clear sign, so it’s easy to find! (^^)/
【Yakiniku Sakuraya】 is located on the first floor of this building.
The interior is beautifully simple and stylish.
There are spacious table seats,as well as counter seats.
The private room features traditional horigotatsu seating (sunken floor table where you can stretch your legs).
Private tatami rooms are great for families with kids, but with horigotatsu, parents often worry — won’t the table be too far from little ones?
【Yakiniku Sakuraya】 has special children’s chairs designed for horigotatsu seating!
They fit perfectly along the edge of the sunken table.
They’re also weighted, so the chair won’t tip if a child leans forward — and it stays put when they wiggle. A thoughtful touch!
They even have children’s tableware!

As you may have guessed by now,
【Yakiniku Sakuraya】 warmly welcomes families with children! (^^)/

The restaurant has a slightly upscale atmosphere, so I wondered if it was kid-friendly — but the owner kindly said, “It’s not just for adults, please bring the kids too!!” That made me so happy! ♪The cute little bell to call the staff is adorable!

Recommended Menu at Yakiniku Sakuraya

Here’s the menu at 【Yakiniku Sakuraya】.
Look closely and you’ll spot some unfamiliar cuts of beef.
Each cut comes with a description explaining the part of the cow and what kind of meat it is — super helpful for first-timers!
And take a closer look at the prices!

At 【Yakiniku Sakuraya】, you can order just a single slice!
Have you ever been curious about a cut but felt one full plate was too much? Or wanted just a little more without committing to another full order?
This is perfect for anyone who wants to sample lots of different cuts! ♪Because they purchase whole cows, they can offer rare cuts that are hard to find elsewhere!They also serve hormone (offal cuts), basashi (raw horse meat sashimi — a Kumamoto specialty!), and various side dishes.
Here’s the drink menu at 【Yakiniku Sakuraya】.
The fruit-pulp non-alcoholic drinks (perfect for kids) come with a choice of carbonated or still.

Now, time for the main event — the meat! “Premium Beef Tongue (Jo-Tan)” (one plate)
Served with lemon and a salty green onion sauce.
The juices burst out, balanced by the refreshing green onion salt!
The meat is so tender that even our kids gobbled it up.“Sakuraya Loin” (one plate)
Even more tender than I expected — absolutely delicious!
“Sakuraya Karubi (Short Rib)” (one plate)
The must-order classic at any yakiniku spot! Perfect balance of lean meat and marbled fat.“Harami (Skirt Steak)” (top photo, one plate)
A satisfying chew with serious volume — each slice is hearty and fulfilling!

“Shin-shin” (bottom photo, one plate)
This is the central core cut from the inner thigh. Tender meat with a clean, light-fat finish.The dipping sauce has a sweet soy-based flavor.
There’s no way this doesn’t pair perfectly with rice!
“Maruchou (Large Intestine)” (front photo, one plate)
A must-order for offal lovers! The more you chew, the more juicy umami flavor pours out.

“Sasa” (top photo, two slices)
A rare cut I’d never heard of before. The fat literally melted in my mouth.

“Shin-shin” (right photo, two slices)
Our kids loved it so much we ordered just enough for them.

Look at that maruchou — grilled to plump, glistening perfection!
There’s a bit of smoke, but it’s barely noticeable.
Even better — that telltale “I just came from a yakiniku place!” smell on your clothes and hair was almost completely absent!
That’s a big plus for travelers!
Yuzu pepper, wasabi, and grated garlic are available on request — just ask the staff!“Premium Non-Alcoholic Mikan (Mandarin) Drink with Pulp” (still)
Can you see the bits of pulp? It tastes more like genuine mikan juice than orange juice!
“Chanja (Spicy Korean-Style Salted Cod Roe)”
A balanced spicy heat, deep savory flavor, and crunchy texture that just keeps your appetite going.
Of course this is what happens — straight onto rice!

“Reimen (Cold Noodles)” (regular)
A light Japanese-style dashi broth with chewy, smooth noodles that slip down easily.
Adding a splash of apple vinegar, as recommended, gives it a fruity twist that’s truly delicious! ♪“Sakuraya Monaka Ice Cream”
Vanilla ice cream, sweet red bean (anko), and whipped cream — sounds super sweet, but each element has just a hint of sweetness, creating a beautifully refined combination.
The monaka wafer crisps with a delightful crunch — a must-try dessert to end your meal!

Soft drinks are even served in special children’s cups.

【Yakiniku Sakuraya】 is friendly to solo diners and families alike.

With private rooms and loft seating, it’s a great spot to gather with friends and enjoy delicious meat together!
Of course, dining solo and savoring small portions of various rare cuts is also a wonderful way to experience it.
If you’re hosting visitors from outside the prefecture, treating them to Kumamoto’s pride — Kuro-Kaba beef — is sure to delight them.

One personal note — at our age, yakiniku usually leaves us with a heavy stomach the next day.
But after eating 【Yakiniku Sakuraya】‘s premium quality “good meat,” we didn’t feel weighed down at all the next morning.
The usual after-yakiniku feeling — the smell, the heaviness — was almost completely gone. We were genuinely amazed!

While the meat naturally takes center stage, 【Yakiniku Sakuraya】 is full of thoughtful touches — from horigotatsu children’s chairs to minimal smoke and odor — that make every visit special. Definitely worth a visit! (^^)/

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