01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
The fragrant smoke rising from a charcoal brazier and the pleasure of slowly grilling meat coated in a rich miso sauce are part of what makes yakiniku so appealing. South of Shimura-sanchome Station on the Toei Mita Line, Sumibi Yakinikuya occupies Takashima Shimura Mansion. The menu features a broad selection of offal and lean cuts, served with miso, salt or sauce.
One of the most popular orders is the miso kalbi, served with a raw egg. Its sweet-and-savoury miso seasoning turns fragrant over the charcoal; dipped into beaten egg, the meat takes on a mellow richness reminiscent of sukiyaki. The bold seasoning pairs well with rice. Miso-seasoned premium harami, also served with raw egg, is another way to savour the restaurant’s miso sauce.
There is plenty of variety among the offal dishes, including a miso offal platter featuring horumon, galla, kobukuro, premium mino and liver; a spicy platter called Flame Offal; and a platter of miso horumon cuts. Finely scored mino and kobukuro have a pleasing bite, while the liver is soft and the juicy, richly textured kotekote horumon has a satisfying fullness. Grilling over charcoal lets excess fat drip away and brings out these qualities. Add the grated daikon served with the dipping sauce for a lighter finish, even with fattier cuts.
To balance the rich meat dishes, try the grapefruit sour, generously filled with fruit pulp, or the refreshing Mediterranean lemon sour. The Niigata sake Koshino Hakubai is another option. Sesame-oil-scented salad and napa cabbage kimchi make good accompaniments, and cold noodles or bibim noodles are available to finish the meal. For dessert, grilled banana topped with melting ice cream makes a pleasing final treat.
The restaurant has a raised tatami room with sunken kotatsu seating, making it a comfortable place for groups and families with children to eat together. It is open from 17:00 to 22:00 in the evening. The restaurant is often full, so booking ahead for dinner is recommended.
