01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
A visit to Yakinikusakaba Jin starts easily, cracking open sunflower seed snacks while deciding what to grill first. The meat selection is wide, ranging from salted beef tongue and skirt steak (harami) to reasonably priced Kuroge Wagyu Jin karubi and richer, fattier cuts like premium karubi. Beyond standard tare and salt options, the shop offers seasoning accents such as light grated daikon with ponzu for salted meats and a savory scallion-salt sauce, keeping the rhythm of the meal brisk and flavorful.
Izakaya-style sides complement the grilled beef on the table. Fried chicken cut from a whole large cut of meat with kitchen shears shares space with spiced chicken wings and potato salad topped with a soft-boiled egg. When it comes time to finish the meal, options run to a spicy-savory yukgaejang soup, a dedicated egg-over-rice set with house tare sauce, and bibimbap topped with braised beef tongue.
True to its tavern-style moniker, the beverage lineup goes far beyond basic yakiniku fare. Diners will find Sapporo Red Star medium bottles, the signature ice-free Jin Highball served in a tumbler, wine poured right to the brim of the glass, and proper cocktails mixed by a manager with a bar background.
Trams on the Toden Arakawa Line pass just outside the window, while the interior stays clear thanks to overhead exhaust ducts, offering both counter seating and tatami-style zashiki floors. It works just as well for someone dropping by solo for a quiet drink as it does for families and friends gathering around the grill.
