With Korean BBQ and Wagyu beef already being two of the best foods there are, it is hardly surprising that they should be married in culinary harmony. Enter Muhan Restaurant, the best restaurant and meal I have perhaps ever had in my life.
I was to discover this in the semi-seedy Akasaka region of Tokyo after leading a tour to Fukushima, a place not exactly known for its gastronomic charms. I had chosen to take my group here after previously arriving too late for an all-you-can-eat…
What is Muhan Restaurant?
Muhan Restaurant is a Korean-style yakiniku joint that elevates the concept by offering premium Japanese Wagyu beef. Located just a few minutes’ walk from Akasaka Station, the restaurant has become a local legend for its all-you-can-eat BBQ experience. The establishment first opened several years ago and has since garnered a loyal following among both locals and tourists. Unlike many chain restaurants, Muhan maintains a single, high-quality location, ensuring a consistent and authentic dining experience.
The concept of Korean Wagyu BBQ involves grilling ultra-marbled Japanese beef at your own table, Korean-style—slices of beef rib (kalbi), short loin, and skirt steak cooked over a charcoal or gas grill, eaten with kimchi, lettuce, and a cold beer. It’s a culinary marriage that works, and Muhan executes it perfectly.
The Menu and Prices at Muhan Restaurant
The menu is divided into clear tiers depending on your level of indulgence:
- Standard Course: ¥3,980 (approx. $26) – All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ with a selection of meats, sides, and soft drinks.
- Mid-Tier Wagyu Course: ¥4,980 (approx. $33) – All-you-can-eat Japanese Wagyu, including A3-A4 cuts, with a variety of Korean dishes and soft drinks.
- Premium Wagyu Course: ¥7,128 (approx. $47) – All-you-can-eat premium Japanese Wagyu, including A5 cuts, with an extensive selection of Korean dishes and soft drinks.
All courses include a two-hour dining window, with the option to add an all-you-can-drink package for an additional ¥1,500–¥2,000 ($10–$13). The drink selection includes beer, highballs, sake, and the queen of the crop – Korean Soju.
Click to see the difference between Soju and Sake.
How Does It Work?
You come in, get your table, pick your price package, and then get down to ordering. Now! The restaurant embraces Japan’s obsession with technology by having you order via a QR code and app. Now this usually pisses me off, like the “self-service” consoles at hotels, which not only take longer but involve the same amount of staff.
At Muhan Restaurant though, it works very well with you ordering your BBQ items, drinks, and the like, which goes to command before being brought to your table by the slightly surly staff (more on that later). You then cook up, and if you have done the unlimited drink, up a storm. The waiters are also about, again while being surly for when you drop chopsticks and the like, very likely if you are also drinking.
And the Meal
There are a lot of foods that are just hype, but wagyu is not one of these beasts. Wagyu when done right is freaking baller, and of course, the best wagyu in the world is in Japan. And it is not just good here, but everywhere and cheap by Japanese standards—leading to the following phrase: “Why spend $50 on wagyu at home when you can spend THOUSANDS to get it for $40 in Japan.”
At Muhan Restaurant, the range of wagyu is just fabulous, with the cuts shown at the front just adding to the ambiance. And as I always say, the best thing about beef is it is done when you decide it is done! This makes wagyu and Korean BBQ perfect bedfellows. And of course, they do have other more traditional meats too!
There’s also, as mentioned, a large array of other dishes, such as:
- Tteokbokki (떡볶이) – Spicy rice cakes
- Japchae (잡채) – Stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables
- Kimchi (김치) – Fermented spicy cabbage
- Yukke (육회) – Raw beef tartare seasoned with sesame oil and spices
- Kimchi Jjigae (김치찌개) – Kimchi stew
- Bibimbap (비빔밥) – Mixed rice with vegetables and meat
And honestly, it is just perfect. Combine this and you have a 2-hour window from $45 or so to bloat yourself.
Of course though, this is Japan, so 2 hours means two hours and they will remove your stuff before allowing a mere 20 minutes to finish your remaining food and drinks.
Conclusion
I am really not messing when I say that this was not just the best restaurant I have been in Akasaka, but Muhan is well on up there as one of the best meals I’ve had on the planet. And you know I’ve eaten a lot of food in a lot of countries, kinda my thing.
And the negatives? Well, the staff are surly as shit, although in Japan it seems that you either get over the top gigglingly polite Japanese girls, or surly guys. Perhaps though that’s just Japan….
Go to Muhan Restaurant, or simply just try Korean Wagyu BBQ, you will not regret it….
Click to see my tours to Japan.