Ultimate 2025 Guide: Experience Premium A5 Wagyu at Kanazana Yakiniku - Japan's Authentic BBQ Tradition With Table-Side Grilling
Kanazawa is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, located on Honshu island facing the Japan Sea. It flourished as one of Japan's leading cultural cities from around 1600 to 1800, and many places that evoke its rich history remain today. Historical attractions such as Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen (one of Japan's three most famous gardens where you can enjoy nature throughout the four seasons) are beloved by tourists, along with the townscapes and traditional crafts.
In terms of cuisine, the area is known for its abundant seafood and fresh vegetables. The "Wagyu" raised in Ishikawa is also famous. "Wagyu" refers to high-quality beef raised domestically in Japan that meets certain standards, and Ishikawa's Wagyu is highly acclaimed.
This article introduces the exquisite Kanazawa Yakiniku available by genre according to each restaurant's characteristics, showcasing the best Japanese BBQ 2025 has to offer.
In Kanazawa, Japanese BBQ featuring "Noto Beef" - Japanese Black Beef raised in Ishikawa Prefecture - is Popular
In Kanazawa, Japanese BBQ using "Noto beef" - Japanese black beef raised in Ishikawa - is popular. Noto beef is high-quality Wagyu raised with carefully selected feed in a nature-rich environment. Its meat quality is fine-textured and extremely tender, characterized by a melting texture in your mouth. The marbled fat has moderate sweetness and elegant flavor, making it extremely delicious when enjoyed as Kanazawa Yakiniku.
Noto beef undergoes thorough breeding methods and quality control, earning high evaluation as Wagyu. However, due to the small number of cattle produced, it's not widely distributed and is called "phantom brand Wagyu."
Among Noto beef, those of particularly high quality that receive the highest grade in Japan's beef ranking system are certified as "Noto Beef Premium." Restaurants handling this meat sometimes display certification stickers, so please use this as a reference.
3 Selected Premium Japanese BBQ Restaurants Where You Can Taste High-Grade Wagyu Noto Beef
From here, we'll introduce 3 carefully selected Kanazawa Yakiniku restaurants where you can taste "Noto beef," which can be considered the pinnacle of Wagyu.
Please savor these flavors that can only be enjoyed in Kanazawa's Japanese BBQ scene in 2025.
Yakiniku Kyosawa
Source:Kanazawa Tourism Official
Yakiniku Kyosawa is authorized to serve "Noto Beef Premium" and allows you to fully savor the deliciousness of Noto beef in their Japanese BBQ offerings.
The menu features carefully selected Wagyu, including Noto beef. Popular items include the "9-variety platter" with various cuts on one plate and course meals featuring supreme Wagyu. They also use locally-sourced vegetables, allowing you to truly taste Ishikawa's cuisine.
Ishikawa's local sake is also available in their lineup, so enjoying local ingredients with local alcohol is recommended. They also have an extensive side menu.
The restaurant features completely private rooms for all seats, allowing you to enjoy your meal leisurely without worrying about others' attention. You can spend relaxing time in a sophisticated space with elegant downlighting.
Store Information
Address: 1F Sun Rose Katamachi Building, 2-24-11 Katamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Irregular holidays
Phone: 050-5489-1128
Business Hours:
Mon-Thu: 17:00-24:00 (L.O. 23:00)
Fri-Sat: 17:00-24:00 (L.O. 23:30)
Sun/Holidays: 17:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:00)
Official Website: https://r655601.gorp.jp/
Daishogun Kanazawa
Source:PR TIMES
Daishogun Kanazawa is the Kanazawa branch of the renowned "Daishogun," which has 37 years of history in neighboring Toyama. Daishogun operates 3 locations in Toyama and has gained popularity for serving carefully selected Wagyu chosen by skilled craftsmen.
This Daishogun Kanazawa location is also characterized by rice cooked using traditional Japanese stoves and pots with carefully selected rice from all over Japan. The combination of premium Wagyu and freshly cooked rice is so delicious you won't be able to put your chopsticks down.
The interior, renovated from a 170-year-old traditional Japanese house called "Machiya," is also worth seeing. It's fun to observe the building with various mechanisms throughout, like a house where Ninja might have lived. The surrounding area also features rows of Machiya, allowing you to enjoy historically rich streetscapes.
Store Information
Address: 2-31-36 Katamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Sundays
Phone: 076-204-7935
Business Hours: 17:00-24:00
Official Website: https://yakiniku-daishogun.jp/kanazawa
Midouen
Source:Official website
Midouen is a long-established Japanese BBQ restaurant founded in 1970. The previous owner trained under a person said to have spread yakiniku throughout Japan, and you can enjoy authentic yakiniku that inherits this lineage.
They offer an extensive Noto beef menu, and the restaurant prides itself on special sauces that bring out the deliciousness of Noto beef with its attractive high-quality marbling.
It has been featured on Japanese television programs and is popular with locals too. The restaurant interior is clean with a calm atmosphere and warm, homey service, allowing you to enjoy your meal with peace of mind.
Located about a 5-minute walk from Kenrokuen (one of Japan's three famous gardens) and Omicho Market (a historic market where you can enjoy food walks), it's easily accessible for dining after sightseeing.
Store Information
Address: 15-24 Otecho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Mondays (following day if it's a holiday)
Phone: 076-231-7584
Business Hours: 17:00-23:00
Official Website: https://www.midouen.jp/
3 Selected Kanazawa Yakiniku Restaurants Where You Can Enjoy Wagyu
Noto beef is a unique Wagyu from Ishikawa, but throughout Japan there are various other Wagyu brands, all of which receive high acclaim. From here, we will introduce Kanazawa Yakiniku restaurants where you can enjoy Wagyu, perfect for experiencing authentic Japanese BBQ 2025.
Yakiniku Kitajima
Source:Tabelog
Yakiniku Kitajima is a restaurant where you can enjoy a higher-grade Japanese BBQ experience. Without being particular about brands, they source delicious Wagyu from all over the country, stocking numerous cuts of the highest grade beef according to Japan's beef ranking system.
Since the owner purchases whole cattle that he has personally selected, you can enjoy various cuts without waste. The "13-tier staircase platter," where different meats are arranged on a board that looks like stairs, has tremendous visual impact.
There are counter seats and private rooms, but the counter is set at the same height as the table, so you can see the meat cutting process right in front of you, creating a live atmosphere. You can enjoy time that feels like culinary entertainment.
You can dine in a relaxed atmosphere in the chic interior of a renovated Machiya (traditional townhouse).
Store Information
- Address: 4-11 Oyama-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Closed: Irregular holidays
- Phone: 076-225-8029
- Hours: 17:00～22:30 (Food L.O. 22:00, Drink L.O. 22:00)
- Official website: https://yakinikukitajima.owst.jp/
Yakiniku Ryotei Manpuku
Source:Official website
Yakiniku Ryotei Manpuku is a restaurant opened in Kanazawa by "Manpuku," a long-established yakiniku restaurant in Tokyo with 75 years of history. Manpuku is said to be the birthplace of "Beef tongue with salt and green onions," a staple menu item at yakiniku restaurants, and you can savor this signature dish at Yakiniku Ryotei Manpuku as well.
They stock brand Wagyu carefully selected by the head chef, and as a certified restaurant for handling raw beef, you can enjoy rare experiences like Wagyu sashimi.
The lineup of wines, champagne, and Japanese sake is also extensive, and you can enjoy pairings with the meat, which is another highlight.
The interior is a stylish space that incorporates Japanese design elements throughout, creating a luxurious atmosphere.
Store Information
- Address: Cross Gate Kanazawa 2F, 1-5-3 Hirooka, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Closed: Follows Cross Gate Kanazawa's holidays
- Phone: 076-221-1129
- Hours:
- Weekdays
- Lunch: 11:00～15:00 (L.O. 14:00)
- Dinner: 17:00～23:00 (Food L.O. 21:30, Drink L.O. 22:00)
- Weekends & Holidays
- Lunch: 11:00～15:00 (L.O. 14:00)
- Dinner: 17:00～23:00 (Food L.O. 21:30, Drink L.O. 22:00)
- Official website: https://ryotei-manpuku-kanazawa.com/
Kanazawa Yakiniku Senara
Source:Tabelog
Kanazawa Yakiniku Senara is a long-established yakiniku restaurant founded in 1978. They stock carefully selected Wagyu. With the motto that meat is most delicious when freshly cut, craftsmen who select Wagyu daily cut it by hand without sparing effort.
The hormone (offal) is especially fresh and has no unpleasant taste, so we highly recommend that even people who have never eaten hormone or have reservations about it try it at least once.
The interior is a Japanese-style space that matches Kanazawa's historic streetscape, with a calm atmosphere. Since you remove your shoes when entering the restaurant, you can relax and enjoy your meal leisurely. There are also private rooms where you can spend time comfortably without worrying about others' attention.
They also serve lunch, making it perfect for breaks during sightseeing.
Store Information
- Address: Ko 10 Tamahoko-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Closed: Tuesdays
- Phone: 050-5457-6561
- Hours:
- 11:30～14:30 (Food L.O. 14:00)
- 17:00～23:00 (Food L.O. 22:00)
Local Favorites: Restaurants Where You Can Enjoy Excellent Yakiniku at Reasonable Prices
Restaurants beloved by locals have a solid reputation for deliciousness and offer the chance to enjoy the local atmosphere. Here, we introduce local establishments where you can enjoy excellent Kanazawa Yakiniku at reasonable prices - perfect spots for experiencing authentic Japanese BBQ 2025 style.
Yakiniku Chidori
Source:Tabelog
Yakiniku Chidori is a yakiniku restaurant founded in 1964 that has been loved by locals for many years. They take pride in their homemade sauce and homemade miso that have remained unchanged since their founding, offering flavors appreciated by everyone from children to seniors.
Their most popular menu item is pork large intestine called "Shiro." It's thoroughly cleaned and prepared, so there's no unpleasant odor whatsoever, allowing you to enjoy the original flavor of the meat. Freshly grilled Shiro with homemade miso, enjoyed alongside a draft beer, was absolutely fantastic.
The interior has a nostalgic retro atmosphere, with chairs made from plastic cases that once held bottled beer, creating the ambiance of a classic yakiniku restaurant. It's a casual atmosphere where locals drop by after work.
It's also conveniently located close to Kanazawa Station with excellent access.
Store Information
Address: 2-5-4 Honmachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Sundays
Phone: 076-224-6183
Business Hours: 17:00 - 00:00 (L.O. 23:00)
Official Website: https://yakiniku-chidori.com/
Yakiniku Miyazaki
Source:Official website
Yakiniku Miyazaki is a yakiniku restaurant operated by a butcher shop. As beef professionals, the butcher shop can provide high-quality meat with outstanding cost performance, making it popular with local people since long ago.
They offer diverse menu options from Wagyu rare cuts to hormone, with their marbled beef tongue being especially recommended. It's incredibly tender with a chewy texture, and when enjoyed simply with salt and pepper, you can savor the original umami of the meat.
They also offer side dishes like beef croquettes and tongue stew. For lunch, they have casual yakiniku set menus, so you can use the restaurant according to different occasions.
Store Information
Address: 2-4-7 Mitsuguchi Shinmachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: Wednesdays
Phone: 050-5485-0388
Business Hours:
Lunch 11:30～14:00 (L.O. 13:30)
Dinner 17:00～23:00 (L.O. 22:30)
Official Website: https://yakiniku-miyazaki.gorp.jp/
Kanazawa Yakiniku Scramble
Source:Official website
At Kanazawa Yakiniku Scramble, you can enjoy Noto beef and carefully selected Wagyu from all over Japan. They handle Noto beef of the highest grade according to Japanese beef ranking standards.
Beyond Noto beef, you can enjoy various local meats from Ishikawa including pork and chicken.
I especially recommend their "Aburi 3-byou" (3-second searing) menu, where thinly sliced rump and other cuts are seared for about 3 seconds and eaten dipped in beaten raw egg. The refreshing taste with appropriately rendered fat was exquisite.
They offer abundant side dishes that pair well with alcohol and welcome solo customers, so you can comfortably enjoy drinks and meals alone. Don't miss the chance to enjoy conversations with the friendly staff.
Store Information
Address: 1F, 1-5-15 Katamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Closed: None
Phone: 076-224-7373
Business Hours:
Mon-Thu 17:30 - 1:00
Fri-Sat 17:30 - 3:00
Sun 17:30 - 23:00
Official Website: https://sukuranble.foodre.jp/
If You Want to Visit Shops Beloved by Locals, We Recommend Joining a Local Tour!
Kanazawa has not only Kanazawa Yakiniku restaurants but also numerous attractive dining establishments, so first-time visitors might wonder where to go. When you visit, you'll want to enjoy local shops beloved by the residents.
Magical Trip's local tours feature English-speaking local tour guides who will show you hidden local gems and other special places. Starting at 6:00 PM, you'll visit restaurants where you can enjoy Kanazawa's local cuisine and Japanese sake bars. Since food and drinks are included in the cost, you can participate casually. It's a tour where you can enjoy delicious meals and drinks while strolling through historic streetscapes.
When You Come to Kanazawa, Enjoy Not Only Japanese BBQ 2025 but Also Exquisite Seafood and Local Food
Kanazawa is known as a gourmet treasure trove where you can savor not only Kanazawa Yakiniku but also local seafood and regional foods. Especially the seafood is something you must try to fully enjoy the charm of this region.
Kanazawa faces the Sea of Japan, where fresh and abundant marine products are landed daily, with Blackthroat Seaperch and Sweet Shrimp being particularly famous.
Kanazawa's seafood can be enjoyed not only as sushi and sashimi but also as grilled or simmered fish. At Omicho Market, you can purchase and eat fresh seafood on the spot, making it a popular spot among tourists. The restaurants within the market offer dishes using seasonal seafood, and the seafood bowls, sushi, and sashimi set meals are must-tries.
Additionally, Kanazawa has a local specialty dish called "Jibuni." Jibuni is a dish made with duck or chicken meat, simmered in a sweet and savory soy sauce-based seasoning, and pairs excellently with rice.
Of course, the Japanese BBQ 2025 experience is also excellent, but when you visit Kanazawa, please be sure to savor local flavors like seafood cuisine as well. Please enjoy Kanazawa, which has a rich food culture.
If You Come to Kanazawa, a City Where Japanese Tradition and History Live On, Enjoy Exploring the City Too
While Kanazawa's appeal lies in its fulfilling culinary experiences, the historic sites and traditional streetscapes that convey the history from the 1600s are also places you should definitely visit.
However, since there are historic places scattered throughout the city, it's challenging to visit them all at once. Magical Trip's local tours offer tours where English-speaking local tour guides can help you explore Kanazawa's city in half a day.
Starting at 10:00 AM, you'll explore Omicho Market, Kenrokuen, and the historic "Higashichaya district" where traditional buildings line the streets. The guide will teach you about the city's historic spots, allowing you to make various discoveries that you might not notice on your own.