Tabelog ratingNishishin Hatsuki Honten (西新初喜 本店) is the flagship restaurant of a historic butcher shop, specializing in sukiyaki and shabu-shabu prepared tableside. The main draw is the exceptional quality of its meat, particularly the famed Imari wagyu from Saga and a surprisingly popular Miyazaki red pork. The restaurant is structured with private rooms featuring traditional tatami mats or sunken horigotatsu seating, making it a popular choice for quiet family meals and special occasions.
Guests consistently praise the quality of the beef and pork, often highlighting the value offered by the lunch sets. The attentive service, multiple dipping sauces (ponzu, sesame, and dashi), and small touches like a yuzu sherbet dessert are also frequently mentioned. The private rooms are a significant plus for diners seeking a relaxed, intimate setting.
However, some reviewers note that the experience isn't always perfect. The flow of service can be inconsistent, feeling either too slow or rushed. A few guests were seated on a different floor than they expected, and some rooms reportedly have poor ventilation, which can leave the smell of sukiyaki on your clothes. A minority of diners also find the sukiyaki broth a little too sweet or salty for their taste.
Typical spending is around ¥1,000–¥1,999 for lunch and ¥3,000–¥3,999 for dinner. Reviewers recently paid approximately ¥9,000 for a special Imari wagyu shabu-shabu course, ¥7,500 for an Imari wagyu sukiyaki special, and ¥3,090 for a Miyazaki red pork lunch set. A special lunch with black-hair wagyu was around ¥5,500, while premium dinner courses can exceed ¥15,000.
- Getting there: Nishishin Hatsuki Honten is a 7-minute walk from Nishijin subway station, located on the 2nd floor of the Hatsuki Building.
- Reservations: Booking in advance is recommended.
- Seating: The restaurant offers private tatami and horigotatsu rooms. Note that you will need to remove your shoes.
- Payment: Major credit cards (VISA, Master, JCB, AMEX, Diners) are accepted. Electronic money and QR code payments are not.
- Languages: An English menu is available, and the QR code ordering system has pages in Chinese and Korean. Staff language abilities are limited.
- Children: Children of all ages are welcome.
- Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
- Parking: There is no dedicated parking; please use a paid lot nearby.
