Tabelog ratingYakiniku Fuji (焼肉ふじ) is a small grill-it-yourself room in the back of a family butcher shop. The beef is cut to order, and much of it is Matsusaka A5. The house signature is yaki-shabu, paper-thin slices seared for a few seconds a side. The pork version, Aomori barley pork seasoned with pepper and spice, is the dish made famous by the TV drama Kodoku no Gurume (Solitary Gourmet, season 9, episode 5). The restaurant has made Tabelog's "Tabelog 100" yakiniku and grill selection every year from 2022 to 2026.
Meat quality comes up in nearly every review. The most praised orders are the pork and beef yaki-shabu, misuji (tender shoulder, shaved thin), Matsusaka akami kalbi (lean short rib) and harami (skirt) marbled like kalbi. Rare raw dishes such as yukke and fresh liver also earn repeat mentions, as do the stone-pot bibimbap and the rice. Almost as often, guests talk about the husband-and-wife team. They show you how to grill, steer you away from over-ordering and often add some pork belly on the house.
Criticism is minor. A few guests found it good rather than dazzling, or a touch pricey at around ¥13,000 for two. One described it as a friendly local place rather than high-end yakiniku. The tongue is cut thin, and top tongue, yukke and liver sometimes sell out.
Reviewers in 2025–2026 paid the following:
- around ¥2,380 for misuji yaki-shabu
- ¥2,580 for wagyu harami
- ¥2,180 for beef yaki-shabu
- ¥1,080 for pork yaki-shabu
- ¥2,080 for Matsusaka akami kalbi
- ¥1,300–1,600 for stone-pot bibimbap
- ¥1,080 for reimen (cold noodles)
- ¥680 for a draught beer
Dinner typically runs ¥8,000–10,000 per person with drinks. There is no lunch service.
Value is strong. Japanese reviewers repeatedly compare the meat to Ginza yakiniku at far lower prices, and single portions are generous.
- Getting there: about 170 m (2–5 minutes' walk) from JR Usami Station, one stop from Ito. A few parking spaces are available, but reviewers find it awkward to reach other than by train.
- Booking: reservations are essential and walk-ins are not realistic. Book by phone on 0557-47-2983. Weekends fill 1–2 months ahead. Weekdays are easier, and last-minute cancellations do occur.
- Sittings: two dinner sittings, at 17:00 and 19:00, with roughly an hour at the table.
- Payment: cash only. Credit cards, electronic money and QR payments are not accepted.
- Seating: about four tables plus tatami seating. There are no private rooms, but the restaurant can be booked for private use.
- Children: welcome.
- Smoking: designated smoking area.
- Language: the menu is in Japanese, but the staff are patient. Visitors from Taiwan, Korea and Thailand got by with gestures and a few words of Japanese.