“I want to eat grilled meat!”
Not only do I want to savor delicious meat, but I also want to spend a memorable time.
With family, with a partner, with good friends, or even alone without hesitation…
“Yakiniku Toi” located in Tsurajima, Kurashiki City, is a restaurant that fulfills such wishes.
You can enjoy the meat that the owner, who loves grilled meat, has fallen in love with, as well as Korean dishes that have been loved since before the opening, in a comfortable space created from the perspective of child-rearing generations.
I asked the owner, Takakura Miyuki, about the atmosphere, menu, and commitment of “Yakiniku Toi.”
A Yakiniku Restaurant Enjoyable for Families, Friends, and Solo Diners
“Yakiniku Toi” is a yakiniku restaurant that opened on October 1, 2022 (Toi Day).
Originally, there was a building called “Dondon Building” at this location, which housed a Korean restaurant called “Sakaba Rokka” on the first floor.
When it was decided to rebuild the building, the entire structure was transformed into a yakiniku restaurant.
It is a two-story building, with table and counter seats on the first floor.
Counter seats also have grilling nets, allowing you to enjoy yakiniku without hesitation even when alone. In fact, there are women who visit alone to enjoy grilled meat.
The second floor has a more relaxed atmosphere. Each table is partitioned, making it conducive to lively conversation.
In addition to tables that seat 4 to 6 people, there are also private rooms where you can enjoy delicious grilled meat in a lively atmosphere.
Children's dishes and chairs are available for borrowing, making it a pleasant point for families with small children to enjoy yakiniku without hesitation.
The owner has child-rearing experience herself, so you can feel her thoughtful consideration.
Delicious Meat and Korean Dishes at “Yakiniku Toi”
Let me introduce the menu available at “Yakiniku Toi.”
Black Wagyu is the main offering. We are particular about meat that has a good balance of fat and is delicious enough to fill you up.
The owner, Takakura, loves hormone (offal) among grilled meats. We procure various cuts through whole animal purchasing. We also offer lean lamb and seafood, which are popular among health-conscious customers.
And the most distinctive feature is the rich variety of Korean dishes carried over from the previous Korean restaurant.
Kimchi, kimbap, Korean cold noodles, and chijimi are all flavors that will make you want to eat them again after trying them once.
The abundance of vegetable dishes is also a delightful point.
In addition to meat and Korean dishes, we will also introduce alcoholic beverages and popular lunch menus.
Savoring Delicious Meat
Orders can be easily made from each table using a smartphone.
The dishes are also stylish.
We ordered Black Wagyu Upper Loin, Kalbi, Harami, and Upper Tongue.
We grill them on the grill available at each table.
Each one is delicious and full of meat juice.
The sauces available are soy sauce, thick miso sauce, and lemon juice.
The soy sauce dip is light, while the miso dip has depth, and both pair excellently with the meat. The tongue was enjoyed with a refreshing squeeze of lemon juice.
A recommendation for the second half is the Tsutsumi Vegetable Set.
When you wrap the meat and miso in vegetables like lettuce and shiso, the flavor changes again.
Toi's Mixed Hormone
The hormones sourced from a single cow can be ordered individually, but if you want to try a variety, the Toi's Mixed Hormone is recommended.
Liver, hormones (small intestine), shimacho (large intestine), tsurami, upper mino, and senmai are randomly provided depending on the day.
You can choose between "Umakara" and "tare," and we chose "Umakara."
Packed with umami, the texture and flavor vary by part, making it an enjoyable dish with a bouncy and crunchy feel.
"Umakara" has a spiciness that enhances the meal, making it perfect with rice and alcohol.
Koune
Koune is a part of the beef shoulder chuck and is a rare cut that can only be obtained in small quantities from a single cow.
It is loved mainly in Hiroshima and can also be enjoyed at "Yakiniku Toi."
With a pale appearance and a sweet flavor from the fat, when grilled, it has a unique taste that spreads as you chew.
The fat is not as heavy as it looks, melting smoothly in the mouth with a refined richness. It is best enjoyed with grated ponzu sauce for a refreshing taste.
Toi Salad
After enjoying the meat, don't you want to get plenty of vegetables too?
In such cases, the perfect dish to share is the Toi Salad.
The dish features a colorful array of fresh vegetables, perfectly complemented by the moderate acidity of the original Japanese-style dressing, making it a dish you will want to enjoy again and again.
The popular dressing is also available for purchase.
Kimchi Platter
Homemade kimchi offers a depth of flavor unique to fermented foods, with a mild spiciness and a smooth taste.
You can feel the freshness of the vegetables.
This is a recommended dish that even those who are not fond of spicy food should try.
Kimbap
The colorful vegetables, such as purple cabbage and carrots, are rolled up in a visually delightful Kimbap.
You can taste the flavor of sesame, and a refreshing taste spreads.
This dish serves as a light accent between grilled meat.
It is said to be popular as a Ehomaki (lucky direction roll) during the Setsubun season every year. The flavor is understandable for the many repeat customers.
Cold Noodles
The Cold Noodles feature a refreshing, tangy soup and firm noodles.
With a refreshing aftertaste, it is perfect for concluding a meal.
Alcohol that Pairs Well with Meat and Korean Cuisine
For grilled meat, classic drinks like beer and chuhai pair well, but we also offer special alcoholic beverages.
Among them, the highlight is natural wine. We carefully select wines that pair well with meat in consultation with the owner at "Jurokuya Sake Shop" located in Higashimachi, Kurashiki.
The Korean alcohol Horu Makgeolli has a slight sweetness, yet the carbonation from fermentation is felt, giving it a refreshing aftertaste.
It will enhance your meal even more.
Lunch Menu
"Yakiniku Toi" is open for lunch on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
In addition to enjoying grilled meat from noon, the following lunch-exclusive menu items are also popular.
- Wagyu Roast Beef Plate
- Meat Bowl from a Grilled Meat Restaurant
- Spicy Beef Tofu Stew
- Tongue Taco Rice
- Kal-guksu
- Wagyu Tender Offal Bowl
This is "Kal-guksu". It features a light warm soup filled with smooth and chewy noodles and plenty of vegetables.
It comes with cheese kimbap, chijimi, and namul, allowing you to enjoy a variety of flavors at once.
"Yakiniku Toi" is a place where you can enjoy grilled meat and Korean cuisine without hesitation.
We spoke with the owner, Takakura Miyuki.
Data on Yakiniku Toi
| Name | Yakiniku Toi |
|---|---|
| Address | 630-3 Nishinoura, Tsurajima-cho, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 086-454-9818 |
| Parking | Available 20 cars |
| Business Hours | Lunch: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Last order 1:30 PM) *Only on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays Dinner: 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM (Last order 9:30 PM) *On weekends from 3:30 PM |
| Regular Holidays | Tuesday, irregular holidays Regular holidays: Tuesday + one long weekend (either Monday or Wednesday off) Lunch service is only on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays |
| Payment Methods |
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| Reservation Availability | Yes Reservations can be made via the website or by phone |
| Seating | 2nd floor: 50 seats (3 private table rooms, 6 table seats) 1st floor: 20 seats (4 counter seats, 4 table seats) |
| Smoking | Non-smoking (smoking allowed only in designated areas) |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | Stroller entry allowed Children's seating available Momokko Card (Okayama Childcare Support Passport) |
| Barrier-Free | 1st floor is wheelchair accessible |
| Website | Yakiniku Toi |
