We spoke with Yakiniku Toy
We spoke with owner Takakura Miyuki of Yakiniku Toy.
How did you come to open the restaurant?
Takakura
There used to be a building called “Dondon Building” on this site, where we operated a Korean restaurant called “Sakabaru Rikka.”
“Sakabaru Rikka” closed in December 2021, and since I loved yakiniku, I decided to change the business into a yakiniku restaurant.
After studying hard to run a yakiniku restaurant, Yakiniku Toy opened in October 2022, marking a fresh start.
I thought that if I started a yakiniku restaurant, I might stop liking yakiniku, but my whole family still loves it, and we go out to eat at all kinds of restaurants.
Since it used to be a Korean restaurant, you have a wide selection of dishes besides yakiniku.
Takakura
Yes, that's why we have so many Korean dishes on the menu.
Popular items from the Sakabaru Rikka days, such as gimbap, are still enjoyed by our regular customers from back then.
When my children were a little older and needed less care, I started serving lunch on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays only.
We created a lunch-only menu, and in addition to dishes unique to a yakiniku restaurant, such as a Japanese beef roast beef plate and a meat bowl, Korean dishes such as mala beef tofu jjigae and kalguksu are also popular.
You often set up at events, too, don't you?
Takakura
We opened during the period when measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 were in place, and bento sales were also thriving then. We were able to take part in various sales events and learned to make 100 bento boxes at a time.
I've always enjoyed taking part in events and helping create a fun atmosphere, so we also prepared a food truck and set up at events whenever we have the opportunity.
I'm grateful for all the connections we've made.
Where did the name Yakiniku Toy come from?
Takakura
Actually, “Toy” comes from the fact that we have a toy poodle. It has a cute ring to it, doesn't it?
It is also a play on the word “TOY”, meaning a child's plaything.
I've been raising children for a long time myself, so I've always wanted to make this a place where people can bring their children and enjoy themselves without worrying.
Have you heard of the Momokko Card (Okayama Child-Rearing Support Passport), an initiative unique to Okayama that supports child-rearing across the whole community?
We also participate in the program and offer a complimentary juice to anyone who presents the card.
Many of our customers are families with children, so I hope they think, “It's fun to go to Yakiniku Toy and eat yakiniku!”
I hope this will become a restaurant that families remember visiting to eat yakiniku together, even after their children have grown up.
From the Writer
“I want to eat yakiniku!”
When people feel that way, they are surely imagining not only delicious meat, but also the people and place they will share it with.
That's why I felt that a lively space for conversation and a comfortable atmosphere are so important.
Yakiniku Toy is a restaurant that offers just that kind of special time.
Come with family, a partner, or friends—or on your own—and enjoy a memorable moment in a relaxed setting.
Yakiniku Toy details
| Name | Yakiniku Toy |
|---|---|
| Address | 630-3 Nishinoura, Tsurajima-cho, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 086-454-9818 |
| Parking | Available 20 spaces |
| Hours | Lunch: 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (last order 1:30 p.m.) *Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays only Dinner: 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. (last order 9:30 p.m.) *On Saturdays and Sundays, from 3:30 p.m. |
| Closed | Tuesdays and irregular days Regular closing: Tuesdays plus one long weekend per month (closed on either Monday or Wednesday) Lunch service is available Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays only |
| Payment methods |
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| Reservations | Accepted Reservations can be made through the website or by phone |
| Seating | 2nd floor: 50 seats (3 private rooms with tables and 6 tables) 1st floor: 20 seats (4 counter seats and 4 tables) |
| Smoking | Non-smoking (smoking permitted only in designated areas) |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilet |
| Families with children | Strollers welcome Children's chairs available Momokko Card (Okayama Child-Rearing Support Passport) |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair access on the 1st floor |
| Website | Yakiniku Toy |
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