Kyo Yakiniku Hiro Yasakatei
※ This blog is from June 2024 prior to the revamping of the restaurant.
I would like to introduce Kyo Yakiniku Hiro Yasaka-tei to everyone today.
Located on the corner of Yasaka Street, where traditional Japanese buildings line up, is Hiro's fifth establishment, Yasaka-tei.
It's in a grand mansion which was built in the early Showa era by a wealthy merchant who made his fortune through selling "Rokushomaru", a type of Chinese medicine.
Post WW2, the building came into the hands of the film company Shochiku Films and served as a residence for film directors and movie stars who produced movies in Kyoto during the golden age of Japanese cinema.
In addition to the luxurious architecture, the expansive Japanese garden (which spans approximately 330 square meters) which changes its appearance with the seasons is also a major attraction.
The stone steps leading from the gate to the entrance feels like the portal to a different world.
We were shown to a private room with a view of the small, yet beautiful inner garden through the window.
We ordered the “Onkochishin Kaiseki” course for this meal.
The first dish was the Yasaka Steamed Dish with Clear Sauce, which is steamed egg custard with wagyu beef in simpler terms.
It was fluffy, rich in umami from the the dashi and simply delicious.
The perfect combination of fresh wagyu yukhoe (beef tartar) and sea urchin was outstanding.
There was absolutely no unpleasant odor or “rawness” from the meat.
Next was the Hassun.
Served on four small plates was the beef omasum, sesame tofu, beef tongue, and beef tripe, each prepared differently but all well-flavored.
Before the yakiniku was a delightful surprise: wagyu sushi!
The wagyu beef melted the instant it touched my palate, and the sushi rice was indescribably delicious as well.
The main course was here: yakiniku!
We were able to enjoy three different cuts of meat each with different flavors, together with grilled Kujo green onions.
The wonderful flavor of the meat spread in our mouths with each bite and each of us were of the same sentiment that this was some of the best meat we had eaten in our entire lives.
But then even more delicious meat awaited us.
It was a combination of Tokachi beef tenderloin and tongue. The texture and flavor of both cuts were completely different from the previous serving of meats and it left us speechless once again.
Our waitress had grated fresh wasabi right next to us, and the harmony between its subtle aroma and the fatty richness of the wagyu beef was truly perfect .
The final dish of the yakiniku was Hiro’s specially sauced and grilled meat.
It was cooked to perfection by our waitress, and the amazing sweet sauce and the tenderness of the meat sent me to meat heaven.
To finish, we enjoyed Korean bibimbap and a dessert of ice cream, concluding a thoroughly satisfying course meal.
What do you think?
I bet you would also like to taste this premium meat while enjoying the view of a beautiful Japanese garden at Kyo Yakiniku Hiro Yasaka-tei.
They also have Chinese and English menus available for foreign guests so everyone can enjoy an amazing meal without having to worry about not being able to speak Japanese.
※ This blog is from June 2024 prior to the revamping of the restaurant.
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