01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Just off the main thoroughfare in Asakusa 2-chome, Wakaba Yakiniku sits tucked down an alleyway, welcoming diners into an easygoing space to grill meat over an open flame. With its lived-in, unpretentious atmosphere, the restaurant offers an appealing setting to enjoy quality beef and a diverse selection of horumon without any stiffness.
A natural place to start is with the classics: beef tongue, kalbi, and lean loin rich in umami. The menu unfolds from there to include prized cuts such as kainomi (flap meat) and sasami (flank), as well as combination platters. Highlights include a three-piece horumon assortment featuring shimachō (large intestine), jō-mino (first stomach), and giara (abomasum), or a premium trio of jō-kalbi, jō-loin, and jō-harami. Tasting platters that let you compare varied textures and beef flavours side by side are an especially practical option for groups wanting to sample widely.
Between rounds on the grill, a generous line-up of side dishes keeps chopsticks busy. Honeycomb tripe tossed with sesame salt, steamed pork, kimchi assortments, and namul all make natural partners for a drink. The beverage list covers plenty of ground, from lemon sours and fragrant matcha highballs to beer, makgeolli, and the house Wakaba highball.
After savouring the grilled meats, meals often finish with cold noodles, gomtang gukbap, or yukgaejang soup noted for its bold, fiery heat. Operating late into the night and accepting reservations, it is a convenient stop whether wrapping up an evening stroll through Asakusa or gathering for dinner with close company.
