Yakiniku Jambo Hanare was one of the highlights on my last visit to Japan, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I decided to stop by once again on this new trip. Between the Wagyu Nigiri, Gyutan, and Karubi dishes, I was very much looking forward to trying this place out again – and possibly sampling even more from their menu.
It’s been about half a year since, and after finally securing an open reservation, I made my way there for what might likely also be my favorite meal of this new trip. But is this place still as good as I last remembered it to be? Let’s get to it. How Good Is Yakiniku Jambo Hanare Actually?
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🍣 Wagyu Nigiri (¥650) 🍣
One of their signature dishes, and a great appetizer to start off the meal.
It’s a slice of Wagyu, coated in their signature sauce, lightly seared on the grill, and served on some Genmaicha rice.
As you’ll see with some of the other premium dishes, the staff will come prepare the dish for you, so you don’t have to worry about overcooking your expensive cuts.
Now for the taste. The Wagyu here is seared on the grill rather than via a blowtorch, so you get more of those deeper roasted notes of the beef and sauce (not to mention the Wagyu’s own rich flavors).
Served it on top of some sushi rice, and you got a one-bite appetizer that really sets the tone for the rest of your dining experience. Do give this one a try!
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🍣 Wagyu Nigiri (2nd Order) (¥650) 🍣
Between how good this dish was and how affordable it is, it shouldn’t be a surprise that we ordered another set of Nigiri later in the meal.
The Wagyu they use for the Nigiri seems to change depending on availability, so we were told that this order will be a different cut. (Works for me! Let’s see how good this new one is.)
Based on visuals alone, you can tell this cut is much more marbled than the previous one. And with a different cooking technique (notice the lack of a sear this time), this serving was insanely good, with the marbled fat providing a buttery sweetness that you can only get from Wagyu.
Out of the two pieces I had today, this one was my favorite by a wide margin.
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🥩 Noharayaki (Price varies, was ¥2,350 today) 🥩
Another one of their recommended items, the Noharayaki features a thin slice of sirloin, dressed in a sweet sukiyaki-like sauce. Like the Wagyu Nigiri, the Noharayaki will be prepared by the staff on your grill, so sit back and let them do their magic.
I didn’t actually get to try it last time, but since my friend had it and highly recommended it to me, I figured it be worth a shot. Right away, I can see why. The Wagyu here just melts in your mouth, and the slightly seared sukiyaki sauce and raw egg really brings this dish up to a magical level.
My friend said this was his favorite dish, but what are my thoughts? No doubt about it, this was one great dish. But I tend to prioritize value-for-money more than he does, so while extremely good, my overall vote would have to go to the Wagyu Nigiri.
But if you’re here, go for both! They’re both on the recommended menu, after all.
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🥚 Raw Egg (¥200) 🥚
To further immerse in the Sukiyaki experience, you can also order a raw egg to add to the dish.
Well, they say it’s optional, but if you’ve ever tried regular Sukiyaki before, you know the experience ain’t complete without it, as the egg adds a wonderful silky and rich profile that compliments the sweet and beefy flavors of the Wagyu. (So yes, don’t forget to get the egg alongside it.)
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🥩 Gyutan (¥2,500) 🥩
Right next to the Wagyu Nigiri as my most anticipated dish since the last visit.
The Gyutan (Beef Tongue) here is one of the few items on the menu to not feature a sauce, but instead some salt and pepper – giving it a completely different flavor profile compared to the other cuts.
The Gyutan itself was simply amazing! If you haven’t tried Gyutan before, the closest thing I can compare it to would be a beefy version of Pork Neck. The cut has a unique firmness about it that’s somewhat springy but not overly tough. And between the quality of the meat and the seasonings, I was really blown away by how good it was. It’s an uncommon cut, so it might not be for everyone, but if you’re a fan of Gyutan, you *have* to order this.
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🥩 Kalbi (¥1,500) 🥩
Having tried their premium Sankaku Kalbi from last time (¥3,500), I was curious to see what their regular Kalbi is like.
Unlike the rich marbled fat from the Sankaku Kalbi, this cut takes on a more meaty flavor, closer to their Outside Skirt (¥2,300). It’s the cheapest of the three, so if you’re looking for some ‘budget-friendly’ options, this is a pretty good choice.
Personally though? I’d choose either the Outside Skirt or Sankaku Karubi depending on how I feel that day. (Again, this is still a great cut.)
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🥩 Other Items – Previous Visit 🥩
Full Review: Yakiniku Jambo Hanare (2022)
I try not to order the same things twice for variety (I failed pretty bad this time,) but here’s a quick look at my previous review on Yakiniku Jambo Hanare. Some of my recommendations there would be the Sankaku Kalbi, Misuji, and (their most premium cut) Chateaubriand Steak.
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🍻 Green Tea / Oolong Tea (¥380) 🍻
Just to cover all the bases, here’s the two drinks we got. Compared to the beef here, it’s really nothing special (as you’d expect). But on their own? Quite nice. Alcoholic drinks are also available, should you prefer to pair that with your Yakiniku meal.
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📋 Reservations 📋
Yakiniku Jambo Hanare is among the highest-rated Yakiniku restaurants in Tokyo (my friend likes to talk about their 6 Silver and 1 Gold Tabelog awards), so to guarantee a visit, you pretty much have to make a reservation. There’s multiple ways to do so, but I made my reservations via TableCheck. Once you selected a date and made your deposit, show the staff your confirmation email and you’re good to go.
Side Note: Seats go by very fast here, so I recommend you make the reservation as soon as you can. When I checked the site about 2-3 weeks before my trip, the place was booked for the entirety of my stay. Luckily, a slot opened up just as I was randomly checking for seats a few days before my flight, and so, here I am! So yeah, make sure to reserve seats ASAP, or check back every once in a while to see if someone cancels their reservation.
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⭐VERDICT⭐
So how good is Yakiniku Jambo Hanare actually? The fact that I’m back here should say it all – this place is incredibly good! I tend to go for more budget-friendly places when I’m in Japan (and let my friend drag me to the premium ones,) but this is one of the few places I don’t mind coming back to to enjoy some amazing food.
Yakiniku is just grilled meat, so it’s the little details that truly makes a dish stand out. And between the quality of the beef and the flavor of the sauces and seasonings – this place really hits all the marks for me. (The Wagyu Nigiri and Gyutan being perfect examples.)
It’s definitely not the most budget-friendly place out there, but if you’re willing to spend some money on one of Tokyo’s best Yakiniku restaurants, then Yakiniku Jambo Hanare is definitely the place to go!
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🚗HOW TO GET THERE 🚗
To get to Yakiniku Jambo Hanare, Hongo 3-Chome will be the closest station available, but depending on which line you take, the exact route will be slightly different, since the two lines don’t share a connecting platform.
If you’re taking the Oedo Line, exit the station via Exit 5, and the store’s a quick 5 minute walk.
And from the Marunouchi Line, it’s Exit 2 plus a slightly longer, but still roughly 5 minute walk.
The store’s also quite closeby to both Ueno and Akihabara, so if you have some free time, maybe walk over to the store instead? It’s roughly 20 minutes from either location, and if the weather is nice, quite the relaxing journey. Unfortunately, it was raining today, so I ended up using the subway (from Akihabara, no less…) But I did walk there on my first visit. The excitement to try out Yakiniku Jambo plus the cool autumn air really made it quite the memorable pre-meal experience.
Yakiniku Jambo Hanare
🌏 Location 🌏
3 Chome-27-9 Hongo, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
🗺 Map 🗺
https://goo.gl/maps/1sddMmE1cWKJ9ogH8
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
Everyday 5PM – 12AM (Last Order at 11PM)
💻 Website 💻
https://yakiniku-jambo.com/hanare.html
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💬 Parting Words 💬
For real, though… I already gave up on my hopes of coming back here after seeing that all the tables were booked. Thankfully, a seat opened up and now I’m back at one of my favorite Yakiniku restaurant! This place is seriously good, and if you do come here, definitely get the Wagyu Nigiri and Noharayaki. And for something filling, order one of their rice dishes (I had the gyudon last time – it’s pretty good) and you’ll have a premium 3 course meal for ¥4,000 to ¥5,000. Might be one of the more expensive meals if you’re on a budget, but the experience is well worth it!
