Kuroge Wagyu Zen Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi Branch

In April 2025, a new yakiniku (BBQ) restaurant opened in Shijo Kawaramachi where you can enjoy high-quality Japanese Black beef at reasonable prices. At this restaurant—Kuroge Wagyu Zen Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi Branch—they purchase entire cattle of A4-grade or higher premium Kuroge Wagyu from Kagoshima Prefecture through their own exclusive channels. Thanks to this, it seems you can even enjoy rare cuts that are usually hard to come by at reasonable prices… Hearing that, as a self-proclaimed meat lover, I just had to think, “I’ve got to go check it out!” So, one evening, I skipped lunch and headed to Kuroge Wagyu Zen Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi Branch on an empty stomach…

With both private rooms and tatami-mat seating, it’s perfect for any occasion… Here’s what Kuroge Wagyu Zen Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi Branch is all about…

Kuroge Wagyu Zen Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi Branch is located on the 6th floor of a building just north of Shijo Kawaramachi along Kawaramachi-dori. Being on the 6th floor, it’s isolated from the hustle and bustle of the street below, allowing you to enjoy a quiet yakiniku experience. According to Tabelog, this is a large restaurant with a total of 100 seats, and since a significant number of those are private or semi-private rooms, it’s the perfect spot for small groups who value privacy.

On the other hand, there are also tatami-mat seating areas suitable for banquets. I was seated in one of these areas, which was a large room that could accommodate about 50 people. The tatami seating features sunken kotatsu tables, so you can sit comfortably without your legs going numb. Plus, since it’s located away from the private and semi-private areas, you can make some noise without worrying about disturbing other guests. I was impressed by how thoughtfully the layout was designed to accommodate various needs. It seems suitable for any occasion, so you might want to add it to your list as a go-to spot whenever you’re in a pinch.

All-you-can-eat premium Kuroge Wagyu beef (Grade A4 or higher) for 2 hours… How was the Premium Satisfaction Course at Kuroge Wagyu Zen Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi Branch when I tried it?

This time at Kuroge Wagyu Zen Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi Branch, I ordered the “Premium Satisfaction Course” (5,300 yen + tax), the higher-tier option among the two all-you-can-eat yakiniku courses available. It’s a 2-hour course with a last order at 90 minutes, during which you can enjoy the entire yakiniku menu featuring Kuroge Wagyu beef available at the restaurant.

Now, let me walk you through the dishes I actually ordered that day, in order…

Premium Lean Beef Platter

First up is the Premium Lean Beef Platter, served as a sort of appetizer. It apparently includes three types of meat: premium brisket, premium loin, and premium short rib, but the marbling is so incredible that I couldn’t tell them apart. Still, just looking at this, you can really tell the quality of the meat, right? If you can eat all-you-can-eat Kuroge Wagyu beef like this for just under 6,000 yen, I think you’d be more than satisfied.

I enjoyed this meat with three different seasonings: sauce, ponzu, and salt. As you might imagine, it was incredibly tender with sweet fat—the texture was flawless. Not realizing this was served as an appetizer, I ended up ordering another set separately, which was a bit of a miscalculation on my part. But since I would have ordered more later anyway, I figured it was fine to eat two servings right off the bat…

So, now that you’ve got a sense of the quality of the meat served at this Kuroge Wagyu yakiniku restaurant, I’ll quickly run through the rest of the menu…

Salted Beef Tongue and Garlic Salted Beef Tongue

Next to arrive were two varieties: the standard “Salted Beef Tongue” and the “Garlic Salted Beef Tongue” topped with garlic sauce. While each slice is thin, the total surface area of the meat is quite large. I can’t recall many restaurants these days serving beef tongue cut this way. This tongue is also rich in fat, so even though the slices are thin, you can fully enjoy their firm texture and the savory flavor of the fat.

Skirt steak, Large Intestine, and Kuroge Wagyu with Salt Sauce and Wasabi

Next up were three varieties: Skirt steak, Large Intestine, and Kuroge Wagyu with salt sauce and wasabi. The skirt steak is clearly high in protein and low in fat. Since the previous cuts were all rich in fat, this one offered a bit of a breather… though to be honest, the meat’s umami is still intense, and the quality doesn’t disappoint. The Kuroge Wagyu with Salt Sauce and Wasabi to its right has incredible marbling, but thanks to the wasabi, it was lighter than I expected. On the other hand, the Large intestine looks like it has more fat than what you’d find at other places—it’s a dish that’s bound to set the grill on fire. It’s plump and chewy, with fat oozing out everywhere… eating this definitely makes me crave a beer.

Abomasum

And then there’s the abomasum, which has become a staple for me ever since I tried the Geara with green onion at Yakiniku Ebata. The way this abomasum is cut is different from other places—it’s sliced quite thin and comes with the surrounding meat attached… so to speak. Because of that, you can’t really enjoy that unique crunchy texture, leaving me thinking, “Hmm…” On the other hand, it’s quite fatty, so I think it’s a good fit for people who like that.

While enjoying these Kuroge Wagyu dishes…

Tail Soup

The tail soup, with its sesame oil flavor and rich umami…

Curry Rice

The quintessential yakiniku restaurant curry rice, where you can really taste the acidity of the tomatoes and the sweetness of the beef fat…

Cold Noodles

And to finish things off, I polished off the cold noodles and called it a day. As I’ve written so far, there’s absolutely no fault to be found with the meat quality, and for this level of quality, I wouldn’t complain even if I paid 6,000 yen. But actually, on this day, even though it’s normally a 120-minute all-you-can-eat yakiniku deal, I had to wrap up after just 70 minutes. The reason given was, “They have a group reservation coming in after me,” but the staff’s handling of the situation was inadequate, and I felt a significant sense of unfairness. I paid the bill thinking, “I really wish they’d handle things like this properly…” If anyone from the restaurant is reading this, please do address this issue.

Not just yakiniku, but all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu and sukiyaki too… Kuroge Wagyu Zen Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi Branch is a 5-minute walk from the nearest station, Kyoto Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line.

At Kuroge Wagyu Zen Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi Branch, they offer not only all-you-can-eat yakiniku but also all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu and sukiyaki courses. Just like the yakiniku, there are two courses available—Upper and Lower—and the prices for both courses are exactly the same as for the yakiniku. Now, here’s something interesting: if four or more adults all opt for the same-price all-you-can-eat plan, two out of three options—yakiniku, shabu-shabu, and sukiyaki—become all-you-can-eat. Isn’t that a huge perk for anyone planning a party? If you’re in charge of organizing a yakiniku event, it wouldn’t hurt to keep this restaurant in the back of your mind.

Now, here are the restaurant details…

P.S. If you are looking for delicious BBQs in Kyoto, please stop by this article below…