Tottori wagyu lovers can use this seven-spot guide to plan a memorable meal, from richly marbled yakiniku and steak to shabu-shabu that fits smoothly into the day’s itinerary.
Tottori Wagyu Guide: 7 Yakiniku, Steak and Shabu-Shabu Picks
Yakiniku Masashige Kurayoshi: Tottori Beef by the Whole Animal Tottori beef may not be especially famous in Taiwan, but in the Sanin region it is often described as one of the roots of Japanese Wagyu. Masashige is the place to talk about that story over the grill. The shop also highlights Tottori Wagyu with 55 percent oleic acid, a fat profile said to melt at around 40 degrees Celsius. Tottori is not only strong in beef; its Daisen chicken is also among the best I have eaten in Japan. One plate of Tottori Wagyu here can be as friendly as 1,100円 (JPY), which is reason enough to come. Yakiniku Masashige Kurayoshi Address: 589-2 Yamane, Kurayoshi, Tottori 682-0023, Japan Phone: 0858-26-2919 小虎食夢網 (Xiao Hu Shi Meng Wang) Read the article Fukufuku: A Complete Taste of Tottori Wagyu When Taiwanese travelers talk about Wagyu, they often know Matsusaka, Kobe and Omi first, with Miyazaki and Kagoshima gaining popularity in recent years. But nearly every region in Japan has its own Wagyu identity. My first taste of Tottori Wagyu was a surprise in the best way. Charcoal-grilled yakiniku and shabu-shabu are both excellent ways to appreciate it, and Sumibi Yakiniku FUKU is a convenient local recommendation about 10 minutes on foot from Tottori Station. 寶兒遊樂園 (Bao'er Youleyuan) Read the article Takumi Kappo: Melt-in-the-Mouth Tottori Wagyu Shabu-Shabu Most visitors know Tottori for its sand dunes, but food lovers should know it for Wagyu as well. Takumi Kappo sits about five minutes on foot from the north exit of Tottori Station and is known as a founding shop of Japanese shabu-shabu. Its A5-grade Tottori Wagyu melts beautifully in the mouth. 肉魯 走遍全台灣●環遊全世界 (Rou Lu Zou Bian Quan Taiwan, Huan You Quan Shijie) Ajidokoro Shin: Michelin-Selected Kurayoshi Izakaya Ajidokoro Shin is a well-known local izakaya in Kurayoshi. Reservations are recommended, and staying near Kurayoshi Station makes the evening easier if you plan to drink. The menu offers set courses and a la carte dishes, and high-quality Tottori Wagyu is among the pleasures here. 小虎食夢網 (Xiao Hu Shi Meng Wang) Yakiniku Dining Hanaichi: A Kaike Onsen Local Favorite On this visit, a Tottori friend brought us to Hanaichi, a yakiniku restaurant in Yonago's Kaike Onsen area and one of his personal recommendations. The Wagyu selection is extensive, with beef from nearby regions. If you cannot read Japanese, ordering one of each is not a bad strategy. Daisen Makiba Milk no Sato: Limited Daily Tottori Wagyu Steak For anyone who loves Japanese milk, Daisen Makiba Milk no Sato is already a required stop for White Rose milk soft serve, cream puffs and cakes. But the ranch is not only about dairy. It also serves Tottori Wagyu, including limited daily steak. Machiya Seisuian: Tottori Tohaku Wagyu in a Century-Old Kurayoshi Shop Machiya Seisuian is a century-old restaurant known for twelve-color mochi shabu-shabu and Tottori Tohaku Wagyu, a beef linked to the ancestry of Japanese Wagyu. The meat is sweet, tender and clean, without the heaviness sometimes associated with Japan's three most famous Wagyu brands. In shabu-shabu, it is dangerously easy to keep eating. Seisuian Address: 1 Chome-876 Sakaemachi, Kurayoshi, Tottori 682-0885, Japan Phone: 0858-22-4759