Once you've tried it, you can't go back — Tainan’s Japanese-style BBQ serving top-grade 5A Japanese Wagyu

Text & Photos by /Mimi Han

Recently, Taiwan finally started importing A5-grade Japanese wagyu beef, which must be great news for those who love premium Japanese yakiniku, right? That melt-in-your-mouth texture, even somewhat bursting with juiciness, is so addictive that once you try it, you won’t want to go back.

So when I saw that Kichiro Healthy Yakiniku had also added their 5A wagyu to the original set menu, I just had to come and try it. Actually, I had planned to go in late October, but Kichiro had a small fire and had to close for about two weeks, so I’m only sharing this now. If you’re in Tainan like me and craving 5A wagyu, then Kichiro Healthy Yakiniku near National Cheng Kung University Hospital is a highly recommended Japanese BBQ spot — a personal favorite of mine that I wholeheartedly recommend.

▲ Kichiro Healthy Yakiniku is located on Dongfeng Road in Tainan, right across from National Cheng Kung University Hospital. The owner, Ichiro, is a Taiwanese man married to a Japanese woman from Tokyo.Disliking the fast-paced city life, he moved to Tainan after getting married and opened this Japanese yakiniku restaurant with his wife. They serve top-quality meats like wagyu and Iberico pork, and even insist on using high-heat, low-smoke binchotan charcoal.

So although it’s considered a high-end Japanese BBQ restaurant by Tainan dining standards, it’s worth every penny, which is why it’s fully booked for reservations every day and remains very popular.

The restaurant has limited seating and is decorated in a simple, elegant Japanese style. The owner, Ichiro, insists on preparing all the meat himself, and I heard that in the two or three years since opening, he hasn’t even returned to Japan yet.

▲ The drinking water provided at the table even contains binchotan charcoal. [Wikipedia – Binchotan]

▲ All meals are served as set menus, divided into four combinations, and all sets have been upgraded to feature Japanese 5A wagyu as the star.

The main difference between each set is the ratio of meat to vegetables: Meat Lover’s > Slow Food > Light Slow Food (more meat to less meat), while the Seafood Platter includes seafood ingredients. The overall price per person ranges from about $1,500 to $2,200.

Each order comes with one drink (choose from 8 options), including freshly squeezed vegetable juice, digestive tea, red wine, etc.

You can also add 230 NT$ for a glass of what’s known as Japan’s national liquor, , a 180ml pour. To avoid any disputes, they even show it to customers using a measuring cup. The taste is incredibly sweet and smooth.

▲ The two of us came for the meat, so without hesitation, we went straight for the most luxurious Kichiro A5 Meat Lover’s Set.

Even the appetizers were delightful — the daikon radish was tender and flavorful, paired with soft beef that tasted a bit like red-braised beef (I didn’t ask in detail) and was gone in no time. The pickled radish with a bit of ume plum juice drizzled on it was also very appetizing.

▲ A refreshing and appetizing salad

▲ A side of pickles to cut through the richness, which can be eaten with lettuce wraps and meat to vary the textures of your yakiniku experience.

▲ There was also a plate of assorted vegetables whose names we couldn’t even recognize — these are for wrapping around the grilled meat. Since Kichiro emphasizes healthy eating, the portion of vegetables is larger than at most yakiniku restaurants. The rice is also delicious; the staff said it’s made with Yinchuan rice from Hualien, and even the rice cooker is imported from Japan — very thoughtful.

▲ Then the staff brought out the glowing red-hot binchotan charcoal, with absolutely no smoke or smell. With a temperature of over 500 degrees Celsius, it instantly seals in the juices and stays hot for a remarkably long time — even after more than two hours of dining, it remained sufficiently hot.

▲ Freshly ground wasabi from Alishan and carefully selected sea salt are recommended as seasonings to pair with the meat — they’re a perfect match.

▲ Ta-da~ Today, it’s all about this premium Japanese A5 wagyu — don’t doubt it, just these six pieces would cost 1,380 NT$ elsewhere.

※ Japanese wagyu (Wagyu) is primarily graded based on the distribution of marbling, with grades ranging from A1 to A5, and each grade further divided into three levels. Among them, A5 is the highest grade, with exceptionally fine marbling and meat texture.

▲ Hehe, grilling beef of this grade badly would be heartbreaking — but don’t worry.

The staff at Kichiro Healthy Yakiniku provide table-side service, so you can just leave it to them. They’ll even suggest trying the first slice plain and the second with wasabi or other seasonings to fully enjoy the wonderful sensation of the fat melting in your mouth.

▲ The Meat Lover’s Set doesn’t come with a grill tray for veggies, but you get an extra plate of meat worth 980 NT$. However, if you want vegetables, you can still add them.

And the fresh organic vegetables and mushrooms we ordered are from contracted pesticide-free farms, with no chemicals used. Ichiro often visits the producers himself — this is part of his commitment to food safety. You can also pay extra to upgrade and get a pot of hot yam puree to dip your grilled veggies in — a unique flavor that’s even healthier.

▲ The second meat plate in the Meat Lover’s Set features premium sixth-section beef, the ultimate triple-muscle cut, using 9A+ Australian wagyu. The marbling is equally beautiful and dense. Though not as premium as Japanese wagyu, it’s still really delicious, and the thick slices are very satisfying.

▲ The staff doesn’t just help with grilling — they also take out a cutting board and knife to carefully slice the meat into small pieces. Honestly, I willingly paid the service fee at Kichiro.

▲ Next up is the third meat plate, a special pork duo featuring Iberico pork, known as the “LV of pork,” with ribs and Matsusaka cuts.

▲ The Iberico pork has zero gaminess, and I think the biggest highlight is its crispy texture, rich aroma, and abundant marbling without being greasy — absolutely delicious.

▲ Hehe, the final star of the Meat Lover’s Set is this “Ichiro’s Happiness Platter” — how happy is that?!

It includes Australian wagyu brisket, flat iron steak, ribeye, and flank steak, arranged almost like a luxurious sashimi platter, with each cut carefully labeled. (The specific cuts may vary each visit depending on what Ichiro sources that day.)

▲ Each slice of beef is trimmed beautifully and truly offers an incredibly delicious taste. Although Mimi can’t clearly distinguish the differences between each cut, there wasn’t a single bad one — truly a “Happiness Platter.”

▲ The final soup of the day was a sake clam soup — so fresh.

▲ And the dessert was a sweet potato pudding — the texture and taste were quite unique, not too sweet, almost like eating smoother sweet potato mash.

▲ Kichiro Healthy Yakiniku has always been my go-to choice when I crave premium yakiniku, especially now that it’s all upgraded to Japanese A5 wagyu — it’s simply amazing. Every time I eat here, I feel completely satisfied without any heaviness. Meat lovers can go for the Meat Lover’s Set like us, while those wanting more veggies can choose the Slow Food Set. The meat is meticulously hand-prepared to offer the most delicious ingredients, using binchotan charcoal and many pesticide-free vegetables, aligning with the restaurant’s concept of “healthy” yakiniku. It’s a Japanese BBQ spot that balances refinement and flavor — highly recommended to everyone.

Tainan Japanese Yakiniku Restaurants
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Address: No. 179, Dongfeng Road, North District, Tainan City
Reservation Phone: 06-2358887
Business Hours: 17:00 – 22:00 (Closed Mondays & Tuesdays)
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