There is often some discussion among foreigners about the authenticity of yakiniku. Some will say that it’s a very Japanese dish, where others might say that it’s simply BBQ, something that is common in most countries in one form or another. ‘Yakiniku’ literally means ‘grilled’ and ‘meat’, but the name isn’t the only thing that makes this dish Japanese. The types of meat, the way it’s marinated and cut, and the sauces to dip it in after it’s cooked, are all quite different from barbeque dishes around the world. And now there is one more aspect that makes yakiniku more Japanese than ever before. That is Salaryman-style yakiniku.
How does Yakiniku fit into the Salaryman style?
More and more restaurants have opened recently, that offer yakiniku in a ‘salaryman style’ environment. The term ‘salaryman’ refers to Japan’s many office workers who work long hours and need a fast and affordable meal that fills their stomachs during or after work. Although, like most restaurants, yakiniku restaurants can range from high-end restaurants with great quality to more affordable family restaurants. Most yakiniku restaurants are meant to take your time, sit at big tables with big implemented grills implemented and usually start at around 2500 yen per person. Then how is it possible to apply this ‘salaryman’ concept, to something like yakiniku?
Smaller, Faster, Cheaper
First of all, the grill is about half or even one-third of the size of most restaurants, making the tables considerably smaller. This even makes it possible to eat side by side at a counter, which is very common at salaryman restaurants, as more people can enjoy a meal at the same time, which reduces waiting lines. Another aspect that makes this concept work so well, is the set meals. Unlike ordering multiple plates of meat and side dishes separately, you can order 1 tray with a plate of meat, a bowl of rice, soup, and usually some kimchi. This way, you’ll have everything you need on 1 tray. You can use the sauces that are already provided at your table and order drinks separately. Of course, it’s also possible to order extra meat and the weight of the portions are conveniently shown on each menu item. To make this even more efficient, many of these restaurants have tablets at every table, with which customers can easily order in a few different foreign languages.
With sets usually starting around 1000 yen, the meat is of course of a different quality than at high-end restaurants, but in my opinion very similar to the meat at family restaurants. To save costs, some restaurants will ask you to pick up and return your tray yourself. This shows that yakiniku doesn’t have to take a long time or a big budget. If you’re simply in the mood for some meat and don’t mind a bit of DIY, then this is definitely a must-try!
