Taste of Japan: Walk off a hearty steak dinner in Tokyo’s Daimon District

Yappari Steak (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

For a taste of old and new Tokyo, head to Daimon, also known as Hamamatsucho, a busy business district near Tokyo Tower.

There nestled among the modern skycrapers and old shotengai shopping street, you’ll find Yappari Steak, serving up tender beef Japanese style.

When I pushed through the colorful façade of the steakhouse on my walk around the district, the restaurant’s ample seating and cozy interior greeted me. I was seated at the counter where a tablet was waiting for my order.

Yappari’s menu features steak sets which include rice, egg drop soup, salad and curry sauce. The meals also include unlimited rice, soup and salad refills.

I settled on the 200-gram beef steak lunch set for 1,980 yen (about $13).

In less than five minutes, my sizzling steak and side dishes arrived. The rare steak was served on a sizzling lava stone plate which cooked the steak to the level I wanted. The infrared effect of the lava stone also ensured the meat stayed tender and juicy.

Each bite of perfectly cooked, sweet and tangy steak delighted my taste buds. I enjoyed sampling all the seasonings the restaurant provides at the table to ensure every customer gets a steak to their taste. It was fun looking for the right combination of seasonings that would elevate the exceptional steak. First, I tried salt and pepper only, then moved onto onion sauce, which was sweet and refreshing. Finally, I ended up with the standard soy sauce and wasabi dipping combinations, which for me was the best. No need to fix what isn’t broken!

Since opening in Okinawa in 2015, Yappari Steak has expanded to over 80 chain restaurants around Japan. Check their site and grab a nice steak dinner at a reasonable price near you! I was very happy I chose Yappari before I continued my long exploration of Daimon.