Steak at Ikinari Steak

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Japanese Steak Restaurants

It's summer break this week and it rained all day, so it was time for a steak to lift the mood. I know many may not associate Japan with steaks right off the bat but I assure you, you've got options. From the luxurious to the quick and reasonably priced. Tonight, it was quick and reasonably priced because sometimes you want a steak and you want it 5 minutes ago.

Suddenly Steak

Welcome to Ikinari Steak, which translates to English as Suddenly Steak. As in "Suddenly I need a steak and I need it now." This is a chain of restaurants that have a heavy presence in Tokyo and are expanding in other parts of Japan. If you're on holiday in Tokyo and suddenly need some meat to break up all the fish and rice this is place is for you.

Taste Tokyo has been eating food in Tokyo for a good while now. My Kanji reading is still a bit clunky at times so if I'm out eating without Takao a good straight forward menu is a real help. This menu is one of the best, it's foreigner proof! Just pick a cut of steak and then tell them how many grams you want. They have an English menu available upon request as well. Now, there is one rather exciting thing to point out on the menu.

Look close...

Japanese Beef Sirloin

Underneath the certified Angus Beef that is being sold at about 0.05USD a gram you'll see domestic Japanese sirloin steaks.  To be fair, these are not Wagyu Breeds but it is fine piece of steak at prices that would be unheard of outside of Japan. If you're visiting and want to try a large piece of local beef for under 25USD now is the chance.

Choose your cut of Meat and choose the amount

Once you have decided on your cut of meat you will then need to decide the amount. I went with the 300 gram rib eye and Takao went with the 400 gram...which I always regret not ordering. Once you've ordered the grill-meister will come by to show you the cuts. As he is only human they will not be EXACTLY 400 grams so he will come by to confirm that you are ok with it being a little under or over the amount you ordered as the price changes with the weight.

Then away they go onto the grill! While we are waiting let's look at all the condiment options.

Ikinari Steak is all about options

On the left you have your salt and pepper mills. I love a good peppery steak. Next up you've got your knives and forks. If you ordered a salad you've got black pepper dressing and wafu onion dressing. Then it's the good stuff, minced garlic, karashi mustard and wasabi. Wasabi on a rear steak is a serious treat! Now, if you are one of those types that insist "a steak should never be seasoned in anyway and should only be..." yawn. There is plenty of steak coming on this plate. Try everything! 

Here is Takao's 400 gram hunk of ribeye. Served on top of grilled onions and with a side of corn on a piping hot plate.  I enjoy eating it just as it is with a bit of salt and pepper but like I said, there are options...

Sizzle sizzle. Takao doused his steak in, wait for this, a soy sauce, onion and butter sauce.  This stuff is mouth watering and it takes a meaty, marbled steak to absurd levels of decadence. I really like this sauce but I tend to devote about half my steak to just salt and pepper. Then, I do a few slices with wasabi and then finally douse it in the "Steak Sauce" which is what the Japanese call it. A1 sauce it ain't.

Also, one last thing to take note of. If you get a rare steak in Japan, expect to be chewing. I always go for the medium at Ikinari Steak and as you can see, Molly Ringwald. Pretty in Pink. Don't worry if you dont gauge it the first time, they will happily take it back and throw it on the grill for you. I strongly recommend the medium if you like rare steaks.

Japanese Steaks on the cheap and quick

So there you have it! Great steaks that allow you to have a real say in the price. This place is low on ambiance and high on flavor. You're paying for good cuts of meat and that's it. When these places first opened they didn't even have chairs. It was a standing steak restaurant in the style of standing soba restaurants. I think the chairs were probably a good addition though. Also, here's the nutty part; some of them stay open past midnight. We had this as a late night snack after a big night out once...don't recommend it.  Big steak dinner or a little steak lunch however, awesome!

If you live in New York they're opening up shop later this year under the working concept of "J Steak Dining." Brilliant. I smell a hashtag.

Enjoy!

Ikinari Steak is all over the place and can be searched in English on google maps.

Credit Cards Accepted.