New York has no shortage of steak. It has steakhouses, dry-aged beef, burger joints and enough prime rib to make a cow nervous. But Yakiniku Great NYC is doing something considerably more Japanese—and considerably more indulgent.
The first U.S. location of the Japanese wagyu specialist recently opened at 12 West 17th Street in Flatiron, bringing its signature A5 Japanese Black Wagyu omakase to NYC. Yakiniku Great NYC
And this isn’t your typical yakiniku experience where everyone grabs tongs and hopes they don’t accidentally turn a $30 piece of beef into charcoal.
At Yakiniku Great, the chefs grill each cut for you, serving it at precisely the intended temperature and timing. The restaurant’s philosophy centers on A5 Kuroge Wagyu and, interestingly, emphasizes leaner, less-common cuts rather than simply piling the plate with the fattiest beef imaginable.
The tasting comes in two main formats.
The 6 costs $130 and focuses on six essential cuts of the day. The 8, priced at $175, expands the experience to eight premium cuts and features the restaurant’s signature Kimura-Yaki preparation.
For those who believe dinner should occasionally become an event, there’s also the Uni-Chateaubriand, a $70 supplement featuring lightly seared beef topped with sea urchin. It’s limited to 10 servings per day, because apparently even extravagance needs a supply chain.
What makes the experience particularly interesting is Yakiniku Great’s focus on akami, or leaner Wagyu cuts. Think misuji, dai-sankaku and other specialty cuts that showcase differences in texture, beef flavor and marbling.
For anyone searching for A5 Wagyu NYC, Japanese Wagyu NYC, Yakiniku Great NYC or the best Wagyu tasting in NYC, this is one reservation worth knowing about.
Just don’t call it steak dinner.
This is beef theater.
