A5 Wagyu Yakiniku Panga @ Ueno, Tokyo
Guess who decided to dust off the blog after disappearing for one month? 🙋🏻♂️
Yes—me. I always believe sometimes when life tells you to pause, savour moments, eat good food (lots of it 😆) and come back only when you’re truly ready. And here I am, not with a big splash but with slower rhythm, not rushed but naturally – just like the best things in life often do.
And what better way to begin than with something unforgettable — one of the highlights of my recent Tokyo trip: Wagyu Beef.
Wagyu beef is a must when in Japan and as someone who always believed a good cut of meat speaks louder than words, I knew I couldn’t leave Tokyo without one proper Wagyu experience.
Of course there are many options in Tokyo for Wagyu Beef Yakiniku, but why we opted for A5 Wagyu Yakiniku Panga, Ueno branch? Our decision was straightforward – The restaurant is Halal certified ideal for hubby’s predominantly Muslim colleagues and there were vacant tables for us even without a booking.
Sirloin Steak (¥5500.00)
Wagyu Premium Beef Platter – 5 different cut of Wagyu beef (¥14300.00)
Even before grilling, these A5 Wagyu beef looked like artwork — intricate fat lines like calligraphy on silk, glistening softly under the restaurant lights.
Beef Tongue (¥1435.00)
The staff did the grilling of the Sirloin Steak for us and the friendly guided us the grilling time of other meat (which she left them for us) to ensure they hit that ideal sear-melt perfection.
From the moment the meat touched the grill, it was pure Wagyu bliss. The marbling was insane – those buttery ribbons melting into every bite, releasing a rich Wagyu aroma that basically calls your to take the next bite. That rich aroma and gratifying texture only real Japanese Wagyu can give. Every cut was buttery and flavour-packed without needing any seasoning or dipping.
Every slice was a reminder of why Wagyu is loved worldwide — and why Japan keeps the crown.
Not just the Wagyu — even the normal local breed beef here was flavourful, juicy, and surprisingly affordable. Photos above are local beef slices with nice marbling from Gunma prefecture that I bought from a supermarket near our Airbnb which only cost us less than RM20 for 120g. We also bought Kyoho Grapes from Yamanashi prefecture (at the background, if you notice) for less than RM30 per bunch.
Back home, you’d be paying a premium for both, but here, what we enjoyed felt almost luxurious without the guilt of an expensive bill waiting at the end.
Should I say cheap instead of affordable?
Let’s just say — my wallet smiled.
Kaku Highball (¥700.00)
Stone Roasted Wagyu Garlic Rice (¥1650.00)
Verdict: If you’re like me where food is travel and travel is food, Wagyu is a must when in Japan!
A5 Wagyu Yakiniku Panga
2nd Floor, 3-27-9 Taito, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0016, Japan.
🚄 How to get there?
Toei Ōedo Line – Shin-Okachimachi Station – A2 exit, walk for 3 mins
JR Yamanote Line – Okachimachi Station – walk for 10 mins
Tel: +813-3839-8929
- Operating Hours: Mon – Sat：11.30am to 2.30pm & 5.00pm to 11.00pm
Sun: 5.00pm to 11.00pm - Website: https://www.wagyu-panga.jp/indexen.html
So amazing! Of course lah, when in Japan, must eat the wagyu there. I wish I can have this experience.
Oh yes, wagyu is well loved everywhere…and where better to have than in Japan itself where the best comes from. I too love to order beef tongue besides the other cuts of beef. So good that you can join your husband on his work trip (and eat together with his colleagues too). Actually the prices seem quite similar to the experience I had here (maybe you got better cuts and more). Good that you were fully satisfied with the wagyu there. ^_~ P/S: You got your blogging mojo back pretty quick (only one month away)…lol!