If you love beef, you may be familiar with Emily and Roy Yu. Behind the restaurants Wagyu Ya and Niku Ou, they are one of two Australian restauranteurs who have the coveted KOBE Golden Calf certificate of authentication. This makes them the preferred suppliers of the rare and delicious Kobe beef, and the exclusive vendor for Kobe beef in Victoria. And now, they’ve launched their third venture in South Yarra. Get ready for Yakikami, a new restaurant that takes the classic question, “Chicken or beef?” to a whole new level.
Yakikami
At Yakikami, there’s two distinct experiences waiting for you. Choose between rare Kobe beef, which is cooked to perfection on charcoal Josper grills, and tender, pasture-raised Nomad chicken.
The 70-seat restaurant features a yakitori station in the middle, where you can watch in anticipation as your meal is cooked by expert chefs. This station features an a la carte menu, where you can choose sumptuous chicken from Adelaide, fresh seafood, and organic wild fungi, cooked on a binchotan charcoal and paired with hearty Japanese dishes.
Meanwhile, if you’re after something more intimate, try out the 10-seater Josper room for an omakase experience. Watch the chefs as they create flavourful dishes from seasonal ingredients, and explain each step along the way. See the Josper grill flaming away, using high temperatures to bring out the umami flavour in mouth-watering serves of Kobe, David Blackmore and Sher Wagyu beef. The set experience costs $285 per person, and includes dishes like A5 Wagyu Tartar with caviar, Japanese snow crab with Hapkua and ponzu, and a chicken bone ramen made from a nine-hour broth. This exclusive Chef’s table experience has two sittings each night.
Also of note at Yakikami is its incredible sauces. These sauces rely on Japanese tradition and French technique. The flavoursome sauce comes from roasting beef bones, and reducing it to create a viscous stock. Choose between Japanese and French-style sauces to go with your beef.
The menus were created by Michelin star Chef Hirokazu Sasaki, who worked in some of the best restaurants around Tokyo, including Niku Kappo Black.
As for drinks, there is an extensive wine list to go with everything on the menu. There is also an impressive sake list, filled with rare and exquisite drinks, such as the $1350 bottle Juyondai Honmaru. There’s also cocktails, whiskey, beer, and drinks to suit every budget.
Yakikami is now open, and ready for you to try.