Lion
/ Niricho Ozato Otsu, Imari
Restaurant in Imari, Japan
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Price
JPY 6,000 - JPY 7,999 JPY 6,000 - JPY 7,999 View spending breakdown
Dress
Casual
Why go
Lion is Imari's only Tabelog 100-recognized teppanyaki venue, offering counter-cooked beef at ¥6,000–¥7,999; double the price of the city's next-tier options but far below Tokyo equivalents. The 23-seat counter anchors the experience; weekday lunch offers the best chance for walk-ins. Worth booking for occasion dining in a city with few upscale alternatives.
About Lion
Lion is a restaurant in Imari with a verified listed spend of JPY 6,000–JPY 7,999 and casual dress code. It is also listed in Tabelog 100 - Steak / Teppanyaki - WEST - 2025, giving diners one confirmed external recognition point to consider when planning a meal in the city.
Planning the Visit
Lion is best understood through the verified basics: Imari location, JPY 6,000–JPY 7,999 spend, casual dress code, Tabelog 100 - Steak / Teppanyaki - WEST - 2025 listing. Those facts make it a more clearly documented choice than a page built on unverified assumptions about chef biography, room layout, menu format, or service style.
Because detailed service policies and room configuration are not established here, treat the experience as one to confirm directly rather than assume from older or informal listings. If seating style, group arrangements, payment, or timing matters to your visit, check with the restaurant before setting plans.
Navigating the Imari Dining Landscape
For diners comparing options, Drive-in Tori Imari ten, misa*rosso, Kate cuore, Restaurant Chimney, Shitamachi no Yoshoku Jidaiya, other dining rooms can be considered alongside Lion where relevant. Lion's confirmed point of distinction on this page is its Tabelog 100 - Steak / Teppanyaki - WEST - 2025 listing.
This positioning makes Lion a candidate for diners who want a restaurant in Imari with a verified category-specific recognition. The available facts do not verify a particular cuisine description beyond the award category, nor do they establish signature dishes, chef details, seating count, or a tasting-menu format.
What the Price Delivers
At JPY 6,000–JPY 7,999, Lion has a verified spend range that visitors can use for planning. The safer interpretation is limited to what is confirmed: the listed price band, the casual dress code, the Imari location, the Tabelog 100 - Steak / Teppanyaki - WEST - 2025 recognition. Specific sourcing claims, chef biography, seating format, beverage program, detailed menu structure are not verified here.
Lion's verified hours list lunch and dinner service on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 11:30 AM–1:30 PM and 5–8:30 PM; Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 AM–2:30 PM and 5–8:30 PM; and closure on Wednesday. Practical details should still be checked directly before visiting, especially if seating preference, group size, or schedule will affect the meal.
Planning details
- Location
- 86-3 Niricho, Imari, Saga 848-0035, Japan
- Website
- imari-lion.com
- Phone
- +81 955-23-9772
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Restaurant Chimney, JPY 3,000 - JPY 3,999 JPY 3,000 - JPY 3,999 View spending breakdown, JPY 3,000 - JPY 3,999 JPY 3,000 - JPY 3,999 View spending breakdown
- Kate cuore, Italian, Italian
- Drive-in Tori Imari ten, JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999 - JPY 999, JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999 - JPY 999
- Shitamachi no Yoshoku Jidaiya, JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999 JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999 View spending breakdown, JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999 JPY 2,000 - JPY 2,999 View spending breakdown
- misa*rosso, JPY 1,000 - JPY 1,999 - JPY 999, JPY 1,000 - JPY 1,999 - JPY 999
Restaurant context
Lion sits alone at the top of Imari's dining hierarchy. Restaurant Chimney charges half (¥3,000–¥3,999) but lacks award credentials and serves Western-style plates rather than teppanyaki. For Italian, Kate cuore offers a change of format at mid-range pricing, though it skews casual and better suits lunch than special occasions. Budget diners will find Drive-in Tori Imari ten (¥2,000–¥2,999) functional for quick meals, but the quality gap is significant, think highway rest stop versus destination restaurant.
The real comparison point lies outside Imari: Tabelog 100 steak venues in Fukuoka or Nagasaki charge ¥10,000–¥18,000 for similar counter formats and provenance-driven beef programs. Lion undercuts that tier by 30–40% while holding the same award, making it the value play for teppanyaki enthusiasts willing to drive into Saga Prefecture. If you're already visiting Imari's kilns or Okawachiyama pottery village, Lion is the logical dinner anchor. If teppanyaki is the sole reason for the trip, Fukuoka's deeper roster offers more variety at higher expense but easier booking through hotel concierges.
For regulars, the calculation is simpler: Lion is the only game at this quality level within 30 minutes. Kate cuore works for weeknight variety, but when the occasion calls for tableside-cooked beef and the theater of counter service, Lion has no local peer.
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Unlock the full Lion guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternatives to Lion in Imari?
Restaurant Chimney, Kate cuore, Drive-in Tori Imari ten, misa*rosso, Shitamachi no Yoshoku Jidaiya are named options that may be useful for comparison where relevant. Lion's confirmed distinction here is its Tabelog 100 - Steak / Teppanyaki - WEST - 2025 listing.
How far ahead should I book Lion?
Availability should be confirmed directly with the restaurant. Booking policies and seat availability are not verified here, so checking ahead is the safest approach for weekends, groups, or any meal tied to a specific schedule.
Is Lion good for a special occasion?
Lion may be considered for a more planned meal in Imari because of its JPY 6,000–JPY 7,999 listed spend and Tabelog 100 - Steak / Teppanyaki - WEST - 2025 recognition. Details such as menu format, seating style, service arrangements should be confirmed directly.
What should a first-timer know about Lion?
First-timers should know that Lion is in Imari, has a listed spend of JPY 6,000–JPY 7,999, has a casual dress code, appears in Tabelog 100 - Steak / Teppanyaki - WEST - 2025. Verified hours show lunch and dinner service on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, with Wednesday closed.
