Ito

Should You Book Yakiniku Ito?

If you are comparing yakiniku options in Oita, Yakiniku Ito in Saiki is the clearest answer in the prefecture. While Beppu and Oita City have their own yakiniku spots, Ito has held a Tabelog Bronze Award consecutively from 2023 through 2026 and has appeared on the Tabelog Yakiniku WEST Top 100 every year since 2022 — a consistency that most regional restaurants in Kyushu cannot match. For a first-timer visiting Saiki or passing through Oita Prefecture, this is the yakiniku restaurant to prioritise.

What to Expect

Yakiniku Ito opened on 23 December 1989, which means it has been operating for over 35 years. That longevity matters in a format where quality of sourcing and technique compound over time. The restaurant holds 46 seats arranged across tatami rooms of varying sizes — for 2, 4, 6, and up to 18 people , plus 16 additional seats, with sunken seating available. Private rooms are accessible for groups of 4 to 20, and full private hire is available for 20 to 50 people, making this a practical choice for business dinners or family gatherings as much as a date-night option.

The dining room is a relaxed, traditional environment. Tatami rooms give the meal a grounded, unhurried quality that distinguishes it from the faster-paced yakiniku chains common in Japanese cities. Children are welcome at all ages, from babies upward, which is worth knowing if you are travelling as a family through Oita. Parking for 12 cars is available on site, which is useful given Saiki's geography.

The Drinks Program

The drinks list at Yakiniku Ito covers sake (nihonshu), shochu, and wine. For yakiniku, shochu is the natural pairing , it cuts through the fat of grilled beef and offal without the sweetness that can compete with the meat's flavour. Sake works well with leaner cuts. The inclusion of wine is a practical option for international visitors or those who prefer it, though the depth of the wine list is not confirmed in available data. One operational detail worth noting: the restaurant accepts BYO with a carry-on fee applied, which is a useful option if you have a bottle you want to bring to a private dinner or celebratory meal. Credit cards are accepted across major networks (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners), though electronic money and QR code payments are not.

Booking and Timing

Reservations open on the 1st of each month for the period through the end of the following month. Bookings must be made by phone , the restaurant does not accept direct messages or automated reservations. The phone number on record is +81-972-24-3425. Arriving or ordering after 8 PM is not recommended: the restaurant explicitly advises that popular cuts including tongue and harami are likely to be sold out by that point. Plan to arrive at or close to opening , 17:30 on weekdays, 17:00 on weekends and public holidays , if you want the full range of available cuts.

Tuesday is the regular closing day, but the restaurant closes approximately six days per month, with additional closures primarily on Wednesdays. Check the restaurant's Instagram or Google profile before travelling, particularly if you are making a trip specifically to dine here. The venue does not have an official website, so those channels are the most current sources for schedule updates.

Price and Value

The listed budget is JPY 8,000 to JPY 9,999 per head for dinner, with review-based spending typically running JPY 10,000 to JPY 14,999 once drinks and full ordering are factored in. At that price point, Yakiniku Ito sits in the mid-to-upper range for regional yakiniku in Kyushu , more expensive than casual chain yakiniku, but significantly below the JPY 30,000-plus territory of Tokyo's premium yakiniku counters. For a Tabelog Bronze-awarded restaurant with four consecutive years of recognition, the value proposition is strong. Compare this to award-recognised restaurants in other formats: Goh in Fukuoka or HAJIME in Osaka operate at substantially higher price points with more elaborate tasting formats. Ito delivers its quality in a more accessible, family-friendly environment at a fraction of those costs.

Practical Details at a Glance

Who This Is For

Yakiniku Ito is the right call for first-timers in Saiki who want a reliably awarded yakiniku experience without the complexity of a tasting menu format. It works equally well for families, business groups using the private rooms, and solo or paired diners in the smaller tatami rooms. If you are building an itinerary across Oita Prefecture, this is worth building around rather than fitting in last-minute. See our full Oita restaurants guide for more options, or explore Oita bars, Oita hotels, and Oita experiences to complete your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How far ahead should I book Ito? Book on the 1st of the month for any date in the following month. The reservation window is fixed, and phone-only booking means competition is real for weekend evenings. Given four consecutive Tabelog Bronze Awards and consistent Top 100 placement, popular slots fill quickly. Calling on the 1st of the month is the safest approach.
• What should a first-timer know about Ito? Arrive close to opening time. The restaurant's own guidance is clear: cuts like tongue and harami tend to sell out before 8 PM. A Tabelog score of 4.00 (with review averages running higher) reflects a kitchen that takes its sourcing seriously. The tatami room setting is traditional and relaxed , shoes off, low tables, unhurried pacing. Budget JPY 10,000–15,000 per head when drinks are included.
• What should I order at Ito? Specific current menu items are not confirmed in available data, but Yakiniku Ito is categorised as yakiniku and tripe, and the restaurant's own warning about tongue and harami selling out early signals these are the cuts to prioritise. Order early in your meal, and ask the server what is freshest that evening.
• What are alternatives to Ito in Oita? Within Oita, Beppu Hirokado and Jimgu cover Japanese cuisine more broadly if yakiniku is not your format. Aji Arai is another option in the prefecture. For a wider view of award-level dining in Kyushu and beyond, Goh in Fukuoka offers a very different experience at a higher price point.
• Is lunch or dinner better at Ito? Dinner only. The restaurant does not offer lunch service , hours are evening-only, opening at 17:30 on weekdays and 17:00 on weekends. There is no lunch option to compare against.