At the end of a narrow alley, a single light flickers.

Even in Fuse, this area isn’t exactly bustling with people. Akatsuki Street is a narrow alley that you might walk right past without even noticing. “Yakiniku Sakaba Kenshi” is located about halfway down that alley.

As the name suggests, it’s more of a “sake bar” than a yakiniku restaurant. It’s a place for sipping drinks at a leisurely pace rather than for a lively meal. That atmosphere drifts gently out the door.

Just the right amount for today

What makes this place special is that you can order both Kuroge Wagyu and offal “one slice or one serving at a time.” When you hear “yakiniku,” you can’t help but get fired up and think, “Alright, let’s eat!” but here, that’s not necessary.

One slice. Then another.
That’s how you gradually build up your order while sipping your drink. The yakiniku isn’t the star of the show—it’s more like a quiet companion sitting beside your drink. The term “pub” truly holds its meaning here.

All the meat is hand-sliced by the owner. The way he silently wields his knife feels somehow meticulous and gentle. Each slice he cuts is a bit on the large side—reassuringly so.

The shy owner recommends the beef tongue and offal.

For first-time visitors, the owner quietly recommends two cuts: beef tongue and offal. Even when you ask the regulars, they’ll tell you, “You can’t miss the beef tongue here.”

Whether it’s because of the thickness of the cut or the aroma when grilled, with every bite, the pleasant, springy texture unique to beef tongue slowly spreads through your mouth. It’s a flavor that feels like the rhythm of your day is finally falling into place.

And then there’s the offal. The sweet fat from the small intestine melts juicily and spreads throughout your mouth. As I’m grilling alone at the counter, the owner tells me in a slightly shy voice, “That’s a really good batch we got today.” That sense of closeness somehow makes me happy.

The sound of “Angel Shrimp” sizzling on the grill softens the night.

A surprisingly little-known local specialty is the “Angel Shrimp.” When grilled with salt, the toasty aroma of the shell and the scent of the sea rise up in a flash. The sound of it grilling is gentle—the kind of sound that makes you lower your voice just a little…

At the end of the day, it’s nice to have a place like this

The charm of “Yakiniku Sakaba Kenshi” isn’t just about the delicious food. The relaxed atmosphere, where you can sit without feeling self-conscious, blends seamlessly into this narrow Akatsuki Street. It’s the kind of place where regulars and first-time visitors alike can gather around the grill on equal footing.

Nothing dramatic happens here, and there are no special gimmicks.
But what you might suddenly recall on your way home isn’t the sound of sizzling meat or the aroma of shrimp—it’s that moment when the owner gave a quiet chuckle.

It makes an “ordinary night” just a little bit better.
This shop quietly fulfills that role, time and time again.
Perhaps that alone is reason enough for this restaurant to be here in this alley.