Wagyu lunch course at Akiaki, a Japanese restaurant in Cheongju

I visited Akiaki, a place famous in Cheongju, Chungbuk as a high-end Japanese restaurant — perfect for family gatherings and events like meeting-the-in-laws dinners, 60th birthday parties, and 70th birthday parties in Cheongju.

Where is Akiaki, and where do you park? (528 Ilsunhwan-ro, Heungdeok-gu)

Akiaki is located at 528 Ilsunhwan-ro, Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk — right in the middle of busy downtown Cheongju, but there's a parking lot right in front of the restaurant, so it's very convenient. It's rare to find a place with its own parking space, so that was a welcome surprise.

The moment I walked through the entrance, the miniature figures displayed there caught my eye. They were so cute — apparently they make Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, and other Japanese animation figures to order.

A private room at every table, sized to the occasion

Every table at Akiaki is a private room, and since I had a reservation, I was shown straight to my room upon arrival. This is clearly a place that hosts a lot of events, and the staff were especially kind because of it.

The rooms come in various sizes, prepared to suit different kinds of events, which makes things even more convenient.

The interior was clean, and the little decorative touches on the table made me smile and feel happy.

Akiaki also makes sushi lunchboxes to take home. On the day of my visit, I saw someone leaving with an armful of them.

There was a storybook on the table showing Akiaki's history, so I took a look through it. You could feel how much care went into even the smallest details, which made me even more excited.

Even though it's a high-end fine-dining restaurant, they offer reasonable prices and customized service for special occasions, which made me even more excited.

Looking at the photos, I could see how they set things up for various occasions — proposals, 70th birthdays, 60th birthdays, meeting-the-in-laws dinners, and more.

Inside the wagyu skirt steak grill set course, from porridge onward

The Akiaki course started with rice porridge. They even gave us a separate spoon, so we could eat it neatly. The porridge was genuinely delicious!

Just as we were finishing the porridge, the dish we ordered arrived. It came out on an individual tray for each person, like a full table spread.

The moment I saw it, I let out an involuntary "wow." You could taste the skill of chefs from famous hotels, at what's known as the top-ranked omakase Japanese course restaurant in Cheongju.

Everything, from start to finish, was perfectly flavored. Each dish had its own distinct character, yet they all came together in harmony — it truly felt like a meal fit for royalty.

The wagyu skirt steak grill set we ordered is a Japanese course made up of a variety of dishes that bring a high-end meal to a satisfying close.

With every table at Akiaki being a private room, I understood exactly why it's so well known for Cheongju work dinners, gatherings, and events.

Among the dishes served, the ones with raw fish had an unmistakable freshness. I felt genuinely happy being treated to a meal that made a special occasion feel even more special.

The staff also explained each dish in detail as they served it, so I wasn't eating blind — knowing what I was eating made the flavors feel even richer.

A luxurious atmosphere, a feeling of being cared for health-wise, and on top of that, perfect flavor — I can't remember the last time I visited a restaurant like this.

Booking Akiaki for a family celebration: seasonal and lunch courses

I'd been wondering where to hold an upcoming family event, and now that's solved. If anyone mentions hosting an event in Cheongju, Akiaki will surely be the first place that comes to mind.

On top of that, they have seasonal course menus, courses built around nourishing ingredients, and even a budget-friendly lunch course!

I couldn't remember the last time I finished every single dish without leaving anything behind — but today was that day!

Every bite of sashimi, every bite of tot-bap (hijiki seaweed rice), every bite of the simmered dish brought a different flavor and aroma that delighted my palate.

It had been a while since I'd had such a delicious lunch — I was full, but it wasn't an unpleasant fullness. Thanks to Akiaki, it was a genuinely happy, satisfying kind of full.

Next time, I'll bring both sets of parents along, enjoy some delicious food with a drink, and spend a happy time together as a family.

Four detox juices and Starbucks bean coffee to finish

Akiaki's house-made detox juice comes in four flavors to choose from. I kept being drawn back to the taste, and it left my palate feeling refreshed — a perfect way to finish the meal.

Before you finish your meal and head out, they have Starbucks bean coffee ready for you to drink. The confident little phrase on it was very charming.