Yeoju yakiniku restaurant for six cuts of wagyu: Motoishi

Maybe because the evenings have been getting cooler lately, I've had so many days when I suddenly crave good meat and a drink. This time, instead of my usual samgyeopsal or grilled beef, I wanted to try something a little different, so I looked up a good yakiniku place in Yeoju and visited Motoishi Yeoju Branch.

Motoishi is a place for Japanese-style yakiniku (Japanese grilled meat). From the entrance, it already felt like I was in Japan, so it caught my eye before I even went inside. In particular, you can grill small portions of several wagyu cuts over charcoal, which made it more fun than ordering just one cut.

It wasn't just a meat-only meal either: I could have a drink along with a warm soup dish, making it a great place for dinner and a drink!

Motoishi Yeoju Branch: location and parking

Motoishi Yeoju Branch is located at 206 Sejong-ro, Building 2, 1F, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do. We drove there, and parking was available right in front of the restaurant, so we parked there and went in. It was convenient not having to park far away and walk over.

That said, the parking space in front may vary depending on when you visit, so keep that in mind on busy evenings or weekends. It was in a good location for going out for dinner or a drink in Yeoju, and the exterior's Japanese yakiniku-restaurant feel made it easy to find.

• Location: 206 Sejong-ro, Building 2, 1F, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기 여주시 세종로 206 2동 1층)
• Public transport: A bus or taxi from Yeoju Station is recommended.
• Parking: Available in front of the restaurant. We parked right in front as well.

A Japanese-inspired exterior

Motoishi Yeoju Branch had a striking Japanese-inspired exterior that stood out even from a distance. From the large sign to the Japanese-language menu board and the little entrance decorations, it felt as though a local Japanese yakiniku restaurant had been moved here, building anticipation before I went in.

As the sun began to set, the yellow lanterns under the eaves lit up one by one, making the atmosphere even livelier. There was also a bench outside where you could sit for a moment, which gave it the feeling of a little meat restaurant in a Japanese alleyway. Above all, the sign was large and easy to spot, so finding the restaurant was not difficult even on a first visit.

An interior with table dividers

Once inside, the Japanese feel from the exterior continued throughout the interior. The wood-toned décor, walls filled with Japanese posters and signs, and all the little props made it feel as if I had stepped into a yakiniku restaurant in Japan.

Each table had dividers, giving some separation from the next table and making the meal more comfortable. Every seat also had its own charcoal brazier and hood so you could grill meat right at the table. Overall, it had a cozy but strongly retro atmosphere, perfect for lingering over beef and a drink. There were photo-worthy details everywhere too, so if you like the feeling of being on a trip to Japan, looking around the interior should be fun as well.

Yakiniku with an assorted wagyu platter

Motoishi is a place where Japanese-style yakiniku is the main event. Its signature offerings include assorted wagyu platters that let you try several beef cuts at once, so an assortment is a good place to start if you are unsure which cut to order.

The meaty aroma, richness of the fat, and chew all differ slightly by cut, and the charm of yakiniku is grilling one piece at a time over charcoal and comparing them :) You can also order cuts that no yakiniku restaurant would be complete without, such as beef tongue, as well as various individual meat orders and meal or drinking-food dishes that pair well with the meat.

Ordering the 320g six-cut wagyu assortment

After going back and forth over the options, we ordered the six-cut wagyu assortment (320g) set.

• Six-cut wagyu assortment (320g) set: ₩75,000
• Saero: ₩5,000
• Total: ₩80,000

Because it lets you taste several wagyu cuts at once, it seemed well suited to first-time visitors or anyone who wants to enjoy a little of several cuts. Yakiniku needs a drink, of course, so we also ordered a bottle of Saero! I was already looking forward to having a drink while grilling each piece of beef over charcoal.

Once we were shown to our table, it was neatly set with individual utensils, side plates, and divided plates for sauces. There was a space in the center of the table where the charcoal brazier would soon go, and it really brought home the yakiniku style of grilling meat right at your seat.

After we finished ordering, the banchan (Korean side dishes) began arriving one by one. There was kimchi, pickled sides that pair well with meat, salad, garlic, and chili peppers, plus our individual sauces—everything set!

Today's drink of choice was Saero.

Spicy sundubu-jjigae served with the meat

When you order meat, sundubu-jjigae (spicy soft tofu stew) is included. I thought lightly of it because it came as a service dish, but the bubbling broth was quite rich and spicy, so it was more satisfying than expected. It had generous pieces of soft tofu, and its spicy, deep broth went beautifully with the rich wagyu. Especially when the meat started to feel a little rich, a spoonful of hot broth really refreshed my appetite!

Charcoal-grilled wagyu and vegetables

The six-cut wagyu assortment, 320g set we had been waiting for arrived. On a large platter were several wagyu cuts along with plenty of vegetables for grilling—green onion, eggplant, king oyster mushrooms, corn, and more—and it looked fantastic from the start.

I placed the wagyu pieces one at a time on the hot charcoal grill. The moment they hit the grate, they began to sizzle and release a savory aroma; each cut had a different thickness and marbling, so even the way they cooked looked slightly different. Grilling vegetables like eggplant, king oyster mushrooms, and corn alongside them worked wonderfully with the meat.

The golden-brown grilled wagyu was delicious on its own, but adding the accompaniments gave it another charm. First, I put just a little wasabi on a nicely cooked piece and took a bite! Its sharp kick neatly balanced the wagyu's rich flavor, and it was my personal favorite combination.

Eating it with the tangy dressed salad added a crisp texture, so the meat never felt too heavy even as I kept eating.

The vegetables grilled over charcoal were a treat too. The eggplant in particular cooked up moist and tender inside, developing a subtle sweetness that made it great with the meat.

My overall verdict

Being able to grill several wagyu cuts myself over charcoal made it fun to compare their textures and flavors. They paired well with wasabi, salad, and grilled vegetables, and the spicy sundubu-jjigae included with the meat order was satisfying too.

The six-cut wagyu assortment, 320g set was ₩75,000. Since it lets you try several cuts and grilling vegetables in one order, it seems like a great fit for anyone who wants to enjoy a little bit of everything.

From the exterior through the interior, the retro atmosphere definitely brought a Japanese yakiniku restaurant to mind. The tables were somewhat separated by dividers, making them comfortable for chatting over a meal, and each table had a tablet for easy additional orders. Individual utensils, sauces, and basic side dishes were all neatly prepared too.

I would come back! Both the atmosphere and the way of eating felt different from a typical beef restaurant, so next time I want to try other cuts and side dishes too. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good yakiniku spot in Yeoju, anyone wanting to sample several beef cuts in small portions, anyone after an atmospheric meat restaurant with a Japanese feel, or anyone who wants beef with a shot of soju.