This Luxurious Japanese Barbecue Spot Is a Literal Hot Date
A deep red hallway leads to the 70-seat shrine to Japanese barbecue at Beloved BBQ. The intimate, dark-walled restaurant tucked inside Love, Makoto, the Japanese food hall, is the destination for A5 wagyu and heritage American beef, though interesting starters and sides are on the menu, too.
What to order
- If you want to get a taste of wagyu without the hefty price tag, the A5 wagyu sushi ($18) is a great way to start the meal, but the lighter truffle salmon sushi with yuzu ($20) is a favorite, with a rich flavor profile and super fresh salmon.
- Beyond gorgeous marbled wagyu on the menu, my favorite is the spicy miso prime hanger ($18) with shredded shiso leaves that crisp up on the slices of grilled steak.
- A surprise standout was the udon mac n cheese ($14). Chewy small noodles swim in a steaming five cheese sauce that stays hot throughout your meal in a stone bowl.
- Balance out all the grilled meat with some vegetables. The pickle plate ($12) is a multi-colored display of spinach, squash, pickled cabbage, cucumber, and Japanese-style kimchi that pairs well with a juicy bite of steak. The veggie fried rice ($20) is also served in a hot stone bowl, for that bibimbap-like crunchy exterior, and tossed with a poached egg tableside.
Insider tip
While there’s plenty of tableside flair with wagyu short ribs and seafood dishes appearing on Japanese hot stones, some drinks have an experiential element as well. Order the Manhattan, which is smoked in front of you and has a subtle shiitake flavor. For dessert, the hot buttered sake is mixed with butter and cinnamon, plus a tableside-torched blowfish fin adds a little salinity.
