MAKATI CITY — Tucked inside Katsudonya Saiko on Rada Street in Legazpi Village, Inari Sukiyaki offers a different kind of Japanese dining experience: one built around a single, carefully prepared bowl rather than a sprawling menu. The concept specializes in sukiyaki cooked tableside, allowing guests to watch thin slices of beef simmer in a sweet-savory broth before their eyes. It is a meal designed to be eaten slowly, with conversation filling the space between each ladle. For Makati residents and workers seeking a calm interlude, the restaurant provides a warm and unhurried alternative to the city’s faster-paced lunch spots.
Two Styles, One Comforting Bowl
Inari serves sukiyaki in two distinct formats, each appealing to a different kind of craving. The Kyoto-style preparation is the house signature, a drier, more concentrated version where the beef is simmered until the sauce clings to each slice and is served over rice. The Tokyo-style iteration leans brothier, arriving as a soup with glass noodles and vegetables for those who prefer a lighter, more fluid finish. Both styles come with an onsen tamago, a softly cooked egg that adds a silky richness when dipped into the hot pot. The menu also offers a range of beef grades, from everyday cuts to premium wagyu, allowing diners to choose their own level of indulgence.
A Setting Built for Slowing Down
The restaurant’s location inside Katsudonya Saiko places it within a space that already understands the rhythms of Japanese comfort food. The room is modest and warm, with counter seating that puts the cooking process front and center and tables that accommodate small groups. Service is attentive but never rushed, reinforcing the idea that sukiyaki is meant to be savored rather than hurried through. It is an easy stop for a solo meal, a quiet catch-up with a friend, or a low-key dinner with family. For Makati, Inari adds a welcome note of restraint to a dining scene that often prizes novelty over stillness.
