If you’re looking for a special place to celebrate an important day in Asakusa, Chinya is one restaurant that immediately comes to mind. It’s ideal for anniversaries and celebrations, but also perfect as a special treat for yourself at lunch or dinner.
Sukiyaki is a traditional Japanese hot pot dish, where thinly sliced beef is gently simmered in a sweet and savory sauce.
As the oldest sukiyaki restaurant in Asakusa, Chinya has been loved for generations, offering not just a meal, but a truly memorable experience of time itself.
However, when you hear “a long-established sukiyaki restaurant,” you might feel a little unsure.
“How do I eat sukiyaki?”
“Do I need a reservation?”
“Is there English support?”
“What kind of menu do they have?”
If these questions cross your mind, don’t worry.
I visited Chinya with my family to celebrate my husband’s birthday, and we we were warmly welcomed with a thoughtful gesture prepared especially for his birthday, which made the day even more special.
In this article, I’ll guide you as your “friend in Asakusa,” sharing tips on how to fully enjoy your experience at Asakusa Chinya and easing any concerns you might have!
Goma's Tips for the Perfect Asakusa Chinya Experience
1. How to Eat Sukiyaki at Chinya (Even for First-Timers)
Sukiyaki is a traditional Japanese hot pot dish made with thinly sliced beef, vegetables, tofu, and shirataki noodles, simmered in a sweet and savory soy-based sauce called warishita (stock contains sugar, mirin-sweet sake and soysauce).
If you’ve never tried sukiyaki before, don’t worry.
At Chinya, the staff prepare the first part of the sukiyaki for you at the table, so even first-time visitors can relax and enjoy the experience. After that, you continue cooking at your own pace, adding warishita sauce or broth and placing the vegetables and beef into the pan as you like. It’s not difficult — and taking your time to enjoy the process is part of what makes sukiyaki so special.
First, the pan is gently heated and coated with beef tallow. Japanese leeks are cooked to release their aroma, followed by beautifully marbled beef that is lightly simmered in Warishita.
Then, vegetables and other ingredients are added and slowly cooked together.
When everything is ready, you take what you’d like from the pan, dip it into raw egg if you wish, and enjoy the rich, delicate flavors.
In Japan, eggs are carefully quality-controlled to be eaten raw, which is why dipping sukiyaki in raw egg is a common way to enjoy this dish.
Of course, sukiyaki is just as delicious without the egg, so feel free to enjoy it in the way that feels most comfortable for you.
2. Reservations & English Support
As Chinya is a sukiyaki restaurant, it can get especially busy during the winter season.
Sometimes you may be able to enter during a short gap between reservations, but in general, booking in advance is the safest option. When I visited on a Saturday, the restaurant was completely full.
3. Menu
At Chinya, you’ll find a wide range of options, from luxurious course meals to à la carte dishes, so you can choose based on your mood and budget.🍲 Sukiyaki
Several classic course menus are available, offering a full-course meals that include multiple dishes, from appetizers and sashimi to sukiyaki, rice, miso soup, tsukudani beef, and dessert. Examples include the Kurofune Course, Jokisha Course, and Ekibasha Course, each with different types of beef.
Sukiyaki is also available as a set meal, with multiple grades such as Kiri, Kaede, and Tsubaki, depending on the type of beef used.
For a more special experience, reservation-only premium sukiyaki courses and à la carte options are also offered, including tastings of aged Japanese Black Wagyu beef.
🥢 Shabu-shabu
In addition to sukiyaki, Chinya also offers shabu-shabu courses and à la carte dishes.
There are three course options, which include appetizers, kishimen noodles, simmered beef tendon, and dessert. Shabu-shabu can also be enjoyed as a single dish for a more casual meal.
🥣 Lunch Sets & Light Meals
At lunchtime, special sukiyaki and shabu-shabu sets are available, served with miso soup, rice, and Japanese pickles (oshinko).
There are also easy-to-enjoy lunch options such as set meals and roast beef bowls, perfect for a lighter meal.
(Weekdays only, limited availability)
🍱 Kids’ Menu & Souvenirs
A children’s lunch set is available, making it a comfortable choice for families.
Chinya also sells meat for home cooking and gifts, as well as sukiyaki sets, miso-marinated items, and tsukudani (boiled beef in soy sauce and sake ), which are popular as souvenirs.
📌 Important Notes
・10% sevice charge will be added to the bill.
・Course contents may change depending on the season.
My Experience
We visited Chinya as a family to celebrate my husband’s birthday.
From the moment we stepped inside, the atmosphere felt calm and special — the kind of place where time seems to slow down. The quiet elegance of this long-established restaurant and the gentle hospitality made us feel relaxed even before the meal began.
Sakizuke - Appetizer / Zensai - Seasonal Appetizer / Mukozuke - Sashimi / Kuchinaoshi - Pickles / Excellent Marbled Beef (120g) - “Teki-Sashi” Aged Wagyu Beef / Zaku - Fresh Vegetables / Raw Egg - Dipping Sauce / Steamed Rice / Miso soup / Shigureni - Tsukudani beef / Japanese Hot Tea / Dessert
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| Sakizuke - Appetizer |
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| Zensai - Seasonal Appetizer |
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| Mukozuke - Sashimi |
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| Kuchinaoshi - Pickles |
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| Excellent Marbled Beef (“Teki-Sashi” Aged Wagyu Beef), Zaku - Fresh Vegetables, Raw Egg - Dipping Sauce |
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| Steamed Rice, Shigureni - Tsukudani Beef, Miso Soup |
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| Japanese Hot Tea and Dessert - Seasonal Gelato |
Chinya’s signature Tekisashi beef means “perfectly balanced marbling.” Rather than using heavily marbled meat, Chinya intentionally chooses A4-grade wagyu, which has an ideal balance of lean meat and fat.
As the beef slowly cooked at the table, the sweet aroma of Warishita filled the air, building anticipation with every moment.
Each bite was tender, rich, and deeply flavorful.
When dipped into the egg, the beef melted in my mouth — truly unforgettable.
The slightly sweet warishita sauce was comforting and refined, and I never got tired of it until the very last bite.
Sukiyaki / Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) / Salad / Fried shrimp / Hamburger steak / Potatoes / Rice / Miso soup / Vanilla ice cream
This kids’ set was surprisingly generous. Along with sukiyaki, it included favorites like fried shrimp and hamburger steak, and our child’s eyes lit up trying to decide what to eat first.
It was such a relief to find a thoughtfully prepared kids’ menu at a traditional sukiyaki restaurant — perfect for families who want to enjoy a special meal together.
Because we made a birthday reservation, we were greeted with a sweet surprise: the beef tallow was shaped like a heart ♡ They also prepared a semi-private room for us and served a small celebratory dish of red rice (osekihan). These small but thoughtful gestures made the experience feel even more personal and warm. It wasn’t flashy — just sincere, heartfelt hospitality that made us smile.
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| Red bean rice (osekihan) - It is a traditional Japanese celebratory dish. |
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| Semi-private room |
That day, we shared good food, slow moments, and gentle conversations — and it naturally became a memory we’ll treasure as a family.
If you’re looking for a truly special place in Asakusa for an important day, Chinya is a restaurant you’ll never forget.
Basic Information
🏠 Name: Chinya Asakusa（浅草 ちんや）
📍 2-16-1 Hanakawado, Taito-ku,
Tokyo
🕘 Weekdays: 11:00–15:00 /
16:30–21:30
🕘 Weekends
& Holidays: 11:00–21:30
💤 Closed: No regular holidays
🚃 A 10-minute walk from
Kaminarimon
💴 Cash or credit cards accepted
If you want to see more delicious food in Asakusa, be sure to check out my Instagram too📸✨Just click the icon below!
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