If you’re in Seminyak and craving Japanese food, try the sensational yakiniku at Yawara.
On a street near Jl Petitenget, this atmospheric Japanese steakhouse is polished and authentic – from melt-in-your-mouth beef to the attention to details, fresh, beautiful ingredients and a stylish dining room.
Beef this tender stays with you, and that’s what Yawara is all about. With roots in Jakarta and a team skilled in traditional Japanese techniques, Yawara brings a refined yet laid-back take on yakiniku to Bali, blending Japanese finesse with the island’s easy vibe.
Yawara At A Glance.
- Authentic yakiniku – meltingly tender beef cuts cooked on a specially designed grill.
- Omakase dining – Chef’s specials change nightly, served at interactive tables or private rooms.
- Set menus – 3 set menus make ordering easy.
- A sophisticated dining room with private rooms and a sushi bar.
- High quality ingredients – with imported fruit and vegetables, seafood and beef from Japan and Australia, the ingredients tell the story at Yawara Seminyak.
A Yakiniku Restaurant in Seminyak with Real Depth
Yawara Group was established in 2017, in a modest private house in Jakarta. Through word of mouth it has captivated customers with exceptional food, personalized service, and a unique dining experience.
Yawara offers a sizzling Japanese dining experience, sourcing ingredients both directly from Japan, the US and locally from Indonesia. Spearheaded by Chef Sorimachi, each of the restaurants is overseen by a Japanese Executive Chef.
Yawara Group opened their first cafe in Bali in 2025. Located in the heart of Seminyak, on the shady Jl. Pangkung Sari, between Jl. Oberoi and Jl. Petitenget, Yawara is now winning over Bali diners.
The Menu: Wagyu, Sukiyaki, and Some Amazing Condiments
Yawara is an icon of Japan’s much-loved yakiniku style of dining. Each table features a built-in grill where high-quality seafood and marbled meat are seasoned and lightly grilled, creating melt-in-your-mouth dishes. Impeccable service is a hallmark of the dining experience, and Yawara Bali is no different. Suited waiters and well-dressed waitresses glide across the floor, delivering appetisers, fresh sashimi, and other dishes to the table before the main event.
Tongue is a big deal at Yawara, making an appearance on the set menus in two variations — rare and thinly sliced. The beef is sourced primarily from top-tier cows in Japan and US, with Australian beef also featured on the menu. High-quality marbled beef is the star of every meal here.
Yakiniku, which translates to “grilled meat,” is inspired by Korean BBQ and is popular in Japan. Bite-sized pieces of beef, pork, or offal, along with vegetables, are grilled at the table and served with various condiments and dipping sauces. While it has Korean influences, it’s distinctly Japanese with light seasoning and a focus on the natural flavour of the meat, often paired with sauces like soy, salt, or yuzu ponzu.
A Unique Cooking Style: Ami-yaki
At Yawara, the cooking style is known as Ami-yaki — Japanese BBQ cooked on a grill plate that drains the fat as the meat cooks over high heat. Traditionally, diners grill the meat themselves, but at Yawara, a trained chef, sometimes even the Executive Chef, takes over to ensure each delicate piece is perfectly seasoned and grilled.
Yawara offers three set menus, each designed to showcase the restaurant’s highlights. Prices start from Rp 500,000++ to the deluxe package at Rp 1.7 million. These menus provide an exceptional tasting experience.
Dishes That Keep Coming
From sushi rolls and kimchi to creamy foie gras chawanmushi, delicious beef tartare served with crispy nori and little rice balls to wrap and dip, cold and hot noodle dishes, their signature kimchi, and elegant plates of grilled fish — the variety is impressive.
The condiments can feel overwhelming at first, diners are spoiled with choices. Thankfully, the attentive wait staff is on hand to help guide you through the selections. One standout was the Australian wagyu sukiyaki with truffled egg yolk for dipping — a traditional combination that delivers rich, deep flavours. The eggs, imported from Japan, are a deep orange, and the freshly shaved truffle elevates the dish even further. It’s this kind of attention to detail that has helped Yawara grow its reputation as a hotspot for fine dining in Seminyak.
The kuroge wagyu sirloin shabu shabu comes in a light broth with a delicious yuzu ponzu sauce, and the beef is sliced thin for ultimate tenderness. For those seeking a big, hearty steak, this may not be the place — instead, Yawara offers a more delicate and nuanced experience, blending culinary cultures seamlessly.
A Blend of Cultures: Japanese Techniques, Indonesian Hospitality
For those who prefer to build their own meal, there’s a generous à la carte menu, large or small. The restaurant also offers an impressive selection of wine, beer, and Japanese liqueurs, including sake.
In this refined space, two things stand out — the quality of the food and the passion behind the presentation and preparation, as well as the service. Yawara has found its place in Bali, and behind it is a family, a friendship between an Indonesian and a Japanese, and a love of food and hospitality that spans generations. It’s a destination restaurant on a quiet Seminyak street that speaks many languages, all centered around food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yakiniku is a Japanese style of grilling bite-sized cuts of meat, usually beef, over a tabletop grill. While it was influenced by Korean barbecue, the flavours are lighter, with minimal seasoning, focusing on the natural quality of the meat, often paired with simple sauces like soy, salt, or yuzu ponzu.
Yawara is widely considered one of the more refined yakiniku restaurants in Seminyak, known for its high-quality wagyu, attentive service, and a more polished dining experience compared to casual Japanese BBQ spots.
Some standout dishes include the wagyu sukiyaki with truffled egg yolk, thinly sliced beef tongue, and the kuroge wagyu sirloin shabu shabu served with yuzu ponzu. The set menus are also a great way to experience a variety of their signature dishes.
Yes, Yawara serves a selection of premium wagyu, including Japanese, US and Australian cuts, all prepared specifically for yakiniku-style grilling.
Yawara offers both à la carte and set menus. Set menus start from around Rp 500,000++ and go up to approximately Rp 1.7 million++, depending on the selection and cuts of meat included.
