Nikushou Sakai(肉匠坂井)

I tried Nikushou Sakai in the Tangram Mall in Flushing during Thanksgiving and was impressed by how much variety their Japanese BBQ buffet offers. The weekday price is $55 and weekends/holidays are $59, and the quality is excellent for an all-you-can-eat experience. The meal starts with a refreshing nine-item Japanese appetizer set, and the standout dishes for me were the signature clay-pot short rib, thick-cut wagyu chuck flap, wagyu tongue with yuzu salt, thin-sliced wagyu ribeye, and the seasonal thick-cut wagyu roll. The marinade options such as the sweet soy beef short rib and marinated brisket were also flavorful, while the seafood section included steamed clams with sake, grilled salmon, garlic squid, shrimp, and takoyaki. There are plenty of snacks like tempura shrimp, grilled rice cakes, Nagoya chicken wings, crispy smelt fish, and fried pork bites, plus vegetables and fruit including mushrooms, butter corn, lettuce, and pineapple. Even the staple dishes were surprisingly good, especially the unagi rice bowl, salted beef rice, and bibimbap. Drinks such as iced tea, Coke, Diet Coke, Fanta, and Sprite are included, and I added a yuzu soda for $4.99 which paired perfectly with the grilled meats. Located inside Tangram, this spot is an excellent choice if you want a wide selection of quality meats and sides at a reasonable buffet price.

Decent price for good quality of AYCE meats (~$60 on a Saturday pre-tax + tip). Came as a group of 4 at 7pm and there was luckily a table available right away. They give you an iPad to order off of and start the table off with their banchan platter, which was very good! Good amount of meat and soft drink options to order from and the service is pretty attentive. You close your meal out with a nice mochi. Only downside was that I did have the runs and my stomach was churning after the meal, but that was bc late a ton and the discomfort only lasted that night (so no food poisoning!!) lol Despite that, l'd still return!

Been multiple times now, and strongly feel Nikushou Sakai is one of the better barbecue spots around. It's around $70 per person for all you can eat for 70 minutes (be aware of the time). The cuts are exceptional (you cannot go wrong with any of the beef), and the shrimp is so surprisingly fresh. Service was also excellent and accommodating. Definitely a great spot if you're craving Japanese barbecue!

TLDR: Great. Very comfortable restaurant, AYCE yakiniku. Miso pork jowl, jo-tan yuzu shio beef tongue, wagyu chuck thick-cut. Lots of egg yolk sauce. Order sizes are small, so don't be shy. Tried this and to be candid, most AYCE places I'm skeptical of. I was surprised at how spacious it was. Design-wise, felt like something you'd see in Asia. You have 90 minutes to eat, 70 minutes to order. So be weary of the time limit, you will not get a final order warning. Keep an eye on ordering because once you're at 70, the menu will lock out and no more orders can be placed. It's a gas grill with a very thing wire grid. The heat is pretty intense so you can get these wonderful sears. I don't need to tell you but don't fill up on the rice and fried goodies. The thick cut pork jowl is marinated in miso and you get this smoky, salty, just umami-rich bite. Amazing stuff. The beef tongue is quite thin and if you sear it hard enough - it almost reminds you of fatty beef but not quite as fatty. If that makes sense. Of all the steak cuts, the wagyu thick-cut chuck is what we got the most of. All-in, comes to about $70 pp which is not terrible considering you can get as crazy as you'd like. I'll be back, I enjoyed it.

Had an excellent dinner at Nikushou Sakai. The quality of the meat was top-notch. Everything was fresh and flavorful. It’s clear they take a lot of pride in what they serve. Our server, Janet, was wonderful! Super friendly, helpful with recommendations, and made sure we were well taken care of the whole time. As a bonus, we ended up winning $50 off our bill, which was a really nice surprise and just added to an already great night. Would definitely come back. Highly recommend if you’re looking for quality Japanese BBQ and great service in a relaxed setting.

One of the best BBQ places in the area. The marble meat is so fresh, tender, delicious. Will come back for the quality of food, service and choice. Worth every penny.

Excellent AYCE experience. I came with a party of 8 and we were pleasantly surprised by the different proteins available. The beef was very fresh and the Yakiniku was the star of the night. Pork belly comes in as a close second. The service was very attentive and we enjoyed the oversized fountain drinks!

Nikushou Sakai offers a rare pause admist the bustling city. They intentionally slow down the grilling time so everyone can appreciate the crafted selection of aged meat, the moment, and the time with your family and friends. While the grill is slow, the service and the food are fast. You can select up to 20 dishes on the iPad, before sending it to the kitchen. The foods are carefully selected and prepared for you. Not only that, but with small, bite-size portions, this place is ideal for those who wants to try a bit of everything. This seems perfect for my friends and I. We ordered practically one of everything, then repeat the dishes we loved for a second (and third round). You do have to cook your own meat, although a server may stop by to help out. They do frequently come around to chamge the grill cover and check in on the table. They also come around with a last call, twenty minutes before your time is up, so you do not need a designated time keeper at your table. While grilling and chatting, feel free to look around and try to spot the labubu scattered around. Although, I doubt you can take them.