WAKI Japanese BBQ Dining — Restaurant in Jakarta

⭐️ 2/5 – Traumatizing Dining Experience. Feels Like a Trap.

I’m a regular at their Thamrin branch, and the beef quality there has always been outstanding — tender, flavorful, and genuinely premium. That’s why this visit to their all-you-can-eat yakiniku was such a shock and disappointment.

We came as 7 people (6 adults + 1 child under 120 cm — free), expecting the same standard. Instead, we got the opposite.

The beef tasted terrible. They used Meltique meat, which is processed and nothing like the real premium beef they’re known for in their à la carte menu. The texture was off, and the taste was bland and artificial. For a brand that built its name on quality beef, this felt like a downgrade and a betrayal of what regulars expect.

The service was poor. The staff never explained the portion size, which led us to unintentionally overorder. When we couldn’t finish everything, they charged around 2 million rupiah for the leftover, even though the 6-pax AYCE meal costs only about 1.1 million (165k per person). The penalty was absurd and unfair.

The grill setup made things even worse. For 7 people, they only provided one charcoal grill that couldn’t stay hot or cook evenly. The heat was weak and uncontrollable, so the meat didn’t cook properly. Yet they only gave 75 minutes plus 15 minutes “grace period” — basically 90 minutes total — which is misleadingly phrased.

We felt pressured to finish everything quickly, stuck with a weak grill and piles of poorly cooked beef. It wasn’t enjoyable at all — it felt like being trapped in a stressful eating race instead of having a good meal.

To top it off, one of the staff asked if we still needed the baby chair for my son (while we were still eating!) because another guest wanted to use it. That was rude and unprofessional — they clearly need to add more baby chairs instead of taking one mid-meal.

Overall, this was a traumatizing experience. The meat was bad, the setup terrible, and the whole system felt like a trap designed to make customers fail the “time limit” and pay penalties. I’ve always loved their Thamrin branch, but after this visit, I honestly don’t think I’ll...

Really. I have to give them all 5 stars. My first time having dinner with family and have best experience eating bbq in this establishment.

The constant heat from the quality charcoal makes barbequing easier and better... meat in their kalbi platter cooked to our perfection and dip in their sauce to add the salty and help highlights the taste of the beef. What a treat.

We also ordered a special bbq meat sushi that taste so good like it is from another world. Really good.

The veggies are fresh and the sour taste help cleans the pallate a bit to be ready for another bite of the barbeque.

As for the interior, its quite dimmed. Lighted to our liking, a bit serene with soft background music so you can have a warm and good family conversation.

Will definitely...

"If you're looking for an exceptional BBQ experience in Indonesia, this restaurant is a must-visit. The quality of the meat is outstanding—extremely fresh and grilled to perfection. The variety of meat options ranges from premium wagyu to more modest cuts, all deliciously prepared. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere and the service is both friendly and efficient. You'll feel right at home while enjoying BBQ dishes that truly satisfy. Don’t miss their special sauces that elevate every bite. Highly recommended for BBQ...