Yakiniku King, one of Japan’s most recognizable yakiniku chains, has officially arrived in Manila, bringing its popular grill-at-your-table concept to diners looking for a more premium but still sulit unlimited barbecue experience. The brand opened its first international branch at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, marking a notable overseas step for the chain and for parent company Monogatari Corporation, which says it operates hundreds of restaurants across Japan and overseas under multiple brands.
What makes Yakiniku King stand out is its positioning: it is not trying to be the cheapest grill option in the city, but rather a more expansive and curated one. Current Manila materials show three main eat-all-you-can tiers. The Select Grill Set starts at ₱1,099 and includes 59 items, the King Grill Set is priced at ₱1,299 with 100 items, and the more premium Royal Grill Set is currently listed at ₱1,599 with 110 items. So while people may remember a lower premium tier, the latest available posts and coverage point to ₱1,599, not ₱1,499, for the top set.
For diners focused on value, the real sweet spot appears to be the ₱1,299 King Grill Set. At that tier, you already get access to a wide spread of meats, side dishes, soups, seafood options, rice dishes, and desserts, making it the most sulit choice for people who want variety without immediately jumping to the highest price point. Multiple recent Manila posts and reviews specifically highlight the King Set’s 100-item lineup as the best middle ground between price and selection.
Part of the brand’s appeal is also experiential. Yakiniku King uses a table-order system where diners choose items from the menu and grill them fresh at their table, leaning into the Japanese yakiniku format rather than just offering a generic unlimited barbecue setup. Coverage of the Manila branch highlights premium beef cuts, pork, chicken, seafood, salads, soups, bibimbap, and desserts, giving the meal a more complete restaurant feel rather than a purely meat-heavy buffet.
In the end, Yakiniku King’s Manila debut is appealing for a simple reason: it gives diners options. The ₱1,099 entry point makes it accessible enough for casual group meals, the ₱1,299 King Set feels like the strongest value if you want the most sulit selection, and the Royal Set is there for those willing to spend more for a more indulgent spread. For a city that already loves grill concepts, Yakiniku King’s edge is that it packages the experience with Japanese branding, wider menu variety, and a tiered structure that makes the splurge feel more deliberate.
