I don’t cover nearly enough Pudong restaurants. But here’s one that deserves a shout-out for the Pudongnites: great beef, great service, and just the ticket when you want to treat yourself or have a damn good date night.
Aburi-En: Australian Wagyu Cooked A La Minute
Introducing Aburi-En, a Japanese yakiniku restaurant tucked inside the Pudong Kerry Center.
They’re all about the beef, which is top stuff — wagyu from Rangers Valley in Australia — and cooked over binchotan, the good kind of charcoal that burns real hot.
Whether you’re seated at the communal center stage, in a booth, or inside a private room, all the grilling happens at your table. It’s theatre, sure, but it also means your premium beef travels about the length of a chopstick from grill to plate.
The staff are exceptionally well trained. Their job isn’t just to take orders; it’s to cook each cut to its optimum doneness. Don’t think, just eat as the courses come.
Recommended Set: ¥1,688 For Two
They offer a few sets, starting from ¥598 for two. I went for the ¥1,688 set, also for two, which includes six cuts of wagyu, plus appetizers, sides, wagyu rice (or noodles), and fruit.
The meats were excellent. But the wagyu ribeye was genuinely phenomenal. If you told me it was Japanese A5, I’d believe you. It’s served as is, with dipping sauces on the side, so you can fully appreciate the beefy flavor of this superior cut.
Other cuts included beef tongue; outside skirt, which had a rich meatiness with a good bite; and rib fingers, extremely beefy, with more flavor emerging each time you chew. Each piece is treated differently: scored a certain way to help it cook evenly, brushed with a unique marinade, or cut for optimal texture.
There’s also thinly sliced wagyu paired with wine-poached pear and foie gras, a sweet and custardy contrast to the rich beef. Thinly sliced wagyu is also draped over rice like sushi. It’s essentially a beef tasting menu, with different ways to appreciate the meat across the meal.
The appetizers and sides make the flow of the dishes quite considerate. Without them, this would be a very heavy meal. A fresh wasabi vinaigrette salad arrives at the start, a large portion that lasted through mid-meal, each bite a nice palate cleanser. Sashimi provides contrast and a sense of value, while small plates of pickles and cold veggies keep things interesting throughout.
Additional Dishes
The set for two is just right. But if you’re feeling hungry (or just greedy) there are plenty of other dishes to add on.
I found the Black Truffle Wagyu Short Rib Bibimbap (¥168) to be superior to the wagyu rice that comes in the set. If you’re looking to add extra carbs to your meal, this is a must.
The Wagyu Sandwich (¥199/half, pictured; ¥398/full) is decadent, rich in beefy flavors and layered with black truffle mayonnaise. The tenderloin cut is so uber tender it practically melts away. Phenomenal beefy flavor. Though, it’s a tad pricey, owing to that coveted tenderloin cut.
The Vibe
The restaurant tends to draw an early dinner crowd. The area is family friendly, so tables fill up before the kids’ bedtime, and by 9pm most tables have cleared out.
There are multiple private rooms, which I’d suggest for a cozier experience, though the central open kitchen and counter seating have their own energy if you like watching the action.
Aburi-En
View the venue listing here.
