Bokuden Kamiyacho Shop – Korean BBQ with Japanese Sensibilities

Korean Wave BBQ in Hiroshima

Bokuden Kamiyacho Shop is a Korean barbecue restaurant near Peace Memorial Park serving classic Korean dishes and barbecued meats with Japanese creativity. 

Watch the flames erupt from the drippings of samgyeopsal and gabli as the staff cooks them in front of you at your table. The unique service is not typical of Korean or Japanese barbecue. Both barbecue cultures usually have customers cook their own meat.

Bokuden’s style makes a great show. Moreover, with staff closely monitoring both the time and the meat on the flaming conro stove, customers can relax knowing their Korean cuts will be perfectly cooked.

Bokuden is part of a wave of new Korean restaurants in Hiroshima. They came on the scene during the COVID-19 pandemic when locals couldn’t easily travel to their stylish neighbor across the Sea of Japan with famously spicy and delicious food. 

Bokuden’s goal is to bring those flavors to Hiroshima through creative dishes that respect the cuisine’s roots. The result is barbecue that is reminiscent of authentic Korean barbecue but has a distinctly Japanese, elevated quality to it. 

(Joy Photo / Michael Farrell)

Authentic Korean Cuts and Japanese Creativity

Visitors can find a broad menu with both familiar and lesser-known Korean cuts and dishes plus creative Japanese takes on old standbys. 

Most people familiar with Korean barbecue know the difference between samgyeopsal and bulgogi, both staples on Bokuden’s menu. However, travelers who have eaten in Korea might recognize galmaegisal, a pork skirt cut popular with Korean barbecue enthusiasts but uncommon abroad. The menu also features moksal, lean pork collar, a common cut in Korea that is not often separated from pork shoulder in Western cooking.

In Korea, these cuts are typically rather plain to look at. However, at Bokuden they use Japanese carving techniques, like cross-hatching cuts on the surface, to make the meat more tender and beautiful. It also helps the meat soak up more marinade.

A Wide Range of Korean Side Options

The menu at Bokuden covers the gamut of distinctive Korean dishes, from sundubu-jjigae, spicy soft tofu stew, to tteok-bokki, rice cakes in spicy sauce. Dig into japchae, stir-fried sweet potato starch noodles, and spoon up rich seolleongtang, ox-bone soup. 

The Japanese language-only menu also offers a variety of chijimi, better known as jeon in Korea and Korean restaurants in the West. At the top of the list, one finds Kannon negi chijimi, pajeon, which is made with a local variety of leeks from the Kannon district of Hiroshima City.

Dishes for the Bold

Bokuden even has some of the more adventurous Korean dishes, like ojingeo bokkeum, spicy stir-fried squid tentacles and ganjang gejang, marinated raw crabs. 

And for the fearless, try their most creative dish, yangnyeom fugu; or when available, consider san-nakji, chopped live octopus tentacles.

Wash the meal down with a broad range of Chamisul soju, sours, and Japanese-style highballs. 

The Atmosphere

Bokuden’s interior is cozy with both table and bar seating. A whole glass wall opens up directly onto the street, letting table groups enjoy the open air. Meanwhile, diners at the bar get a front-row seat to the action in the kitchen with views of the food preparation and the live seafood tank. 

How to Get There

Bokuden is a nine-minute walk through Hondori from Peace Memorial Park. From Hiroshima Station you need to take the Hiroden Streetcar Route 1, 2, or 6 to Kamiyacho-higashi Station. The walk to Bokuden takes only a minute.

More Hiroshima Meat Recommendations

Hiroshima has many places to get your protein fix. Discover A4-grade, locally raised Hiroshima Wagyu beef steaks and Setouchi abalone at Steak AOHIGE, just a two-minute walk from Peace Memorial Park. Or if you are touring in the Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien area, stop in at Yakiniku Jango, a ten-minute walk south of Shukkeien. Enjoy Kuroge Wagyu beef at this Japanese-style barbecue restaurant near Hiroshima Peace Cathedral.