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Yakiniku, or Japanese barbecue, is a popular meal option when you're visiting Japan. Literally meaning "grilled meat," it's also the most unlikely dish you'd typically associate with a vegan menu. But now, thanks to Next Meats Co Ltd, a Japanese company developing and commercializing meat analogue products (currently plant-based) as a solution to the global food crisis, the seemingly impossible has been achieved.
After their initial success with their Next Burger series, now in its third iteration with version 1.2, Next Meats set its sights on yakiniku, and after careful research and development, they're finally ready to launch their product line.
Introducing the Next Yakiniku Series
Kalbi 1.0 and Harami 1.0
The Next Yakiniku series are plant-based, made from vegetable protein (soybean). Next Meats have been developing their products in collaboration with a long-established factory that has been making vegan foods for 30 years.
Next Yakiniku uses no additives, so it is perfect for those who want to transition to a healthy lifestyle while still enjoying the texture and flavor of yakiniku. Compared to meat-based yakiniku, it has less than half the fat and double the protein, so it's also ideal for athletes. Next Meats is kicking off the lineup with "Kalbi 1.0", which has a savory Kalbi flavor, and "Harami 1.0," which is soft and juicy and has a satisfying taste.
You can eat them as they are, or topped on rice:
To find out more about the Next Yakiniku lineup, visit the product page here.
Next Yakiniku Kalbi 1.0: 1,880 yen (frozen, 5 pieces) + domestic shipping: online shop
Next Yakiniku Harami 1.0: 1,780 yen (frozen, 5 pieces): + domestic shipping: online shop
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- External Link
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17 Comments
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Alfie Noakes
Me too, but I'm not paying 1880 yen plus shipping for 400g of soymeat, no matter how tasty it is.
Mickelicious
That's an audacious price point.
Toasted Heretic
Looks well tasty, but the prices may cause indigestion.
Serrano
Vegan Japanese barbecue 'meat' is now a thing
Not a good thing though.
SPRING
I’m not a vegan but I actually don’t mind meatless meat. They’re quite tasty.
savethegaijin
It's really too bad that you cannot buy Impossible of Beyond meat in Japan. I'm not a vegan but theres no harm in going meatless as much as you can, when it's realistically possible.
OssanAmerica
At that price it is a luxury for those who are prepared to pay much more than real meat. Seriously question how long this is sustainable under today's global economic forecast.
doggar
yakiniku is not Japanese bbq. It's japanese style korean bbq.
sourpuss
Yeah that price point...
I checked the ingredients and they look okay except for palm oil. Nothing too chemical looking anyway.
Strangerland
These fake meats are not particularly good for your health. They definitely aren't generally a healthier option, they're just meat free. If your goal is to not eat meat, they are great. If your goal is to eat healthy, you're kind of fighting yourself on this one. There are much, much better avenues for ROI on your health than eating beyond meat or whatnot.
I do have to admit though, the ones I've eaten have been pretty tasty.
WilliB
I don´t trust these vegetable based meat imitations; too much chemistry involved.
However, once lab-grown meat becomes commercially available, I will be on board. Surely we have the technology to produce animal protein without factory animal farming.
Bugle Boy of Company B
Meat is love. Meat is life.
Mark
No thank you, how could it be healthy when it's processed food, and God knows what additives are injected to keep it alive!?
Mark
Is it Halal or Kosher? because if it's not you can forget about marketing it to more than 1/2 of the world population I say, then it won't be "" a solution to the global food crisis,""
savethegaijin
@Strangerland
I just think in general it's better to reduce our meat consumption wherever we can. Especially cow meat, as the environmental impact is pretty bad.
Also meat substitutes, if done well, can introduce people to the idea that sometimes it's not necessary to eat meat, like a stepping stone towards a healthier diet. A lot of people completely shun plant-based meals because they think of like boiled vegetables or chashew-milk 80 ingredient sauces, etc. so anything that will bridge the gap or just get someone interested in reducing their meat consumption is a net positive I think.
Obviously things like the Impossible Burger... they're still junk food but I think they can get people to open their minds a little bit instead of shunning the idea entirely.
starpunk
No thanks, man. These 'veggie' deals taste liken paper at best and foo at worst.
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby.