Roast Beef Ohno: Where XL Means Extra Little

Time of visit: June 2025

We stopped by Roast Beef Ohno Minami Ikebukuro (ローストビーフ大野南池袋店) in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, and ordered two XL Roast Beef Bowl Set Meals—one with regular U.S. beef and the other with wagyu, just to see how they compared.

First thing I noticed? The portion size was pretty underwhelming for something labeled “XL.” The wagyu was a little more flavorful and juicier, but it was also twice the price of the regular beef, and honestly, not that much better. It was rather lean for wagyu, while the regular beef was actually pretty juicy and decent—especially with the sauce, which helped boost the overall flavor. The set with regular beef cost ¥2,000, while the wagyu version came to a steep ¥4,070. For what you get, the wagyu felt overpriced.

XL Roast Beef Bowl Set Meal with regular U.S. beef including oxtail soup (top right) — XL Roast Beef Bowl Set Meal with **regular U.S. beef** and **oxtail soup**

XL Roast Beef Bowl Set Meal with wagyu — XL Roast Beef Bowl Set Meal with **wagyu** and **oxtail soup**

Another letdown was the oxtail soup—it didn’t taste like oxtail at all and reminded me of something made from instant soup mix.

The place had a fast-food vibe, kind of like a gyudon chain. The staff seemed to be mostly part-timers sticking closely to a manual—not rude or anything, just not particularly warm or engaging.

interior of roast beef ohno — Interior of roast beef ohno

their kitchen — Kitchen in Roast Beef Ohno

On the plus side, I liked that you can swap rice for broccoli, which is a nice touch for anyone doing keto or looking for a low-carb option.

broccoli instead of rice — Broccoli instead of rice

Also, the menu was available in English, Chinese, and Korean, which is helpful for non-Japanese speakers.

their english menu — English menu in Roast Beef Ohno

In the end, Roast Beef Ohno might work for a quick, light lunch—especially if you’re a light eater—but if you’re expecting hearty portions or gourmet flavor, it probably won’t meet your expectations.

Roast Beef Ohno Minami Ikebukuro / ローストビーフ大野南池袋店 – Review

Sakura Yubi

Food

Atmosphere

Service

Value for Money

Summary

Roast Beef Ohno’s XL beef bowls were underwhelming in size, with the regular U.S. beef offering better value than the overpriced wagyu. The oxtail soup lacked flavor, and the fast-food vibe made the experience feel generic. However, the menu’s low-carb option and multilingual support were convenient touches.

2.4