It being my second trip to Tokyo, I thought it would be fun to include a robatayaki meal. One can also say I wanted to have the authentic experience so that I could have a proper benchmark to compare against my Singapore’s robatayaki experience. Hee!

Using keywords ‘robatayaki’ and ‘Tokyo’, I managed to google up Inakaya. With 2 outlets in Roppongi, I decided to visit the West shop as it was nearer to the metro station. And I took the gamble of walking in. Luckily I wasn’t turned away at the door. Haha.

Taken from Wikipedia, robatayaki literally translates to fireside cooking. And indeed, the chefs grilled our selected ingredients in front of us before passing us our dishes on long wooden paddle.

And from the display, I ordered:-

1) Appetiser, Complimentary (above)

2) Gingko nut (above)

3) Asparagus (above)

4) Chicken (above) – With flavours of sea salt or teriyaki sauce, I went for latter!

5) Mochi, Complimentary (above) – Halfway through dinner, we were informed there was going to be a (mini) mochi-pounding ceremony. Customers were invite up to join the staff in pounding steamed glutinous rice with wooden mallets (kine) in a traditional mortar (usu)! I didn’t join though. Too shy lah. Solo diner leh. Keke. After which, we were treated to mochi. Yeah! Had mine with soy bean powder.

6) Scallop (above)

7) Kinki fish (above) – Kinki fish is always a must for me. Do order this early as it took almost 30 minutes for the chef to grill it.

8) Dessert, Complimentary (above)

9) Roasted tea, Complimentary (above)

And at 8.30pm, there’s a ‘change shift’ for the chef behind the grills. And that was accompanied with a (mini) ceremony with lots of clapping. So I reckon it be interesting for one to reach before 8.30pm to add more fun into one’s robatayaki experience. Keke.

But Inakaya West was patronised by more tourists than locals. Throughout my dinner, the restaurant was 80% filled. Of which, more than half were tourists. Westerns to be exact. I wondered if the place became famous because a number of celebrity visited Inakaya. At the end of my meal, the staff took out a thick album and proudly showed me photographs of celebrities who have dined at their restaurant. Big names include Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Tony Leung, Christine Aguilera. And I’m not sure if it was intentional but non-Japaneses were all seated on one side of the U-shaped counter.

Including tax and service charge, my meal came up to ¥19,100. I honestly wasn’t expecting it to be that expensive. But hey, I was dining solo but eating for 2. So I guess it would help if there’s more than 1 person in the group. You know, to spilt the bill with. Haha.

Would I recommend Inakaya West? Well… It being the only robatayaki restaurant that I managed to search up on internet, Inakaya West provided a pretty neat experience with great noisy atmosphere. The staff shouts with every orders placed or when customers enter and leave. But let’s say I am still on the hunt for a less-touristy robatayaki restaurant. Wink.

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