Akanoya Robatayaki
1 Tanglin Road #01-01
Orchard Parade Hotel Singapore
Operating Hours: Daily 18:30 - 01:30
Price: Expensive – like 150$ each pax (but is those kind of place that people should go to – at least once in a life time). All ingredients are freshly imported from Japan – and I am so excited to be here as this is really the first date that my bf is taking me out on …
What is robatayaki? In Japanese cuisine, robatayaki (炉端焼き, literally "fireside-cooking"), often shortened to just robata (ろばた in hiragana), refers to a method of cooking, similar to barbecue, in which items of food on skewers are slow-grilled over hot charcoal. Many Japanese restaurants, both in Japan and abroad, specialize in this style of food preparation. Traditionally, the food consists of a combination of morsels of seafood and vegetables, but other kinds of food that are suitable for grilling over charcoal may also be offered.
Most Japanese restaurants in Singapore have a quiet, peaceful, zen-like ambience. If you like quiet and tranquil, then go to those, because Akanoya is an immersive Japanese experience. Imagine it as a noisy market place. The waiter welcomes you in loud cheery exuberant Japanese announcements the moment you enter. The other waiters repeat the announcements in unison. In addition, for every item that you order, your waiter shouts it out loud with approving echoes from the others in tandem. You really feel you are in Japan.
Another word that seems to appear a lot in conjunction with these types of restaurants is "Inakaya". Before you continue reading, take a quick look at these videos of Inakaya restaurants around the world. Your experience at Singapore's Akanoya Robatayaki will be similar.
Sauces & Starters
Three chef stations - where the fireside cooking is done.
You would have thought the food is fake. BUT NO NO, is all fresh food in vibrant colors. To order, you point to the food, following which the chef will collect the the fresh ingredients from before your very eyes and proceed to cook them.
BBQ right in front of you !
My chef of the day ! *damn handsome* hahaha
Chefs deliver the food using these long wooden paddles. Every dish is such a surprise.
Grilled veges (egg plants & bell peppers)
Chef is preparing a fish and skewering it for grilling
All kind of mushrooms
Grilled garlic in a miso paste
This is our all time favourite. Tastes yummy.
The best dish of the day ! Scallops ! (you can taste the ocean, heavenly OYISHII~)
A nicely presented sweet potato dish.
Grilled onions
Kobe beef ! This is awesomely tender & juicy. It just melts in your mouth. Is damn expensive but for once in a life time, this is a must try.
The highlight of the night is around 830pm, when all the chefs and waiters stop serving for a moment, and break out into a traditional Japanese song and chorus ! Everyone follows along and claps and cheers. If you are coming to Akanoya, time your dinner to start around 7-730pm, then by 830pm or so - you will get to enjoy this traditional chorus ! An example of the ritual is found in this video from Inakaya Tokyo Roppongi.
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