Roppongi Inakaya — Restaurant in Tokyo

I've eaten at many fine dining restaurants that carry a fat bill, but this is something certainly new to me. The summary is: food is good, but not worth the price. Rather, the high prices are because you're paying for the excellent service and an authentic Japanese dining experience. Think of it more like a show with dinner rather than a dinner with a show.

Roughly $10USD for one grilled mushroom or a half eggplant. One Wagyu skewer was around $50USD. Essentially, you should only eat here if it's in your mind to impress the ones you treat to how much money means nothing to you.

As for ambiance, the restaurant staff is spectacular - very invested in providing a high quality product. On the customer end, you have snobby Westerners who want an excuse to spend money. The people sitting next to me talking about how this was the best food ever clearly found this restaurant on some Buzzfeed "top Japanese restaurants" guide and are unaware of the much cheaper but much tastier places available in Tokyo. It actually made the experience quite poor to see so many foreigners who were here to spend money and not appreciate the culture and experience respectfully. Granted, I'm a foreigner, but I like to think I do enough research to appreciate a country's food with respect and understanding of the history and culture. In any case, the restaurant is happy to take their money while still providing stellar service despite the disrespect.

All things considered, this is great to experience if you have the money. The only reason I give this 4 stars as opposed to 5 is for what I stated above about foreigners and the price level (which I don't think is an accurate valuation of the food +...

Dining here was an unforgettable experience. The warm, intimate atmosphere combined with the live grilling right in front of me made for an incredibly immersive evening.

One of the standout features was the wide variety of fresh ingredients beautifully displayed, allowing me to handpick what I wanted. The chefs skillfully cooked everything on the spot, ensuring each dish was served hot, fresh, and bursting with flavor.

The grilled whole fish was expertly prepared with a crispy exterior and tender, flavorful meat, perfectly complemented by a wedge of lemon for a zesty finish. The grilled gingko nuts, lightly charred and seasoned, offered a unique balance of earthy bitterness and subtle sweetness, enhanced by a squeeze of lemon. The skewered grilled beef was juicy and tender, served with fresh greens, shredded daikon, and a dab of wasabi for a burst of flavor. The grilled small crabs delivered an intense umami flavor with every crunchy bite, lightly salted and paired beautifully with a hint of lemon. The grilled prawn was succulent and smoky, cooked to juicy perfection, with a lemon wedge elevating its natural sweetness. The grilled rice ball (yaki onigiri) had a delightful smoky aroma, with a crispy exterior and a soft, satisfying texture inside. Finally, the grilled green peppers and asparagus were fresh and slightly charred, retaining their natural crunch and sweetness, brightened by a touch of lemon.

The interaction with the chefs, watching them cook with precision, and the overall welcoming service elevated the dining experience. For anyone visiting Tokyo, Roppongi Inakaya is a must-visit for a unique and authentic Japanese culinary adventure.

Highly...

Beware, tourist trap. Can definitely find better meals elsewhere for a fraction of the price (i.e yakitori bars).

Here they do everything to avoid providing a menu which states the exorbitant prices.. even if you directly ask for it (they just point at the table and say that is the only menu). All the staff are well trained to upsell (even by lying about the prices if you specifically ask) and also great at over cooking seafood.

They will sell you: 10 USD vegetables (i.e. 1 asparagus cut into 3) 50 USD giant shrimp (overcooked underseasoned) 50 USD sashimi (10 pieces, half of it tuna - no otoro)

Expect to pay minimum 200 USD a head to full half your stomach and don't forget the table charge of a tiny little salad which you have to accept.

Tourist trap; over rated; over priced and a disgrace to the typical Japanese fantastic...