There’s a place in Roppongi, Tokyo, where you can savor the special dishes of Kōchi Prefecture, presented right before your eyes in a kitchen brimming with life and excitement. This is “Warayakiya Roppongi” (hereafter referred to as “Warayakiya”), a unique restaurant boasting 16 branches, primarily within the Tokyo Metropolitan area.
“名物 鰹のわらやき塩たたき,” Lightly grilled bonito 1,749 JPY (tax included)
The dramatic warayaki is a feast for the eyes
Kochi Prefecture, situated in Japan’s Shikoku region, is known for its delicious cuisine made from the abundant natural resources available. One of the most famous representatives of the region is the warayaki method of cooking, particularly for bonito tataki (a style in which meat is lightly seared on the outside and raw inside). Warayaki is a visually impressive technique where food is grilled over a straw fire, giving it a unique smoky flavor.
The restaurant’s respect for Kochi Prefecture’s culinary traditions comes through in their “Lightly grilled bonito.” This dish involves salting big cuts of bonito and then grilling them swiftly in a specialized cooking area until they’re just right.
The lively spectacle of flames leaping up in front of the counter seats and the sounds of crackling straw will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Kochi Prefecture without ever leaving Tokyo.
Bonito tataki, prepared just like in Kochi Prefecture!
The cross-sections of thickly sliced bonito reveal both tightly packed flesh and rich fat content.
The flavor of the fish is made even more delightful thanks to the accompanying condiments. Warayakiya’s straw-grilled bonito comes with salt, wasabi, slices of garlic, green onions, and myōga (Japanese ginger).
(From front to back) Wasabi, garlic slices, green onions, myōga
In Kochi Prefecture, eating this dish with salt is the norm. The coarsely ground salt enhances the umami of the bonito’s fat. Adding slices of garlic is also a recommended twist. The sharp taste of the garlic provides a different flavor experience altogether.
Don’t forget to order some Japanese sake to go with it. Kochi Prefecture is known for its selection of local sakes, which you can enjoy at Warayakiya as well.
Not just fish: Enjoy juicy thick warayaki grilled chicken with a unique flavor twist
If bonito is the star of the sea in Kochi, then local brand Hachikin chicken represents the prefecture’s best of the land. At Warayakiya, they use a whole thigh of the prized poultry to create a delectable dish with a unique taste. Seasoned with moromi miso and soy sauce, and enriched by the sweetness of koji (malted rice), their “Chicken Thigh, Garlic Soy sauce” has a subtle sweetness that complements the meat’s umami-rich fat, harmonizing perfectly in every bite. Moromi miso, a less refined form of miso with bits of koji-fermented grains, adds a complex layer of flavor.
“はちきん地鶏もも肉～にんにく醤油～,” Chicken Thigh, Garlic Soy sauce 1,749 JPY (tax included)
Warayakiya also prepares the chicken warayaki style, smoking the seasoned meat over burning straw to infuse it with aroma. Following this, the chicken is slowly cooked in the oven to perfection, ensuring the delightful firmness characteristic of Hachikin chicken is preserved.
Unique menu items not often seen in Tokyo!
A unique feature of Warayakiya’s menu is that it features local specialties from Kochi Prefecture, such as the aforementioned “Chicken Thigh, Garlic Soy sauce.”
However, another local specialty not often served in the Tokyo area is “Nira Yakisoba” a fried noodle dish (yakisoba) with generous amounts of nira (garlic chives). In fact, according to the restaurant, it’s featured so prominently that you can even say that “nira is the star” of the dish!
“ニラ塩焼きそば,” Nira Yakisoba 869 JPY (tax included)
To preserve the texture of this aromatic vegetable, Warayakiya takes care not to overcook it during frying. Moreover, they subtly season it with a special salt tare sauce so as not to distract from the nira’s flavor. This imparts the noodles with a light aftertaste, making it an ideal dish to round off a meal with!
The “Tosa-style Hodgepodge Stew ‘Oden’ Assortment” includes an ingredient called sumaki. A type of fishcake popular in Kochi as a snack or a side dish, it is rarely seen outside of its native prefecture.
For the entire Umami bites editorial team, tasting sumaki was a novel experience. To our surprise, it turned out to be an excellent addition to oden stew, perfectly soaking up the gentle sweetness of the bonito broth and delivering a flavorful burst with every bite.
We also had the chance to explore the Kochi tradition of dipping oden ingredients in sumiso—a mix of miso and vinegar. This was new to us, and the sauce’s slight tanginess wonderfully brought out the broth’s sweetness, resulting in a truly outstanding combination. It was so delightful, in fact, that we’re convinced sumiso-dipped oden deserves fame far beyond the borders of Kochi Prefecture!
“土佐おでん盛合せ,” Tosa-style Hodgepodge Stew ‘Oden’ Assortment 979 JPY (tax included)
Warayakiya offers a fresh surprise with its unique Kochi cuisine, dramatic warayaki, and interior decor, providing a new experience for visitors.
Why not partake in a unique sample of Japanese culinary culture at Warayakiya Roppongi, located in one of Tokyo’s most vibrant neighborhoods?
Exterior of Warayakiya Roppongi
Information
| Store name | わらやき屋 六本木 Warayakiya Roppongi |
|---|---|
| Address | Gordy Building 1F, 6-8-8 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access |
Roppongi Station 3-minute walk from Roppongi Station Exit 3
|
| Phone number | 03-5410-5560 |
| Reservations | Accepted Phone, Tabelog, GURUNAVI, TableCheck, Retty |
| Payment |
|
| Service charge/Table charge | Service charge (including otōshi) 550 JPY (tax included) |
| Hours | Mon-Fri. 17:00-23:00（last order 22:00） Sat-Sun. & nat’l holidays 16:00-23:00（last order 22:00） |
| Closed | No fixed holidays Unscheduled holidays |
| Seating | 65 seats 14 counter seats, 40 table seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking A smoking room is available |
| Official website | https://www.dd-holdings.jp/brands/warayakiya/ |
| Other information |
|
※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of February 2024.
