Robata Yaki

Robata yaki is a way of cooking, usually grilling your food over coal. I've had this amazing experience of robata yaki when I visited Hokkaido. The region that's famous for this style cooking is no other than Kushiro in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido. They usually grill seafood and vegetables over it. Of course the menu item changes depending of which restaurant you go to but overall they serve seafood because Hokkaido is mostly known for delicious and fresh seafood. I ordered a Scallop, chan chan yaki, fish with roe and oysters. Aside from the oysters where they grill it before hand for you, you can grill nearly everything written on the menu on the grill in front of you. I know some people dislike grilling their own food and would ask why would I pay to make my own food? Well this is all about experience of being able to do it in a place and culture which have done it throughout history. This type of cuisine is not just for tourist but also speaks history of they way these people in this region of Hokkaido lived. To understand more about others we have to put ourselves in their position and see through their perspective. This is what amazes me about local cuisine, it tells you a story about not just the food but people and culture. If you are in for an excitement and wouldn't mind this amazing experiencing grilling your own food over coal then this is a type of cuisine you would have to try.

The grill.

How you grill.

Already grilled oysters.

Salmon chanchan yaki grilled robatayaki style.