Yakinau
This Japanese izakaya has DIY barbecues on every table, plus a stacked a la carte menu.
Overview
These days, you'll find yakitori all over the city. But skewers aren't the only thing Japanese people cook over coals. There's a huge branch of the cuisine, yakiniku, that covers barbecued eats, and the new Yakinau is here to show us exactly what that can look like.
Chef Hugo Mai (ex-Nobu) is overseeing the food concept here, which is casual, fun and heavy on the DIY barbecuing. Like your usual KBBQ joints, every table has its own gas-powered grill where you'll cook up whatever cuts of wagyu — including a selection of M9-grade cuts from Victorian producer Blackmore — you desire.
You can also supplement your wagyu with a selection of flame-kissed eats from the main kitchen — the a la carte menu includes eight different types of yakitori, as well as share plates like a tomahawk pork chop katsu, carbonara somen, and a spicy wagyu fried rice.
Classic izakaya bar snacks also feature for those wanting to spend the night grazing while sipping on sake and knocking back beers. You've got chicken karaage, wagyu tartare, donburi bowls, deep-fried garlic wings and soft-shell crab tempura, just to name a few.
Pair all this with Japanese whiskies, sake beer and cocktails to get the full izakaya experience.
There's a lot going on at Yakinau, giving you the chance to choose your own delicious adventure.
Images by Long Boy Media and Pablo Diaz.
Information
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