Robatayaki

Robatayaki or robata is a traditional cooking technique originating from Hokkaido. Literally translated, it means fireside cooking. The authentic robata features skewered meat, vegetables, and seafood that are cooked over hot charcoal. Popular vegetables include onions, peppers, and mushrooms, while popular meat includes chicken, beef, and pork. Popular seafood includes whole fish and oysters. Robatayaki has a wide and flat fireplace in the irori-style (irori is a sunken hearth). It's placed in the center, and the patrons sit around the grill. Usually, small dishes are ordered continuously, and in a robatayaki restaurant, the lively atmosphere and presentation of the dishes are as important as the quality of the food.