Rupert Parker Cooks His Own Dinner At High Yaki Japanese BBQ Restaurant.
These days London’s Chinatown, just north of Leicester Square isn’t just for eating Chinese but offers food from all over Asia. One of the latest on the scene is High Yaki, in a location off Little Newport Street, which was once a Chinese supermarket.
Set across two floors with a mezzanine level for private dining, the first thing you see is the opulent curved bar wall displaying traditional a Japanese liquors. Décor is modern with Japanese touches, Think glossy sleek black marble and glass with tabletop grilling stations arranged alongside the bar.
It’s a big place, with 150 covers, and we choose to sit at a shared table, away from the bar, on cushions, Japanese style. The waitress thrusts an iPad into our hands and we guess that’s how we place our order, Now I’ve travelled extensively in Japan, but even for me the choice is a little too much.
The menu has a selection of meats for grilling including beef cuts like wagyu, short rib, and tongue. There are Japanese raw options of sashimi and sushi plus small plates like gyoza, tempura, soft shell crab and edamame. Now we’re not exactly sure whether cold or hot dishes come first and how to order. The concept is slightly unclear so we ask the waitress to suggest her favourites.
She clicks her choices on the iPad, then turns on the table top grill, and we wait and see. First up is Fresh Pepper Beef Ribs (100g £8), thin strips of meat with a small bone. Tongs and scissors are provided and we start to barbeque. As the meat sizzles, a platter of lettuce with slices of garlic, pepper and dipping sauce also arrives.
Fortunately there’s a party of Japanese to our left who seem to know what they’re doing. We watch as they take their meat, stick it in the lettuce with garlic and pepper, plunge the wrap into the sauce, then take a bite. Our meat is ready, so we snip off the bone then do the same as our neighbours. It’s a good combination and we feel more comfortable, now we know what we’re doing.
There’s more BBQ beef to come including Short Ribs with Spicy Marinade (100g £8.50) and Marinated Beef Short Ribs (100g £7.50). Flavours are slightly different but the meat is still unmistakably high quality. I like that the DIY cooking allows you the option to choose whether it’s rare or well done, always an issue with my partner.
So to the Sushi which has just appeared. There’s eight pieces of Soft Shell Crab Mango Roll (£18.80) and the same quantity of Sea Bass with Black Truffle Roll (£19.80). Now these combinations hint more of Japanese fusion but are none the worse for that. In fact they’re very good indeed.
Just when we think we can breathe more easily, two rice dishes arrive. There’s Korean Kimchi and Pork Belly Bibimbap (£16.50) and Japanese Teppanyaki Black Pepper Short Ribs Rice (£18.80). They’re large portions and tasty, as they are, we are now struggling and have to admit defeat.
High Yaki is a good introduction to Japanese BBQ and the food is authentic. It’s a culinary adventure, made for people who enjoy the interactive aspect of cooking at the table. However, as a well-travelled eater, I do feel that a little more explanation of the concept would be useful, even a video on the iPad to show you how to do it. But perhaps the fun of venturing into the unknown is all part of the experience.
Tell Me More About High Yaki BBQ
High Yaki 10 Newport Pl, London WC2H 7PR, UK
Opening Hours Monday to Sunday: 12pm – 11pm
