ROKA Jeddah Review: Remarkable robatayaki that lives up to its global reputation

This Japanese dining concept brings flavours and finesse to the table.

After successfully etching ROKA Riyadh onto the Kingdom’s culinary map, co-founder Rainer Becker – celebrated for igniting the robatayaki trend internationally – opened ROKA Jeddah in June 2023. The restaurant has quickly become a firm favourite in the Red Sea City.

Located in Cascade at Jeddah Walk, ROKA Jeddah sits in a prominent corner on the first floor. Noriyoshi Muramatsu, the founder of Studio Glitt has skillfully infused the restaurant’s décor with a fusion of modern Japanese design and a textured combination of wood, stone and metal, offering an alluring space with an industrial feel.

The restaurant houses a Japanese paper wall feature, concrete wall tiles with a wood-textured finish, a polished concrete floor, and a mill-scale entrance tunnel, blending texture and colour for a signature ROKA result. The furnishings are kept simple, highlighting the main stars of the show: the food and impeccable service.

Our meal began with the Iceberg Salad, beautifully presented in a long dish. The perfectly sliced iceberg leaves were topped with a tangy and sweet onion sauce that provided a satisfying crunch and a juicy, flavorful kick. Next up was the Seared Beef, which started with a delicious chewy bite and a citrusy blast, followed by a rich, meaty flavour. The Panko Prawns offered a twist on the classic tempura dish. Served piping hot, this dish offered a beguilling blend of crunchiness and softness, enhanced by a wasabi mayo sauce.

When it comes to sushi, I usually stick to California or Salmon Rolls, but I was pleasantly surprised by the Unagi Maki at ROKA Jeddah. This type of sushi, featuring eel, was a first for me. The spicy rolls packed with unagi and vegetables to complement it were a mouthful, making them a hit at the table. After the first roll, it was clear that this dish would not be shared with other guests on the table.

Next, we enjoyed the Beef Katsu Sando featuring tender beef with toasted bread. Set and cut into four pieces, this mixture of textures provided a great combination of crunch and the juiciness of the beef with a sweet and smoky BBQ sauce.

ROKA Jeddah is known for its acclaimed signature dishes from the flaming grill, and the Baby Chicken was nothing short of a revelation. The poultry, marinated to perfection, was incredibly spicy and tender topped with miso butter and yuzu, adding a creamy element that elevated the dish to greatness. The chicken was cooked on cedarwood, infusing it with a subtle smoky aroma that enhanced its overall flavour. Simialrly, the Chilean Seabass was another showstopper with its delicate truffle flavours. The seabass maintained its moist, flaky texture while absorbing the truffle’s richness.

Though verging on full, we tried the Raspberry Usugiri. This dessert featured an orange-almond cake with raspberry hints and milk chocolate. Topped with raspberry and lychee, and surrounded by rose and lime custard, we were glad of the superb suggestion. The moist cake, with its citrusy crunch and raspberry cream, was the perfect end to our meal.

The sister restaurant of Rainer Becker’s Zuma offers a memorable dining experience exuding personality, energy, and uncompromising flavours that live up to its global reputation. With quality cuisine like this, the arrival of the soon-to-open Zuma in Riyadh cannot come soon enough.

GO: Visit https://rokarestaurant.com for more information.