Warayakiya Akasaka

This is the kind of place that feels like it was designed by someone who thought, “What if dinner also felt like a campfire story?” The moment you walk in, you get hit with that signature plume of straw-smoke...not unpleasant, just enough to make you feel like you’ve joined a secret culinary tribe. Our night kicked off with an unexpected little moment: as the chef torched a slab of bonito with a wall of flame that would make a pyrotechnician nod approvingly, a couple at the next table actually applauded. Full claps. Like they’d just witnessed the 9th inning of a playoff game. The chef didn’t even flinch (clearly this happens all the time) but the whole room loosened up & suddenly the place felt like one big communal hangout. Food-wise, the dishes deliver. The seared bonito was smoky, tender & unapologetically bold...basically the restaurant’s mission statement on a plate. Other izakaya staples hit the mark too: comforting, flavorful, nothing trying too hard. Service was friendly & easygoing, though the pace was more “We’ll get there when we get there” than “Michelin drill team.” Honestly? Fit the vibe. Why 4 stars instead of 5? Because while the food and atmosphere are memorable, it’s the showmanship that steals the night = a great time, but not quite a “cancel-your-flight-home” level revelation. Still, if you're in Akasaka and want a laid-back evening of fire, flavor, and good-natured chaos, this place absolutely earns a spot on your list.

Great food and pricing. Freshly prepared food on straw grill . Bonito (fish) is their specialty and very filling dish. Good selections of Sake .

Food excellent, atmosphere also great, recommend the counter. Service was not so great - the servers didn’t seem to know what they were doing, chefs were unfriendly, toilets were very dirty for Japanese standards

the signature straw smoked bonito was huge and chunky with a distinct smoky flavor. recommended to pair with salt and wasabi, a pretty delightful bite. fish cake was also rather delicious but the fried seaweed was disappointing , tasted like fried batter. place gets packed reservations recommended. we waited 45 mins for our table when we arrived at 8pm.

Amazing experience. Best dining so far in Japan. Great both fish and meat. I would really reccomend to book in advance to secure a space in this iconic restaurant, across one of the locations.

Enjoyed the course meal which includes all you can drink for a limited amount of time. The food was quite good, especially the bonito was very delicious. But the time for all you can drink was shorter than the 2 hour limit. Service was generally good. The atmosphere was great.

Very memorable dinning experience at Warayaki specialized in the traditional straw grilling technique originating from Kochi! The food tasted exceptional, the flavors were exquisite and the atmosphere of the place is fantastic! The staff is attentive and very courteous! Sake was very good as well!

All the dishes taste great. The mackerel sushi was sold out, so I couldn't try it, but the other dishes were delicious enough. They do a great job with smoking their food. The atmosphere indoors is nice, and it is always bustling with people.

I have no clue how this place gets such high ratings - maybe the smoky bonito is solid, but everything else is just mediocre and overpriced. And they charge everybody a per person cover for $550 yen each. Went on a Saturday night and it was empty. I would stay away!

The restaurant is very upscale inside! Ordering is done br QR code, both in English and Japanese. Very convenient for foreigners. The service is good, the waitstaff is very attentive! As far as the food, was good but a bit overpriced I thought. Quality was good and the dishes were tasty. The wagyu beef, seared bonito, saba and unagi (pressed sushi) were delicious! The karaage, and the rest were good but nothing outstanding! Also was a ¥500 table charge per person which was BS! So giving this place 3.5 stars!

Seared bonito is a signature dish from Kochi prefecture in Shikoku island. Not sure how authentic it is, but this restaurant is all about Kochi and really put seared bonito in front. One of the "signature" features is a man burning the shit out of dried straw to sear bonitos with. It is somewhat fun to look at and is considered to be an attraction of this restaurant. Although it's just a fire, sometimes it flares up spectacularly. I was with a group of 5. To make bill splitting easier, we ordered a course menu with all you can drink for 2 hours for ¥5000.(reservation required) Except for one dish(chicken dish), all seafood and they were all delicious. Particularly, mackerel makis and, needless to say, seared bonitos. Servers were very prompt and attentive. They quite swift on both taking orders and delivering. Also kudos to kitchen staffs for that fast delivery. I think I want to come alone or a smaller group to enjoy a la carte menu. That seared bonito, I tell ya... I gotta have more....

Excellent spot in Roppongi recommended by a Japanese friend. They use straw to grill and it gives the did great flavor. One of my fave things that we had here was the Bonito which was grilled on straw. Yummo!!! Everything else we ordered was good bit the Bonito was out of this world!