Kuwait’s hospitality scene needs no introduction. Long renowned for its flourishing gastronomic landscape, diners in Kuwait enjoy a sophisticated palate for elevated flavors and a dazzling atmosphere to match. Name the cuisine, and we can list at least several phenomenal restaurants to match your craving. When it comes to contemporary Japanese dining, however, we believe that ROKA is carving for itself a unique, inimitable space amongst Kuwait’s premiere dining destinations.
ROKA has been gaining quite a loyal following since opening its doors to local diners last fall and for a good reason, as the menu at ROKA is peppered with cult classics like from the flaming grill including kankoku fu kohitsuji (lamb cutlets with Korean spices and sesame cucumber) and the famous bekupoteto (baked potato with yuzu cream and chives) yet is constantly refreshed with specials such as the sublime King Crab salad with sweetcorn, and chilli lemon dressing. Pair these incredible flavor profiles with a transformative ambiance, and you’ve got yourself a destination worth visiting with friends and loved ones, time and time again.
Following its successful chain of openings in the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait arrived as a natural next step for ROKA founders Chef Rainer Becker and his business partner Arjun Waney. True to its name, ROKA Kuwait offers an intimate experience for guests to socialize and share exceptional food and drinks (Ro) while heat, warmth, and energy emanate throughout the space, as successfully achieved by the restaurant’s unique Robatayaki experience (Ka).
Visiting ROKA in Kuwait is a transcendent experience, in and of itself. Located in the country’s glorious Waldorf Astoria, and enjoying a direct connection to Kuwait’s The Avenues shopping locale, the restaurant is marked by its own private entrance with a captivating floral lobby downstairs that has amassed its own social media fanbase. And while we appreciated the incredibly beautiful floral entrance, the moment of arrival inside the restaurant delivered an unforgettable, cocooning warmth, thanks to the energetic welcome from the expert chefs performing their craft at the Robata Grill.
Considered the heart and soul of ROKA, you can settle in around the Robata and witness the culinary theater unfold before your eyes. Paying homage to the traditional Japanese cooking method inspired by fishermen cooking fish over charcoal on the boats of the Northern coastal waters of Japan and sharing the days catch with their fellows, you can gather around and share in the experience with your loved ones, or let your eyes dance toward the stunning sushi counter, along with an open concept dessert counter; both adding to the one-of-a-kind experience that is exclusive to ROKA Kuwait.
We absolutely loved the restaurant’s chic, edgy interiors. Designed by Noriyoshi Muramatsu, ROKA is dominated by a modern Industrial feel, with high, exposed ceilings and earthy concrete brick wall finishes. These raw design elements are juxtaposed by a sleekness experienced in the modern floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing Kuwat’s vibrant skyline, the semi-private and private dining enclaves, and the nature-inspired allure of the lush wall of greenery.
Choosing where to be seated was a privilege for us, as ROKA is usually booked up in advance, and while so many diners opted to enjoy the city views, we wanted to experience the beating heart of the restaurant, the Robata Grill, and sat at the smooth teak wood tables with our chairs directly watching the experts firing up the Robata and plating immaculate dishes.
We began our foray with a taste of ROKA’s refreshing mocktails, a stimulating Ginger Ninja drink that has all the makings of an Asian-inspired Mojito with a twist, as well as the fragrant White Lotus. A sweet scintillation of dragon fruit, lychee, and strawberry, all rounded up beautifully with the citrus kick of yuzu.
Before we dove deep into ROKA’s delectable robata creations, we had to try their signature sushi and sashimi selections. We adored the fresh flavors presented in the mixed sashimi platter, and this is where we appreciated ROKA’s approach. Less is more. With a focus on quality ingredients and balancing the flavors of each plate created, we loved how the Yellowtail sashimi with yuzu-truffle dressing offered a hit of the sea, elevated by the punch of the yuzu, truffle medley. We also sampled the dainamaito maki from ROKA’s specials, an ode to Kuwait’s love for spicy chili shrimp tempura. This maki jumpstarted our tastebuds, a warm prelude to ROKA’s grilled specialties, which we couldn’t wait to dive into.
From the Robata’s flaming coals came the sea bream fleet with ryotei miso and red onion. Every element of this dish served its purpose, as the red onion beautifully offset the richness of the fish. Alongside the sea bream fillet, we were lucky to try the perfectly grilled beef fillet with chill, ginger, and spring onion and the iconic ROKA baked potato with yuzu cream, bekupoteto.
Dessert was a showstopping experience, as we were dazzled by the ROKA dessert platter. An artful display of the chef’s selection of ROKA’s must-have desserts served with fresh exotic fruits, gorgeous tropical sorbets, and of course, the iconic dark chocolate and green tea pudding with crunchy jivara and pear ice cream. Also making a lasting impression on our taste buds is ROKA’s latest creation, the pecan alaska, a warm tree cake with pecan ice cream, the softest, chewiest meringue, butterscotch miso sauce, and fresh banana. A strange, unexpected symphony of flavors, reminded us of a classic banana pudding yet reinvented, and the soft sponge cake encasing the rich ice cream is actually prepared in ROKA’s fiery clay oven. It was a sight to observe this incredibly unique dessert come to life!
Here to solidify its place amongst Kuwait’s roster of faultless dining destinations, we appreciated how ROKA is on a constant journey to elevate the pleasure of robatayaki cuisine with creativity at the heart of its operation. Whether you choose to indulge in their immaculate presentation of sushi and sashimi creations or standout dishes from the robata grill and decadent desserts, ROKA will surely impress.
ROKA is located at Waldorf Astoria Kuwait with valet parking available on-site for easy access. For reservations, please call + 965 2477 4410, visit rokarestaurant.com and follow @RokaKuwaitOfficial on Instagram for their latest updates.
