SHIKAKU, a restaurant in Tokyo for teppan-grilled dishes and Japanese cuisine.
When I said I wanted teppanyaki, she told me we should have it somewhere that did it properly. This was the place she took me to.
At a good counter restaurant, the meal begins before the food arrives. Preparing ingredients, working with the heat, and putting the finishing touches on a plate all become part of the scene in front of you.
SHIKAKU, on the fourth floor of The Aoyama Grand Hotel in Tokyo, captures that appeal of counter-style Japanese dining. From seasonal à la carte dishes to meat cooked on the teppan and donabe rice prepared after you order, it offers several ways to enjoy Japanese cooking.
The donabe rice is particularly worth noticing. Because it is cooked to order, it invites you to enjoy the earlier dishes and conversation while waiting for the meal’s final course, rather than rushing through dinner. Pairing the food with sake from different parts of Japan is another way to explore the menu.
This is a place to remember when you want an unhurried evening after exploring Omotesando and Aoyama. If you are interested in the making of a dish as well as the finished food, consider a seat at the counter.
Price impression: A splurge.
