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With a passion for authentic Japanese cuisine, the duo behind Kloof Konbini, a Japanese convenience pop-up store that went viral, and How's Your Oni are opening a new destination in the Mother City.
Founded by Rebecca Aziz and Minchan Kim, How's Your Yaki (a slight clue in the name as to what the restaurant will be offering), will be located at their previous How's Your Oni location, in Gardens.
Speaking to Time Out, Rebecca summarises the core concept of the new restaurant, "To offer people a casual street food dining concept, where they can come after work and have a drink and some tasty Japanese snacks."
'Yaki', when directly translated from Japanese to English, refers to the cooking method of grilling or cooking over fire, a core element of the menu ethos at Hows Your Yaki.
- Kushiyaki: Various foods, including vegetables, seafood, and meat skewers grilled on the hibachi grill.
- Yakitori: chicken skewers grilled over an open flame.
- Takoyaki (widely considered one of the most popular and iconic Japanese street foods): A ball-shaped snack made with flour batter and stuffed with diced octopus, deep fried to golden perfection.
- Okonomiyaki: A savoury pancake, more akin to a fritter, filled with cabbage and topped with various sauces, including Japanese Kewpie mayonnaise and more.
Paying close attention to their regular diners' favourites, Rebecca shares that "the takoyaki and okonimiyaki were always fan favourites at Oni - so I’m sure those with the Kushiyaki will be the highlights!"
Menu prices will range from R40 to R75 for skewers and R100 to R200 for the other dishes.
Pairing perfectly with the menu, How's Your Yaki will offer a range of Japanese beers and the iconic Japanese cocktail, highballs.
Highballs are known for their crisp, refreshing aftertaste, made with Japanese whisky and highly carbonated soda water, served on ice for that 'satisfied sigh' after the first sip.
While there will be no signature offerings, the restaurant is maintaining its authenticity and sticking to the classics.
In somewhat of a twist of kismet, the restaurant plans to host a soft launch opening on the same date on which they first opened How's Your Oni in Gardens.
"We are planning to do a soft launch on Saturday, February 14, on Valentine's Day, as we opened How’s Your Oni at this same location three years ago on Valentine's Day!" shares Rebecca.
Sticking to the after-work dining theme, How's Your Yaki will only be open in the evenings.
Must know details:
Address: 7 Scott Street, Gardens.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 6pm to 10pm.