As soon as you step into Kenjiro, you’re transported from a leafy side street in South Jakarta to cherry blossom-filled Japan. The decor isn’t just a gimmick, though – the food at this yakiniku restaurant is authentic, with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients.
The vibe: Think Edo-era elegance, with plenty of wood, sunlight, and stone. It’s a social kind of place: on weekdays, expect corporate workers lunching with colleagues, while weekends are full of families and friends.
The food: As Kenjiro is primarily a grill house, you can look forward to an excellent choice of A5 Wagyu, including omi hime, shodoshima olive, and iwate, all of which you can grill at the table. The rest of the menu is packed with all kinds of accompanying dishes, from sushi and sashimi to rice and noodles. There are sharing dishes too, so you order a little bit of everything.
The drinks: Something for everyone, with non-alcoholic beverages as well as artisanal cocktails, sake, and high-quality Japanese whisky.
Time Out tip: If you’re looking for a date idea in the city, Kenjiro hosts sushi-making classes (book in advance).