If you missed out on Noma’s pop-up in Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo back in 2015, you’ll be glad to know that one of the chefs, Thomas Frebel, will be opening his own restaurant in the neighbourhood of Iidabashi come June. Frebel worked in Noma, one of the world’s most prolific restaurants, for ten years; he was the man behind research and development. This new restaurant in Tokyo, called Inua, is backed by Noma head chef and co-owner Rene Redzepi as well as Japan’s Kadokawa Corporation.
Inua’s food philosophy will be similar to the modern Nordic approach spearheaded by Noma, and you can look forward to a menu informed by the indigenous ingredients and flavours of Japan, but executed with techniques and influences from around the world. The food here will reflect Japan’s seasonality and diversity in landscapes, from the cooler climate of Hokkaido in the north to the subtropical conditions of Okinawa in the south.
To prepare for this restaurant, Frebel and his team has travelled throughout Japan to discover new ingredients, develop their knowledge on local culture, and build relationships with producers and suppliers.
Inua will present a complete Japanese-Nordic dining experience, as the interior of the 60-seat restaurant will combine Danish designs with Japanese craftsmanship. We think this is a perfect match since there is much similarity between Danish and Japanese aesthetics, in particular their appreciation for detail, simplicity, functional design and quality craftsmanship.
Inua will open on June 29, but the restaurant has started accepting reservations. The dinner tasting menu is priced at ¥29,000. Wine pairing is available from ¥16,000 while non-alcoholic pairing is priced at ¥10,000.
For more information, check Inua’s website.