How to enjoy the robata meal

Robata is a leisurely style of restaurant eating. It is slow fast-food for diners, whereas yakitori tends to be more of an impulsive snack with a few drinks - fast fast-food. The major difference between yakitori and the commercial fast-food we have encountered in the West for the last three decades, is that more preparation and thought would have gone in to the typical yakitori restaurant; it is very possible to find a good-quality yakitori joint which is affordable and tasty at the same time, both in Japan and in metropolitan cities across the globe. I tend to find that the focus in Japanese food is often on getting the maximum yield out of the ingredients, and not so much about provenance, in terms of animal welfare or fish sustainability. This is obviously a very general observation, and new concepts and restaurants are emerging in which themes around sustainability are taking centre stage, so do ask questions to help you find your favourite places.