INKO NITO - an unconventional Japanese robatayaki restaurant from ROKA and ZUMA founder, Rainer Becker - offers a menu of Korean-influenced robatayaki, sushi and snacks on Soho’s bustling Broadwick Street.
Drawing expertise from ROKA and ZUMA, and presenting it for a younger audience, INKO NITO is the playful younger sister to Becker’s more established concepts. It boasts a vibrant atmosphere - thanks to its curated soundtracks and dynamic open robata grill, theatrically situated in the restaurant’s centre - a buzzing neighbourhood feel, and a fun, creative take on robatayaki cuisine that sees Korean influences weaved into traditional Japanese dishes.
Approachable but unique and bold in flavour, food here is designed to share, with stand out dishes from the spring menu including the “INKO TACO” with salmon and yellowtail tartare, wasabi and sesame; Prawn toast with yuzu mayo and chilli and Fried pork dumpling with mushroom ponzu sauce on offer, and robata items including Korean spiced lamb skewer and pickled cucumber and Chicken tsukune with shichimi pepper cooked over the grill.
Also available are INKO NITO’s signature dishes: Yellowtail sashimi, Japanese leaves, grapefruit and citrus dressing; Japanese breadcrumb fried chicken with peanut, chilli garlic yoghurt; Korean fried cauliflower maki, chilli sauce, sesame; Bone marrow with smoked soy, garlic toast and shallots; Beef cheek and butter lettuce wraps, Korean miso and pickled daikon and Aubergine with garlic lemon miso and spring onions.
INKO NITO’s main menu sits alongside two new tasting menus - the ‘Premium Tasting Menu’ and ‘Tasting Menu’ (£59.50 / £49.50), which both comprise a selection of robata dishes, hot snacks, sushi, sashimi and dessert to finish. The set ‘Express Inko Menu’ (£27) is available Monday-Friday, for those in search of a quick, flavour-packed eat, while on Sundays a sharing-style brunch takes centre stage (£35), with the option to add free-flowing red, white and sparkling wine (£49.50).
As for drinks, the restaurants offers housemade cocktails, all served on tap, with favourites including the INKO Spritz (watermelon, Aperol, yuzu, sparkling wine); Palomita (Espolon tequila, lime, pink grapefruit, agave) and Ichigo Negroni (gin, plum sake, Merlet strawberry, Campari). Limited-edition seasonal specials are also on offer, as well as a selection of sakes, beers, wines and sparkling wines.
New for spring 2024 is INKO NITO’s Happy Hour, where selected cocktails can be enjoyed for £6, wine and beer for £4, and snacks for £7.
Los Angeles-based Studio Mai designed INKO NITO’s warm, laid-back interiors concept to pay homage to the convivial atmosphere of dining in a street market. Each table is positioned at an array of heights in an unconventional take on traditional Japanese seating, providing each guest with a unique view of the restaurant’s centrepiece, the robata.