Robatayaki is a traditional style of cooking popular in Hokkaido, especially in the port city of Kushiro. In a traditional robatayaki, food is grilled over a hearth in front of the guests and served on a long wooden paddle. Nowadays, the arrangement varies at each restaurant, but the basic principle is the same: choose your favorite seafood, meat, and vegetables and grill them fresh over hot charcoals to savor their natural flavors.
One popular robatayaki restaurant in Kushiro is Ganpeki Robata. Situated in a large open tent right next to the Kushiro Harbor, you get to grill the fresh seafood on your own. It’s a great place to experience the food culture of Hokkaido while mingling with the locals.
AloJapan.com