Mr Yakitori is a compact evening restaurant inside Distinction Rotorua Hotel, with a dining room organised around the sight and aroma of food meeting the grill. Guests can watch the chef flame-cook the skewers, making preparation part of the experience rather than something hidden behind a kitchen door. The restaurant opens nightly from 6pm and asks diners to book, a sensible arrangement for an intimate room suited to couples, families and small groups sharing several rounds from the grill.
Skewers are ordered in pairs, allowing the table to build a meal across contrasting ingredients. Chicken thigh, gingered chicken mince, pork loin, Scotch beef and lamb sit alongside less usual choices such as duck and venison. The seafood section moves through prawns, scallop with bacon, salmon and squid, while kumara, mushroom, spring onion and mixed vegetables give the grill a strong meat-free dimension. Gluten-free preparation is available for the skewers on request, widening the ways a mixed group can order.
A few well-chosen dishes give the skewers context. Raw cabbage follows yakitori-bar tradition as a fresh palate break, while miso soup, edamame and cucumber with miso garlic dip make natural openers. Grilled rice balls, steamed rice and fried rice can turn a succession of skewers into a more complete dinner. Three okonomiyaki options bring another texture entirely, with shrimp, pork and bacon, or sweetcorn folded into the Japanese savoury pancake format.
The drinks list is shaped for the food rather than treated as an afterthought. Several sakes can be served hot or cold, joined by Asahi, Sapporo and Kirin beer and Japanese gin, vodka and whisky. For dessert, diners can keep the Japanese thread with green tea ice cream, mochi or vanilla ice cream finished with plum wine. That progression from small starters to grilled pairs, rice or pancake and a measured final course rewards a leisurely, shared approach to dinner.
Address: Distinction Rotorua Hotel, 390 Fenton Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
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