Everyone enjoys visiting barbecue restaurants nowadays. The thrill of grilling meat, seafood, and vegetables not only spells a gastronomic feast but is also a fun way to catch up with fellow foodies, even if they have to endure long lines or share funny stories while carefully watching their food.
Kenji owner Justin Patrick Velasco has long been aware of the demand for quality Japanese barbecue restaurants. Having successfully run Yokohama Meat Kitchen for several years, he felt it was time for a more upbeat yakiniku establishment.
“Yokohama focused mainly on Japanese food; Kenji includes international cuisine. Aside from Japanese favorites, we also serve king crab, foie gras, and many others,” the owner shared.
The menu features top-quality wagyu beef, carefully selected by the owner. Available in various cuts, diners can enjoy the meat’s premium tenderness and perfect marbling, resulting in an exceptional texture and flavor.
Imagine the pleasure of grilling your chateaubriand, roast beef, sirloin, or kaburi—or better yet, order the wagyu moriawase, a combination of karubi, rosu, and sirloin. If you’re not confident in your grilling skills, the restaurant staff will be more than willing to help.
Diners can try jo karubi (beef short rib), jidori no sumiyaki (made from free-range chicken), or Iberico options like rosu (pork loin) and hohoniku (pork cheek), which are also available in a moriawase set. A favorite is Kenji’s jikasei vienna sausage and spicy cheese wiener, a perfect starter or an interesting side dish.
Justin topped the food selection with a unique dining experience. Kenji has a small Japanese bar where guests can enjoy drinks before their meal. The yakiniku treats can be prepared on tabletop smokeless grills in the main dining hall or in Kenji’s private rooms. The owner knows that yakiniku is best enjoyed with fun conversations as diners wait for their meat to cook.
Aside from the meat, the restaurant also serves salad, sushi, sashimi, and gyoza, along with fun desserts like banana sushi and jikasei dark chocolate cake. The latter is specially made for those who prefer unsweetened chocolate, according to the owner. The dessert moriawase combines cake, banana sushi, gelato, and mixed fruits.
While barbecue restaurants are a popular choice, at Kenji, diners can expect a more enhanced experience. They can savor quality A5 wagyu beef and prepare their meals on a smokeless grill in their own private corner. Guests wishing to dine in VIP rooms are requested to book in advance. Kenji is located on Jupiter St. in Makati.
