Aburiya Hachisuke

There’s nothing quite like barbequing food over glowing charcoal. A relatively young robatayaki (lit. “fireside-cooking”) restaurant in Nakamachi, Hachisuke’s [炙り屋 はちすけ] warm atmosphere makes cooking your own food over a charcoal hotpot both fun and delicious. Whether you sit at the long wooden bar or one of the tables facing the open-air balcony, friendly owner Ryo Fukagawa makes the place feel cozy and welcoming. His expert recommendations are always the way to go, as he spends his days off touring the region’s sake breweries and finding the best local ingredients available from season to season, and he will happily cater to your palate. Unfortunately, there is no English menu available, but Ryo is always happy to practice his English by walking you through the options or he can simply put together a nice variety platter for you to enjoy. Our recent favorites were grilled avocado with wasabi soy sauce dip, sake-spritzed mushroom caps, and smoky dried flounder paired with smooth, Hiroshima-made sake. After dinner, pop over next door to Ryo’s other establishment Hachiro’s, a well-decorated, speakeasy-style joint serving classy drinks and Cuban cigars which may similar to the ones on the Smoking Hub. The vibe of the place is quite swanky, and alongside the bar offering some of the best Western liquors that can be difficult to find, we love the commissioned pieces from local artists that jazz up the place. Opening hours: 17:00-24:00 Monday-Saturday Closed: Sunday Address: 2FL 5-15 Nakamachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi Address in Japanese: 広島市中区中町5-15 2FL Tel: 82-246-2584 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aburiyahachisuke/ Located across from Hiroshima TV Headquarters behind the ANA & Mitsui Garden hotels. Head up the curving tile staircase then turn left. Hachisuke is on the left, while Hachiro’s is on the right.