ROKA Jeddah opens its doors today

ROKA Jeddah will be rooted in innovative robatayaki cuisine.

After ROKA Dubai quickly garnered attention as the first outpost outside London, it was only a matter of time until Rainer Becker’s award-winning concept landed in Saudi Arabia, with ROKA Riyadh introducing the Kingdom to the brand.

Now, Jeddah is set to host its very own outpost. Opening its doors on Tuesday, 13 June, the new restaurant will be rooted in its contemporary Robatayaki concept, like its predecessors.

Azumi Limited, the global restaurant group behind the acclaimed Zuma and ROKA brands, is behind the launch in Jeddah. The restaurant is located in the Cascade retail and entertainment complex, at Al Khalidiyyah within Jeddah Walk.

After successfully etching ROKA Riyadh onto the culinary map, co-founder Rainer Becker – celebrated for igniting the robatayaki trend internationally – envisions ROKA Jeddah as a gastronomic milestone in the Middle East.

“We are thrilled to launch ROKA in the dynamic city of Jeddah, an essential step in our continued expansion in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East,” he says. “Jeddah’s food and beverage scene is a melting pot of cultural influences, a perfect fit for our unique blend of traditional Japanese cooking techniques, and innovative menu. We are confident that ROKA Jeddah will become a cherished destination for discerning food lovers.”

Noriyoshi Muramatsu, the founder of Studio Glitt and an accomplished interior designer, has skillfully infused the new restaurant’s décor with a fusion of modern Japanese design and a textured combination of wood, stone and metal, offering a vast and alluring space with an industrial feel.

The robata, a feature synonymous with ROKA, is adorned with live-edge wooden counters and a mill-scale iron extraction hood. The bar features an iron bar counter with suspended shelving, creating a compelling visual play.

The restaurant houses a Japanese paper wall feature, casted concrete wall tiles with a wood texture finish, a polished concrete floor, and a mill-scale entrance tunnel, blending texture and colour for a signature ROKA result. A wooden louvre grid ceiling and a covered terrace with air-conditioning enhance the ambience. In winter, the terrace will transform into a more al fresco dining experience, offering versatility throughout the year and guests the opportunity to savour ROKA’s legendary menu under the stars.

ROKA Jeddah is primed to entice food enthusiasts with its acclaimed signature dishes from the flaming grill such as kankoku fu kohitsuji (lamb cutlets with Korean spices and sesame cucumber), the bekupoteto (baked potato with yuzu cream and chives), and the sake no taru taru (salmon tartare with den miso and yuzu).

A selection of culinary creations that have been exclusively created for the Jeddah hotspot includes the Chicken sando, with gochujang sauce offering a burst of umami flavour. Elsewhere, the fried Soft-shell crab with chilli shiso sauce promises a sensory overload, with the vibrant tang of yuzu and a playful hint of shichimi spice. The Truffle yakisoba noodles and the Spicy tuna tempura roll with chilli sesame mayonnaise, meanwhile, will bring a touch of heat to the table. The Milk chocolate lotus with banana ice cream and kokuto crumble will complete a night out at ROKA Jeddah on a sweet note, with an orchestra of textures and flavours.

GO: Call +966 9200 17652 for reservations and more information.