Inside, a small stage will play host to weekly performances ranging from the musical to straight-up magical. The schedule is currently Wednesdays through to Saturdays from 7.00pm. If nothing's on, Korean and Japanese pop music blare out from big screens like football season at mamaks.
A small stage will provide the entertainment while you're grilling your meats
Other than live performances to look forward to, their main attraction is their BBQ buffet with free-flow meat. You can choose from beef, pork, and chicken, all of which we loved. The beef was thinly sliced, seasoned with a drizzle of oil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds and spring onions.
Help yourself to a buffet bar with anything from chawanmushi and edamame to fried rice and spaghetti
It cooked through quite quickly and if you're not careful, it can stick to the grill. Since it was a DIY BBQ, we let the strips of beef sit on the BBQ for a little longer so that it started to caramelise around the edge for a sweet and smoky flavour.
Get a nice char around the edges for a little bit of crispiness
Their pork belly and bacon were absolutely delicious. The former was marinated in a tangy, creamy sauce with equal proportions of melt-in-your-mouth fat and chewy meat - juicy, savoury heaven!
The same went for the bacon; cut into short pieces, we grilled it to a delightful crisp. It wasn't seasoned so each bite was just 100% porky goodness.
It's bacon, need we say more?
We love hearing the sizzle of the meat hitting the grill
Rocku Yakiniku has three special sauces to accompany the BBQ: ponzu (citrus-based sauce), spicy miso, and chilli. My personal favourite combination was to dip the beef or pork into the ponzu first for a tangy flavour before the spicy miso which added a creaminess to the meat.
The chilli sauce has a thick, sticky consistency with a hint of sweetness
Our favourite from the seafood department was their butter fish. Smooth and juicy, you get to decide how raw or cooked you want it. It'll melt in your mouth either way.
The mussels, scallops, and squid were a little underwhelming perhaps due to our own ineffectual grilling as we couldn't tell whether we had cooked them properly. The clams turned out a little briny while the sotong (squid) was chewy and tasteless.
Lovers of fish roe, shishamo is on the menu too!
For those who love their drink, Rocku Yakiniku serves Heineken and Kirin beers and Gekkeikan sake, one of the world's oldest sake manufacturers. Patrons can expect a range of whiskey in months to come.
At RM32.90++ for 100 minutes during lunch (11.00am to 5.00pm) and RM49.90++ for 100 minutes at dinnertime (5.00pm to 10.00pm), the buffet is also incredibly affordable. The tables are also elevated to fit an exhaust system that sucks air downwards so you can rest assured you won't end up smelling like the BBQ grill when you leave.
Balance all that protein with a little fibre with fresh and crunch vegetables from the buffet barDetailed schedules of live performances will be put up on their Facebook and shop front so you can choose from live music, game shows, or magic shows to tailor your dining experience to your fancy. Reasonably-priced for excellent food and a hip vibe, Rocku Yakiniku looks set to be the coolest new hangout spot in Pavilion.
Hungrygowhere.com
