Food

Roka Akor

Iris

My food fam and I were treated to an amazing dinner last week at Roka Akor Houston.

 

Our happy food family.

 

Check out the menu:

Grub Club HTX x Roka Akor tasting
Grub Club HTX x Roka Akor tasting

 

The dinner setting was in the room towards the back of the restaurant.

 

Bright, beautiful, and colorful room setting for our tasting
Bright, beautiful, and colorful room setting for our tasting

 

They were really thoughtful in setting up the tasting. Usually when we are at a food tasting, each dish is brought out individually, we take turns shooting photos of the dish (which usually takes up to 10 minutes per dish), then we eat the now room temperature/cold dish. It’s very rare that we get to eat hot, freshly prepared food because of the time it takes to photograph it. Roka Akor stepped it up and brought out all the dishes for us to photograph first, and then brought out the same dishes for us to eat later. The concept was so simple, yet so amazing and extremely thoughtful. Thank you, Roka Akor, for your generosity and attentiveness!

Forgive me if I mislabel any of the dishes; there were so many that it was quite overwhelming (in a very good way!), and I forgot a few of the details.

Now on to the food!

First up, Beef Tataki with Shaved Black Truffle, picked daikon, and truffle jus:

A bite of mouthwatering deliciousness full of truffle flavor.
A bite of mouthwatering deliciousness full of truffle flavor.

 

Toro Tartare with Ossetra Caviar, Quail Egg and Taro Chips:

Loved the contrast of the taro chip crunch with the soft toro tartare and the gooeyness of the quail egg yolk.
Loved the contrast of the taro chip crunch with the soft toro tartare and the gooeyness of the quail egg yolk.

 

Smashing that quail egg.

 

Scallop. Enough said (but also this was perfectly seared and the little bit of toppings brought out so much flavor).
Scallop. Enough said (but also this was perfectly seared and the little bit of toppings brought out so much flavor).

 

Wagyu Beef and Lobster and Shrimp Dumplings

The best ingredients I've ever had in a dumpling.
The best ingredients I’ve ever had in a dumpling.

 

Seven kinds of Nigiri

Roka Akor Nigiri Chef Selection included pieces like hamachi, kanpachi and madai.
Roka Akor Nigiri Chef Selection included pieces like hamachi, kanpachi and madai.

 

Sashimi Chef Selection included pieces of madai, Kingusa-Mon, and Mebachi Maguro
Sashimi Chef Selection included pieces of madai, Kingusa-Mon, and Mebachi Maguro

 

So beautiful
So beautiful

 

Seared salmon and unagi maki
Seared salmon and unagi maki

 

Close up of the seared salmon
Close up of the seared salmon and unagi tempura

 

Robata Grilled Alaskan King Crab with Chili Lime Butter

This was my favorite dish of the night. Perfectly cooked crab full of umami. I could drink the chili lime butter.
This was my favorite dish of the night. Perfectly cooked crab full of umami. I could drink the chili lime butter.

 

Snake River Farm Wagyu flat iron with maitake mushroom and sukiyaki egg yolk
Snake River Farm Wagyu flat iron with maitake mushroom and sukiyaki egg yolk

 

Snake River Farm Filet with Chili Ginger
Snake River Farm Filet with Chili Ginger

 

Snake River Farm Wagyu Sirloin with Grilled Bone Marrow and Spicy Garlic Soy
Snake River Farm Wagyu Sirloin with Grilled Bone Marrow and Spicy Garlic Soy

 

More meat.
More meat.

 

Japanese Mushroom Rice Hot Pot with Shaved Black Truffle.

 

Japanese Grade A5/10+ Wagyu Beef from Miyazaki Prefecture
Japanese Grade A5/10+ Wagyu Beef from Miyazaki Prefecture. We ate this with choice of three different types of dipping salt: Himalayan rock salt, chili salt, and hibiscus salt.

 

The aroma coming off the beef was hypnotizing.

 

Roka Akor is among a very select group of restaurants in Texas to offer certified Japanese wagyu. Check out that gold trophy!
Roka Akor is among a very select group of restaurants in Texas to offer certified Japanese wagyu. Check out that gold trophy!

 

I forgot to take a photo of the Sweet Corn with Soy Garlic Butter. It was a very simple, not too photograph-able side dish, but damn it was good and I want more.

The dessert platter they brought out was phenomenal. I was so full from the tasting, but I always have a second stomach for dessert!

Dessert Platter –Chef's Selection
Dessert Platter –Chef’s Selection

 

House-Made Sorbet and Ice Cream and Warm Valhrona Chocolate Cake with Almond Caramel and Vanilla Ice Cream.
House-Made Sorbet and Ice Cream and Warm Valhrona Chocolate Cake with Almond Caramel and Vanilla Ice Cream.

 

My favorite was the passion fruit sorbet.

 

The tasting started at 5:45pm and ended close to 10pm. I was really impressed with Roka Akor’s service and attention to detail throughout the meal. Yes, we were there to promote the restaurant so we obviously got great service, but I noticed other customers in the restaurant were getting the same quality of attentiveness. I would highly recommend making a reservation here for your next special occasion (birthday, anniversary, GNO). Thanks again, Roka Akor, for an amazing evening!

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