Japanese restaurant Roboto is back in a new avatar

Indian and Japanese food would sit at the opposite ends of the culinary graph, if ever there was one. India takes pride in its carb-heavy, spicy food, while Japan is known for its non-spicy, fish and meat-heavy delicacies that are never over-cooked. 

The twain may never meet, but that doesn't mean Japanese cuisine has no takers in India. In fact, Japanese fare has gained quite a following among India’s metropolitans. There is also a steady stream of Japanese restaurants emerging in India. 

YS Life checks out one such place in the culinary hotspot of Goa–Roboto, which serves predominantly Japanese food at pocket-friendly prices.  

I had come across Roboto during my earlier visits to Goa, when the restaurant was at Calangute. It was well-received by tourists who flocked to the state on beach vacations. 

Parth Timbadia, Director at Perhaps Food, the parent company of Roboto, explains the rationale behind the move to Goa’s party hub of Anjuna. 

At Roboto, it’s all about being high-octane and energetic, he says. “We felt that a fun concept like Roboto needed a bigger space and at a more approachable location.” 

The name of the place, Timbadia explains, is inspired by the 1980s song Mr Roboto by the American rock band STYX. 

Tucked away in a corner—just two minutes away from the much-talked-about Artjuna Cafe—one might easily miss the quaint villa that houses Roboto. Therein lies its charm—it's accessible yet elusive. 

Designed by Ayaz Basrai of the Burside Studio, Roboto’s new avatar opened its doors to customers during the end of last year. Since then, it has attracted a regular flow of visitors looking for authentic Japanese and Korean cuisine. 

At Roboto, the energy switches from low and mellow outside to trendy and charming the moment you step into the villa. Inspired by Kawaii or the Japanese culture of cuteness—which refers to anything that is youthful, cute and childlike—Roboto’s interiors are dominated by a soothing blue palette, with textured floors and walls. 

The restaurant offers two seating options—one at the bar featuring shimmering bottles of foreign liquor and sake and another in a casual yet elegant area adorned with cute couches and cane chairs. 

The golden soft lighting at the dining area makes the space look fuss-free for a date night, a casual evening with friends and family, or a dinner in one’s own company. 

Unlike many Japanese and Asian restaurants, Roboto’s food is affordably priced and its menu has extensive options.  

“There is something new to try out every day,” says Timbadia. 

The six-page menu overwhelmed me at first glance, but I took the server’s suggestion and kicked off my meal with chicken karaage, tataki fish, and chicken and leek gyoza. 

The chicken and gyoza–a crispy pan-fried dumpling–was tender on the outside and smoky at first bite. It was served with three dips on the side–scallion honey, smoked chilli oil, and sesame soy. 

Chicken karaage or Japanese fried chicken was served with kewpie mayo and a house dip. It was like any other Korean fried chicken, topped with a minimal amount of spice. 

What really impressed me was the tataki fish. In Japanese, tataki means ‘pounded’. True to its name, the dish consisted of seared sesame crusted fish—which tasted almost raw—served with a side of mango-ginger sauce and tomato tamari. 

The chef taught me and my fellow diner how to eat the fish. One has to wrap a slice of fish in a shisho or beefsteak plant leaf that is served on the sides, add a little bit of the cajun dressing, drizzle some of the sauce, and then take a bite. 

The tataki fish was a riot of flavours, and nothing like anything I have ever tasted!

While the long list of options under ramens tempted me, I opted for the classic tori katsudon for the mains. 

Roboto offers medium and large portions of ramen and donburi (rice bowls) to let diners venture beyond just the mains. I went for a medium bowl, planning to get adventurous later, but it was quite filling, especially after the meat-forward small plates. 

The rice bowl was topped with a substantial portion of crusted chicken cutlet, with smoked cherry tomatoes and zucchini, and a creamy egg below it. The bowl also had furikake (a flaky Japanese condiment) that elevated the flavours of the dish. 

This was the perfect ‘comfort bowl’, although the chicken seemed a bit too dry for my taste, probably due to deep frying. 

Roboto offers tofu, pork and fish options in the rice bowls. Diners can go for a sweet and savoury minced chicken rice bowl as well. 

My fellow dinner took a medium portion of Jjamppong seafood ramen. Although the description read that the broth would be spicy, it turned out to be a little bland. 

A ramen should feel like a warm hug, but unfortunately that ‘wow’ factor was missing in it. The fried garlic on the side helped add a little flavour to the broth, but that was about it. 

Moving on to the desserts… as unsure as I was about the appetisers, I was sure about what I wanted for a dessert—a classic Japanese cheesecake. 

My expectations were high and I blame the TikTok videos featuring fluffy, jiggly cotton cheesecakes and my earlier experience of devouring Japanese cheesecakes at a celebrated Asian restaurant in Bengaluru. 

Served with miso gelato and cookie crumble, the cheesecake at Roboto failed to impress. The vanilla panna cotta was served on a bowl of berry compote and chocolate miso ganache, which did not pair well. 

If I had to pick a star of the show, it would be the cocktails served at Roboto. 

Ginza dark and stormy—a cocktail made from soju, white miso, amaro, and soda—was smoky and refreshing at the same time. The server-recommended Bees and Flowers–a chamomile-infused gin cocktail topped with honey-yuzu cordial and ginger–truly blew me away. It was sweet and citrusy and is a perfect sip for Goa’s warm summers. 

Roboto is worth a shot if you wish to try Japanese and Korean on a budget. Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you are new to Japanese cuisine, for the servers here are friendly and well aware of what they are serving. They will break down the menu for you and also recommend what to order, taking into account your preferences and taste.