Inko Nito is a casual Japanese restaurant in Soho, London, serving a mixture of innovative Japanese-inspired robatayaki grill dishes and sushi. Anyone who has wandered the streets of Soho will likely recognise Inko Nito - when the sun goes down, its bright emerald-green neon sign lights up the pavement on Broadwick Street, and walkers can look in through the long, panoramic window and see Inko Nito’s busy chef team manning the signature robata grills.
Inko Nito is part of the Azumi group that also runs the likes of Roka, Zuma and Amazonico. Anyone who has been to the former will have a good idea of what to expect here - Inko Nito has a more laid back atmosphere than its slightly smarter cousin, but the menu similarly features big, bold Japanese flavours, albeit with more of a focus on robata grill dishes. Inside, the robata grill sits at the heart of the room, and chefs busy themselves around it, glazing skewers of meat, fish and vegetables and controlling the heat of the grills.
Exposed brick and concrete give Inko Nito an industrial-chic vibe, but the restaurant takes some design cues from Roka too with the use of sleek tiles and polished timber tables.
The majority of the menu is made up of snacks, robata grill dishes and other ‘hot and fried’ dishes, but Inko Nito also serves a handful of sashimi and maki rolls, including a sashimi selection of tuna, yellowtail and salmon, as well as a Korean fried cauliflower roll with chilli sauce, and a spicy tuna tempura with chilli mayonnaise. Among the robata grill dishes, try classics like the bone marrow with smoked soy, garlic toast and shallots, the chicken yakitori with smoked teriyaki sauce and the roast pork belly with soy kabosu. Inko Nito also offers a tasting menu and a reasonably priced express menu for working lunches with limited time.
The drinks menu is well-known for its cocktails on tap, but also offers a wide range of beer, sake, wine and sparkling, as well as alcohol-free options and soft drinks.