Set in the In Point mall, Sumo Yakiniku has a gimmicky approach to Japanese barbecue: you sit next to a full-sized sumo ring, and the TVs mounted throughout the restaurant show sumo videos. The menu is standard yakiniku fare: beef, offal, seafood, chicken, pork and vegetables served raw and self-cooked over a charcoal flame.

They have high quality Wagyu (RMB500 per mixed plate), but the standard cuts (RMB98) are plenty good. The diced tenderloin is marinated in a savory soy sauce with a hint of fruity sweetness and tastes best after the briefest visit on the grill. Bone-in short ribs are chewy with a smoky char and notes of pepper. It’s your job to supervise the short ribs, removing them as the luscious, lacquered meat is caramelized to perfection.

The vegetable platter (RMB29) lightens things up with kobocha squash, eggplant, mushroom, onion, leek, corn and carrot. We prefer some vegetables to others—the charcoal is especially kind to the corn and onion—but you can’t order vegetables individually. The seafood platter (RMB79) combines giant prawns, scallops and squid. While the prawns are just okay, the scallops are brought out on the shell with a slice of lemon and a cube of butter so they sizzle in the resulting sauce. Thick slices of squid are best dipped in the salt and pepper mix hot off the grill.

With RMB20 Asahi draft and an undeniably fun, social cooking style, this might just be the place for your weekend pre-gaming festivities—you won’t be hungry again until morning.

Our rating: 3.5/5

DETAILS

What: Sumo Yakiniku

Where: Rm. 201, In Point Mall, 169 Wujiang Lu 吴江路169号四李坊201室

Tel: 6218-7977

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