As you may have guessed at Hajime Robot Restaurant in Bangkok the food is served by robot waiters. Every man’s dream since Rocky 4? But despite the unique and novelty value of this robot restaurant we do keep going back. Obviously not for the robot (as cute as it is) but for the food. Hajime Robot Restaurant is one of the few restaurants we bother leaving Sukhumvit for… but before we talk about the food, first them adorable robot waiters.
The Hajime Robot Waiters
Each table at Hajime Robot Restaurant has a touch screen monitor to scroll through menus, choose foods and send instruction to the robot. Within minutes the robot will arrive to your table, to hand over goods through a window next to it. The robot waiters zip along a track between tables and after passing through trays they then disappear to the back kitchen for the next order. When you have finished with empty plates stack them back on the tray and the robot comes to collect. Note if you leave full plates at the window the robot may also take them so be quick to grab your orders. When not rushed off its tracks the robot waiter will dance to sugary K-Pop Music (video below) or if you’re unlucky Gangnam Style.
The Japanese Barbecue (焼き肉, Yakiniku)
There are few things better than Yakiniku barbecues… yet at Hajime Robot Restaurant they are served by robots. What more can I say? For those new to the Yakiniku they are the Japanese equivalent to the more famous Korean Barbecues. Yakiniku itself translating loosely as “grilled meats” from Japanese. At Hajime the meats are served by the robots, the customer then barbecues meats themselves using built-in charcoal grills at the restaurant tables. Yakiniku barbecues aren’t necessarily all meat and normally include seafood, veg, eringi etc. Smother meats in a Japanese soy and sake dip with optional garlic, ginger and chilies to mix. While Hajime is a Japanese Yakiniku barbecue they do offer many of the Korean favourites like Bulgogi (marinated pork).
All-Your-Can-Eat Buffet (499 Baht pp)
Robots, Barbecues, and cheap All-you-can-eat Buffets ($15). Now you know why we keep going back. Other than unlimited servings of barbecue meats; the buffet also offers unlimited sides of sushi, gyoza, tempura and all them Japanese favourites, as well as Korean banchan (kimchi etc). Included in the price are desserts and drinks. While there are cheaper Yakiniku buffets in Bangkok the quality of meats here are impressive with pricier picks such as giant prawns, salmon and beef ribeye and tenderloin. There are other buffet options available with a cheaper Shabu Hot Pot, a pricier Wagyu Beef barbecue and the ever so tempting Asahi Beer Buffet which I reluctantly turn down to safe space for barbecued meats.
Directions to Hajime Robot Restaurant
Hajime is located in an odd location near Rama 3 road. It is a rough 70 Baht taxi ride from most areas of central Bangkok (Sukhumvit for us) at a lesser known mall called Monopoly Park. To be sure the taxi can find it you can get more precise directions here at the Hajime Website. Visits to Hajime have become competitive between me and Fanfan, the winner gets ice-cream (Fanfan always wins). Try beat our 26 dishes.
