When it comes to Japanese food in Beijing, the ITO Restaurant in the Fangcaodi area is one of the most popular eateries.

Founded by famous food critic Huang Jianhua, who is also a real estate tycoon and artwork collector, the restaurant offers authentic Japanese cuisine.

Located in Huajia Hutong, a small hutong north of the celebrated Parkview Green Fangcaodi, the restaurant is easy to find thanks to the dozens of Japanese-style red lanterns outside.

Redecorated and reopened recently, the restaurant has expanded to about three times in its original size, and now offers an even larger menu.

The restaurant offers a wide selection of Japanese sake carefully sourced, and it is also among one the few restaurants in Beijing that offers a large selection of robatayaki, a traditional Japanese cooking style that involves grilling food on an open tabletop.

Diners can have robatayaki either in the public dining area or in private dining rooms.

Sushi, including the futomaki sushi roll, teppanyaki, and, of course, sashimi, are must-haves in this restaurant.