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Secret Momitare
In yakiniku, the marinade — known as momitare — is just as important as the quality of the meat itself. It’s the sauce that seasons the meat before grilling, and it plays a key role in defining a restaurant’s flavor.
At Roman Pop, we’ve perfected our own signature blend after years of trial and error. Made with Korean chili peppers, Japanese garlic, and a slightly sweet soy-based sauce, our marinade brings out the natural flavor of the meat without overpowering it.
Many of our guests, especially women, tell us, “It’s so flavorful, yet it doesn’t feel heavy the next day.”
That’s because we carefully cook the garlic during preparation, reducing strong odors and making the marinade gentle on the stomach.
We hope you’ll taste the difference for yourself.
Arai-dare — A Kyoto-Style Tradition
A unique Kyoto specialty, arai-dare is a finishing sauce you dip your grilled meat into after cooking.
As the name suggests (“arai” means “to wash”), it lightly rinses away excess fat from the meat, creating a cleaner and more balanced flavor. This style of enjoying yakiniku — subtracting richness to enhance taste — often surprises and delights our guests.
While our exact recipe remains a secret, it’s made with homemade lemon ponzu and Japanese dashi broth. The savory umami from the broth combines beautifully with the richness of the meat, creating a new layer of flavor.
Interestingly, the sauce itself evolves as you continue using it throughout your meal — another part of the Roman Pop experience.
We invite you to discover your own favorite way to enjoy it.
Our Special Yannin Sauce
Yannin is a Korean-style homemade condiment made with green chili soy sauce, garlic chives, and sesame oil.
At Roman Pop, we create our own version without using any garlic, resulting in a rich, savory heat that enhances rather than overwhelms.
Add it to your arai-dare, spoon it over rice, or top it on ramen or namul — there’s no wrong way to enjoy it.
We’ve even developed quite a few “Yannin fans” among our guests. Due to popular demand, we now offer take-home Yannin so you can enjoy it at home.
Just ask our staff for details.
Our Custom-Made Grill Plate
The iron grill plates at our counter were specially crafted for us by a metal workshop in Shiga Prefecture.At 6mm thick, the plate retains heat beautifully, allowing the meat to cook slowly and evenly — bringing out its natural flavor.
Carefully Selected Rice
We partner with a local rice shop in the neighborhood shopping street, sourcing the best rice available from across Japan depending on the season and quality.
A Wide Selection of Drinks
In addition to sake, we offer a variety of Japanese wines and craft gin.The owner’s personal recommendation is Japanese shochu.Although it’s a clear spirit, shochu offers a surprisingly rich range of aromas and flavors.You can enjoy it with water, on the rocks, or mixed with soda.For a refreshing experience, we especially recommend trying it with soda.