A snowy weekend turned out to be the perfect excuse to snag a reservation at one of Philly’s most popular restaurants. We had the pleasure of dining at Dance Robot, an 80s-inspired Japanese izakaya that absolutely lived up to the hype.
Ashley was especially excited for this visit. She had fallen in love with Japanese style izakayas during her study-abroad days in Korea.
SNAPSHOT
- Price: ~$150 for two people
- Cuisine: Japanese Izakaya
- Visit Date: January 2026
- Would we snort again?: Yes!
Vibes
The entrance set the tone with moody purply pink lighting. But once inside, the space was warm, sophisticated, and cozy. This theme was carried over into the plating of the creative dishes presented on a thoughtful mix of beautiful Japanese china and utilitarian stainless steel, reinforcing the restaurant’s blend of refinement and relaxed izakaya culture.
“Fantastic interior design makes for a great date night”
Food
The menu is organized from lighter to heavier dishes. They also had a few chef specials for the night! The server recommended about 4-6 items for two people depending on the heaviness of the dish.
Dish 1 – Age Takoyaki
Well executed, with a delicate outer shell and an airy interior—a refreshing contrast to versions at other restaurants, where the inside can often feel overly dense or undercooked.
Dish 2 – Kogi Marinated Delicata Squash
The squash was perfectly cooked, with bright pops of yuzu and a gentle heat from shichimi togarashi that made each bite both refreshing and addictive.
Dish 3 – Buffalo Hamachi Collar
Unique for the restaurant. Yellow tail in a buffalo sauce with a celery cucumber salad and blue cheese dressing. Although Jimmy did not love the buffalo sauce, he loved how unique the dish was. We really appreciated the innovative mindset.
Dish 4 – Mentaiko Pasta
Now for the star of the night. The pasta appeared to be house-made fusilli, that was perfectly cooked to al dente. The creamy sauce that tied everything together was rich with umami from the mentaiko. It was also stunningly plated, with the mentaiko and shiso echoing the look of classic tomato and basil.
Dish 5 – Seafood Doria
We tried Seafood Doria for the first time, a Western-influenced Japanese dish that originated in Yokohama. While the flavors were enjoyable, the seafood was cut into such small pieces that it was hard to distinguish what you were eating. As a result, the dish felt more like a rich, comforting dip—something you’d want to scoop up with bread or chips—rather than a true seafood main. At $36, the portion and presentation made the price feel a bit steep.
Dessert – Monkey Bread
We ordered the monkey bread for dessert after eyeing it at the table next to us. The glaze was unique, with the addition of soy sauce powder that gave it a slightly grainy yet pleasant texture. While Jimmy found the dish a bit too sweet, Ashley enjoyed it—the soybean powder evoking memories of her favorite rice cake treats growing up.
Service
The host and server were very kind and efficient. Our server guided us well on how to order recommending the perfect amount of food to order.
They also noticed little details. For example, I clumsily dropped my cloth napkin twice, but the server kindly brought me a new one immediately each time. Other staff checked in on us throughout the night grabbing finished plates or asking how the dishes were.
Final Roundup
As two piglets, we would snort again! We’ll definitely be back for the mentaiko pasta. We’re also excited to try the katsu curry the next time we are back. We watched it being carried past us looking truly photo-worthy, with perfectly sliced pieces of pork and a little gravy boat on the side.
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