Review Biru - Rivonia

Highly recommend the Waygu Beef selection! Melt in your mouth goodness. The waiter even assisted us to BBQ the meat, but you can do it own perfectly well. The dessert was green tea ice cream with red bean paste Do try it! It's a bit on the pricey side but you are definitely paying for not only top-notch quality ingredients but also a great experience.

Amazing and very original kitchen. We really enjoyed the process ! Very nice atmosphere and friendly helpful personal . Nice view of Rivonia Village Junction from the window. Those choices of souses made my day! And it’s so so tasty ! Unbelievable! Love the way food is presented in raw .. and was enjoining to cook it by myself. It really was so so much fun ! Very huge and unique alcohol menu as well. Inside restaurants they have VIP zones for special guests and companies. Big and smaller. In general I put 5 stars and will recommend it to anyone who is into Asian cuisine!

We had such a wonderful experience, kids thought cooking their own food was amazing… and surprisingly enough they finished it all which means it was great ! A really unique experience we shall be coming back for more

Wonderful Asian dining experience. Only tried the hot pot this time but looking forward to the grill. Broth could be deeper in flavour but an excellent array of condiments props it up really well. All done at the table making for a great interactive evening. Excellent service from a cheerful team.

This was a very pleasing surprise. We booked a reservation for three. We struggled a bit to find the place but as soon as we walked in it is as if you entered another world. We got our own private lounge with two grills. We ordered a combo that came with a selection of two broths, meats and vegetables to grill and put in the broth, desserts and a sushi platter. The only reason I gave the food a 4 star is because the sushi platter wasn't up to par with the rest of the food. I think they left the sushi standing in sauce, so it was soggy. The entire experience is unique and I would love to come and have this experience again. I have been two a few other asian restaurants and I can say without a doubt this is the best one so far. They also have a place where you can blend your own spices and liquids to form a sauce, which is another fun mix and match feature that comes with the place. Another thing to mention is that they serve very unique foods that you wont get at many other places in South Africa, like blood cake and eel.

This restaurant has such a calm vibe. Hotpot and Korean BBQ were so good. They serve the best sushi I've eaten too. 100% recommend 👌 👏 We also tried one of each flavor of ice cream they offer (except vanilla): chocolate, hazelnut, black cherry, and green tea. I loved the hazelnut and black cherry flavors, and the green tea was surprisingly pleasant.

What a FANTASTIC experience! Food was incredibly fun and tasty! We were really impressed by our server who explained the “hot pot” menu in meticulous detail. From explaining the soup options to demonstrating to us how to compile our dipping sauce concoction! Food was a little pricey, however well worth it! Dining set up is classy, nothing we’ve seen before with table kitchen utensils and gas tops. We LOVED it! Being newbies to Asian cuisine, we will certainly be back!

Amazing restaurant! Super experiential (interactive dining). This is a great place to go with friends and family to get an amazing Asian feel. The food was so fresh, the meat top quality! And our waitress (Portia) was so cool. Loved her. Surprise your girl or boy with a date night here or a place for a first date it's super fun. Try the Wagyu beef 👌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽

Very nice place and concept, they serve roasted red skin peanuts upon arrival, we ordered the duck, chicken, ribs and rice. the rice we had with the food was amazing I could eat the rice alone as a meal. Only bad experience was the table behind us, the people was shouting not speaking so no one else in the restaurant could even hear themselves thinking. We then had to ask them to lower their voices because the waitress didn't have the heart to do it

Absolutely amazing restaurant. Amazing food and great service.

What a great experience! My waitress was amazing, attentive & patient. The food was tasty, not greasy with spices. I especially loved the bone broth hot pot! The place is quite big and relatively quiet and tidy. I’d definitely go back again!

Was my second time there. The first time we don't really understand what was potting. See what I did there? Anyway this time round we knew what we wanted. Awesome food and service. Really enjoyed. Such wild and varying tastes of everything. Very nice.

A little bit of a rocky start when we got sat close to the kitchen and bathroom. But then things looked up after we moved tables. We were served by a wonderful young lady who took great care of us. The food experience was quite a ride, we had one of the set menus and that was ideal for us as novices. Fresh, tasty ingredients and well presented (loved the sashimi!) - the green tea ice cream could have used a better presentation though. Definitely going back and asking for the same waitress!

Awesome experience at Biru. Great restaurant with great service. The staff were very friendly and helpful. You get to cook your own hotpot and grill the sliced meat yourself. Lots of items to choose from to customize your hotpot. Will definitely go backnto try out different combos.

I cannot compliment this place enough! What an amazing experience... they've truly created something special and they have a menu that caters to all, I really appreciated their selection of vegetarian options as well. Their chilli broth is amazing and you ask for it to be fully vegetarian as well! Very tasty food and a lovely experience.

Biru is a great place to have Chinese and Japanese cuisine. They offer grill, hotpot, and sushi. I've came here a few times and tried quite a few dishes. The quality of food is top notch with very fresh ingredients. Unfortunately, the food is quite expensive. The last time I was here, we are a table of 3 adults, we had meat grill, 2 noodle dishes, and some cool drinks, the total came up to R1230.00 including tip. I would definitely come back but maybe only on special occasions due to the price.

Wonderfully fresh food, a fantastic experience and lovely staff. A great night out and a delightful meal. A must visit for anyone who is a fan of Japanese food or braaing.

Absolutely the best restaurant I've been to... well done to the chef's and staff. Awesome vibe and the best food. Well done Lia Black for an amazing show. You go girl!!!!

Amazing concept, exceptional food and the quality superb. The entire team were very welcoming and patient with us being newbies, and extremely friendly. Highly recommended. Side note: leave space for dessert, the perfect ending to a fantastic evening.

Amazing night experience if you want to try something different, I enjoyed the food a bit different but u will enjoy. The waitress is always there to guide us in preparation for our meal. They have life bands, Will definitely go back.

Amazing!! Wow, what a different experience � the food is sooo good �� and the vibe is awesome � definitely worth trying ��

Amazing evening and experience... live music, unbelievable food and great service!! Definitely spending more evenings at this awesome place!!!

Very cool diy cooking concept and awesome sushi - watching Valeska was the cherry on top

Absolutely awesome experience, delicious food and wine and excellent customer service :D I will definitely be back again!!!

Definitely one of my favourite restaurants. The service was exceptional and the food very tasty. Thank you Biru for a awesome evening.

Great food! Brilliant service! Awesome vibe! Wonderful concept! Can be addictive ;-)

Great place! Fantastic food and welcoming vibes. Definitely going there again 😊

Something totally different from any other restaurant. I go there often and always walk away satisfied and happy. Pino is a great host and never fails to help, having him on the floor definitely elevates the experience and service.

Amazing place, amazing food and great service! I loved it.

Awesome food! Awesome service! Can't wait to go again!

Fantastic food, service and staff.. Best restaurant in town!!

Lovely restaurant. We had Korean BBQ and hot pot. There is a big sauce station with everything you need for your hot pot. It’s a bit pricey but given the area, service, good food and atmosphere, it’s well worth a try!

We had an awesome ladies lunch at Biru. Don't expect exceptional service, but the food is divine. We shared a hotpot filled with deliciousness, wagu platter and salmon sushi platter. Cooking your own food at the table is an experience. I intend to return with the family.<br/>

Wow what a great dining experience, I will definitely recommend Biru. And I just loved the entertainment tonight a Hunter woman Sjoe what a voice. I will bring my whole family here time and time again.

I decided to take my lady her on valentines for a nice dinner.<br/><br/>Expectations were blown out the roof! Very comfortably fancy, wholesome and genuine.<br/><br/>This place is a must for date night.<br/><br/>Of course hot pot was the go to and we were amazed!

Highly recommended if you need to invite VIP 's , the ambiance are very comfy, love the atmosphere. Suggestions : Wagyu beef for BBQ , I'm not what other meat is there but Wagyu definitely.

The BBQ is very good! It is quite pricy but I think it worths it. The macha ice cream is always my favorite! Sushi is average. But I always go just for the BBQ.

Made a booking two hours before arriving on a Wednesday evening. Was so excited as this place was recommended. On arrival we were very impressed with the layout. only 3<br/>Tables were occupied on arrival and same three when we left. complimentary pickles with peanut were served which we enjoyed with my plum saki and white wine.<br/><br/>Thereafter it was all downhill. I had to wait while my husbands meal was served and prepped first. Then came my choice. I love my salmon belly seared so removed it from the grill when I thought it was done - couldn’t cut or bite through it as the outside was done but the inside was totally frozen. <br/>The scallops was butchered. Calamari was so thin that it was burnt and unedible, the mushrooms were made aweful. <br/><br/>The panacotta was good though and served beautifully, However I will not be dining here again

What an awesome experience. We were so warmly welcomed from the time we walked in. The food was really fresh and of great quality. Our waitress Gertrude was so friendly and helpful even going out of her way to show us how it was done. Loved the hot pot as well as the grill. Sushi was really well made too. Chose set menu and have no regrets. Will definitely be here more times.

Been wanting to try this place for a while and my expectations were met. Pleasantly surprised by the stunning venue and lovely ambience. Perfect for a date night or a group of sophisticated friends. We ordered some assorted sushi and the hot pot with veggies and lamb and beef. The broth of the hot pots we chose were chillie and bone broth. Flavors were phenomenal. My favourite part was the two types of dipping sauces made for the meat - a peanut butter based one and a chillie and soya sauce based one. Has a lovely balcony with superb view of Rivonia village shopping complex. Enjoyed our evening here - great friendly service.

A wonderful hot pot with fresh food. Give the tempura a skip, not authentic and dense on the palate. Sushi and sashimi is average. Don’t forget to end off with matcha ice cream!

It's a unique dining experience, which we thoroughly enjoyed with friends.<br/><br/>We ordered a set menu which came with way too much food - sushi, vegetable hot pot, a platter of meats for the grill and green tea ice cream.  My friends had the set menu, which they enjoyed, whilst i ordered sanma fish, aubergine and mushrooms for the grill.  This was more than enough for me, and the whole table was impressed with the quality of food, which in addition to being good quality, it is also beautifully presented. For anyone who has not tried sanma fish, it's a soft and fatty delicious fish which reminds me of grilled sardines.<br/><br/>Grilling and boiling (in the hot pot) one's food with friends or family  is a beautiful experience to be shared, it also makes for a longer evening out as one tends to eat slower.  <br/>The restaurant offers a variety of condiments to compliment whichever vegetable or meat you opt for.<br/><br/>The owner was very friendly, and made us feel very welcome with his sense of humor. <br/>I absolutely loved this dining experience, something different, don't you think?!

Very nice indeed. Food is great, just wished that the staff knew what they were serving and even give recommendations. But it was very nice to eat there.

Located upstairs in the building next to the Shell garage above the chinese restaurant is a very unassuming restaurant. Even though they are extremely overpriced there is a good variety of items on the menu for everyone including green tea ice cream that is beautifully presented. I would put this place in the fine dining category due to the ambiance and seating arrangement. <br/><br/>Being a vegetarian I ordered a few fresh items for a hot pot which was more than enough for two meals. I tried some tofu, vegetarian protein - fish style, mushrooms and chinese spinach with some udon noodles in my hot pot.<br/><br/>The service here is suburb - the waitress really took care of me and explained everything that was available for vegetarians. It is nice to go somewhere different for a Japanese inspired meal where you can all share amongst business associates, friends or family - since this is apart of the culture.

Had a great experience at Biru Rivonia today. Sure there might be a slight language barrier, but their effort makes up for it. We had the set menu for 4. The portion was huge and offered a taste of everything. The quality of the ingredients are great and the cost isn't bad considering what we received. Will definitely be back again soon. Definitely recommend

What a find ! A combination of Chinese hot pot, Korean street food and sushi all in one place, run by an Italian guy. Wow ! The spicy hot pot, exactly as served in western China, and mushrooms farmed fresh, vegaterian delight. Friendly service, loved it.

The food was very overpriced and the music much too loud to hear each other speak. Everyone in the restaurant was squished into one side of the restaurant while all the other tables were open, and we weren't allowed to move. Waitresses were not particularly helpful. For that kind of money you definitely expect better.

From braaing and fine dining comes Biru, homemade food with extraordinary ingredients away from home.<br/> <br/>The food is a tricky one, seeing as we had to cook it ourselves we gave it full marks because we are bloody amazing cooks. All kidding aside, the ingredients were incredibly fresh, there wasn't a spinach leaf or a mushroom that seemed a bit old. Oh, and the Wagyu beef was absolute perfection. It doesn't stop there folks, the salmon sashimi is a definite must for a starter and always ask about dessert as they have a lot of dishes that are not on the menu, for instance, their pannacotta which is just top notch!<br/> <br/>Biru made it feel as if you had your own personal waiter waiting on you hand and foot. Never making you wait, always helpful, very friendly and oh so attentive. Even though Biru is a place where you braai your own food, it doesn't mean you have to. If you get tired or just feel like enjoying a relaxing evening, your waiter will take over the cooking duties.<br/> <br/>The restaurant was very classy as it was the entire third floor of the building, giving you access to a spacious living area and balconies that overlook Rivonia. Not good enough for you? Then how about sitting at the bar while enjoying the view? Or book your own private dining room for that special occasion. The music of the place was a bit of a buzzkill though, not that it needs to be vibey, but just not just Phil Collins the whole night. They mentioned that they do have live music on a Friday night - so that might be an option next time.<br/> <br/>Regarding value, there is no such thing as cheap wagyu beef, and if there was you probably shouldn't be eating it. We feel that for the types of ingredients we got with the outstanding service that you truly do get proper bang for your buck at Biru.<br/> <br/>TTT’s rating out of 5: Food - 5 | Service - 5 | Atmosphere – 4  | Value - 5<br/> <br/>Biru gets  Two Tasty Tummies' stamp of approval

Best rib eye and fillet in JHB served raw with the ability to cook it on your table, amazing oysters topped with caviar. Best management, Pino is a treat and happy recommend to your pallet

Over priced and below average quality. Even the white wine was room temperature. Waitress that should still be in school who has clearly had zero training. Will not return.

Brilliant and well priced sushi! The BBQ and Hotpot was average and eneded up being overpriced! Okay experience overall but not worth going back!

My favorite restaurant! The food is always fresh and amazing! I love the Italian manager there, he always calls me Bella. 😊 The service is the only thing that could be worked on.

Decided to try Biru with a one of my oldest friends. Walking in Yoh are taken with the modern styling and finishes, but half the restaurant looks unused.<br/><br/>It was Friday and they had live entertainment, initially I thought it was a bit loud but loud, but it actually set the mood for a great evening with a collection of 90s and 00s hits.<br/><br/>The servers were attentive and I felt that they had a sense of urgency to ensure that our needs were satisfied. They were helpful and talked us through how things worked.<br/><br/>We started with Salmon sashimi and oysters. The the sushi was average but the oysters were very fresh and were delicious.<br/><br/>We orders some Kimchi and Misi Soup and then the Chefs selection of 36 cuts of Wagyu beef to share.<br/><br/>The soup was good, the kimchi lacked the heat I wanted but was still better that what I've had another places.<br/><br/>The beef was the real star of the show. It was real Wagyu beef... If you've never tried it, do so immediately!!!<br/><br/>With the table fire lit, we started to cook our neat. The succulent marbled meat took almost no time to cook a minute each side at most. The fat bastjg the meat and adding flavour we barely even needed to add salt. It was amazingly good, and ecery price of beef I eat from to today will be compared to the cuts I had at Biru.<br/><br/>One 36 piece main was enough for both of us and we were ready for dessert. We ordered the Tiramasu and it arrived in a wonderful round bowl... A bit heavy on the coca powder but delicious non the less.<br/><br/>Ambience - 4<br/>Food - 5<br/>Service - 5

Have been for lunch and dinner 5 or 6 times and will definitely be back. My family love the experience and we order both hot pot and self grilled meats. The menu has something for everyone, try the Wagu beef on the grill, the tempura veg and a variety of hot pot goodies are delicious. Always a treat, the service is excellent, the restaurant is spotlessly clean and Pinõ is always very welcoming. Try the timarasaru for desert it is outstanding. It's a stunning dining experience with a difference and is definitely a must for everyone to try.

Been there on 21st April we had a great time and a fantastic experience, finally something different , service need more training but very friendly.

This was another great experience! Your BBQ your own meat as well as having hot pot and sushi! Or you could just have one of them. The food here was really fresh. Newly built restaurant with state of the art tables for the BBQ and hot pot.

Lovely, authentic hot pot food. Service could have been better and background music selection was a bit dated, but overall a great treat in the heart of Sandton.

This place has so much potential to be super cool! We visited last night with friends from overseas. It's a brilliant concept- order a variety of meats and cook it yourself on a gas braai built into your table. They also have a selection of soups, noodles and veggies to cook alongside your meats. Sounds very random, but was actually delicious! The flavors we delicious and service was great. The Resturant is pretty big with a cool view across Rivonia. We were one of 4 tables in the Resturant though... so not the best atmosphere as it felt very empty. With a few more customers, this place could be brilliant! We would definitely try it again though.

Authentic Japanese experience. The food is great, having been in Japan, its one of the few restaurants in SA that serves food that tastes Japanese and not just a Chinese ripoff.

It didn't seem like anyone knew what was going on. We asked how the restaurant worked and what the best items on the menu were. We were just told to order meat and a side. No one told us how to cook the food or what sauces to use.<br/>We ordered a variety of items off the menu, I do not recommend any of the seafood. the meat was great but I wish they had given us some sort of guidance.

Perfect night, was left very impressed by the authenticity and how amazing the food was. Their japanese beer is absolutely a must try! Love how you get to cook your own food and if you don't know how, there will be someone to guide you

Been there many a times, too many to Count, absolutely love the food and definitely a wide variety that will satisfy your taste buds and stomach

An authentic Asian BBQ and Hot Pot with a modern upmarket vibe. The menu has a good variety, with amazing presentation. The quality of ingredients used were top class and very fresh. We had a Wagyu Beef platter BBQ, my first time ever. Our waiter explained everything, made recommendations and helped with the BBQ😂. I would highly suggest making a stop here, I was thoroughly impressed.

Great fun having the bbq with friends and family. It takes seconds to cook each piece of the amazing wagu beef, but it is a prolonged dining experience as you cook only a mouthful at a time. The condiment station is ok, it could be 'glammed' up somewhat with a better presentation and 1 or 2 more authentic korian condiments. Wasn't a big fan of the fish balls and eggy batter the whole part of that menu is made of. Kimchi was non existent which was a massive let down. Unfortunately they advertise on their branding 'beer bar' but 50% of them were not available, I suspect lazy management is to blame for these shortfalls. But with careful navigation of the menu you can have a fantastic dining experience. Go for the chefs selection of the different cuts of wagu beef, this will be sufficient for two diners.<br/>Good luck guys and please add some KIMCHI!!!

I like this place cause it's authentic, feels like a place in Tokyo or Yokohama. You can choose between BBQ or Hot Pot for both options can get the raw ingredients and you fry or cook on your own. They also offer Sushi but I never tried it. <br/>It's in the thrird floor of an office building next to Rivonia Village. If you reserve you should ask for a table by the window!

The food was good, servers were very attentive. We enjoyed the food (both hotpot and BBQ), but was seriously not impressed by the small items that was not explained to us upfront that would cost extra. Although the foods were good, their actions and attitude really left a foul taste in our mouth.<br/><br/>The first time we went to Biru: After we sat down, the waiter brought what looked like a complimentary starter (braised mushrooms and preserved veggies) uncovered and did not explain that this starter would be charged (and was not on the menu, so can't see prices). Only to find out it was not complimentary when checking the bill. We left the matter the first time and paid for it.<br/><br/>The second time (and also the last time): after finishing BBQ (which we found to have limited veggie items in comparison to hotpot), we ordered green tea ice-cream to round off the evening. The server did not ask us whether we would like red bean paste with it and simply assumed we do. Little did we know at the time we got the dessert, the two items were sold separately (R10 for little tea spoon sized red bean paste). Bill comes, extra charges for the red bean paste.<br/><br/>From the 2 experiences, it just made me feel like there was "little traps" to eating there. Don't get me wrong, the amounts were not big, but it still doesn't feel nice to have to pay for items that you were not informed of the prices or items that you did not ask for.

A nice upmarket alternative to traditional hotspot restaurants, however still manages to maintain authenticity. Another review mentioned hot pot is bland but there is actually an entire buffet table of condiments, sauces and herbs to add ( complimentary) we loved the hot pot. Also had sushi , salad and various wagyu beef in the grill all delicious. <br/>Service was good and management visible and ensuring everything running smoothly. Only gripe I had was desert menu v Ltd and most was sold out.

My experience at Biru left me rather unimpressed, from the decor to the food! Everything is rather tasteless and it's not a cheap meal, sushi is average and when I ordered a platter with mostly salmon items the waiter first informed me they had no salmon and I thought to myself how can you not have salmon if you have a full on sushi bar but he checked again and told me they just received it, the hotpot was okay but nothing to rave about. Definitely won't be in a hurry to go back.

Eat out on a regular basis and love to try new places, unfortunately this place was a real miss! Just average in all aspects. Waiter was decent, however there were various items on the menu that were not available ! The sauces were limited to add to the hotspots and the bases themeselves pretty bland!

It's a combination of Korean BBQ and hot pot :) it is nicely decorated and the service was fantastic ! It's a great concept of you cook while you eat ... It keeps you busy. Go in a big group, it's loads of fun!

Very cool concept, it's best to go with a group of friends. We booked ahead and they put us in a private room. I enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant and also the novelty of taking the lift to get there, similar to the restaurants in Asia. <br/><br/>I liked the selection from the menu, we opted for a dual hotpot with the vegetable broth and the chilli broth on the other side. Not bad at all, it makes a decent soup at the end of the meal too. <br/><br/>For the side plates we ordered a vegetarian platter with various Asian greens and tofu, beef, lamb, pork and seafood. I really liked the "Tien bu la" one of the Asian seafood side dishes that I grew up eating as a kid. Wish their serving sizes were a bit bigger though, but I suppose they are going for a more up market feel. If that is the case, it would be better if each person had their own individual hotpot. <br/><br/>We ended off the evening with Green tea ice cream. They got the ratio of sweetness to green tea right and the texture of the ice cream was smooth. <br/><br/>Definitely going back to try out their BBQ. Can't wait to try out their Taiwanese sausage!

This very upmarket restaurant is on the 3rd floor in the same building as Taiwan cafe. First impressions: very clean, nice decor, well designed bar and interior. Menu is very extensive, wagyu beef is offered for the BBQ. Large variety to choose from on the menu. Hot pot and BBQ is available as well as sushi. Food is prepared very well, presentation of food is good too. Place is quite pricey, but the atmosphere and service makes up for it so you don't feel like you over paying. Avg 250 pp

Went for dinner to BIRU. At first we could not find it, as its sits on the third floor of the building opposite Rocomamas in Rivonia. Once seated, we had very attentive waiters and host serving us. The menu is quite confusing so def ask for guidance from waiters. I would not recommend it for a very intimate dinner if you choose the hot pot or self grilling option as we were interrupted by waiters numerous times bringing us our food and helping with the cooking of the meat/veg. Although food came very quickly, we all received our food at different times which I was not particularly fond of. Sushi was very well presented.