Address - Kanagawa-ken, Kamakura-shi, Komachi 2-9-14 Opening hours - Open 5 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. every day Telephone - (0467) 22-3322 Menu - In Japanese CC - No

One of the best features of most Asian restaurants is the great variety of dishes and drinks they serve, which often, as in this case, number several dozens.
Another is definitely the fact that you get to see your food while it's prepared. That way not only a modicum of hygiene is assured, but you can also have the fun of seeing ingredients take gradually shape into a beautiful, delicious meal.
In no case is this privilege greater than at Teppanyaki and Okonomiyaki restaurants, which are in many ways a concentrate of all that's best in Asian cooking, and thus a must to the tourist.
I am always amazed by the skill, speed, esthetic sense and precision these people show: with just a couple of spatulas for weapon, in no time at all an egg is broken, salted, mixed, spread on the hot iron plate to form a beautiful oblong strip, turned around, cut in half, wrapped around previously cooked tofu, decorated with wisely placed squirts of mayonnaise, mustard, Worchester sauce and/or ketchup and served.
It goes without saying that at the same time the guy takes orders, prepares other dishes, readies ingredients and does a thousand other things without losing his temper.
I have worked in Western restaurants and, believe me, things there are simpler.
Enya's staff are young, but know their business.
Here is, for those of you who are just off the boat, a short and by no means exhaustive list of terms you will see on their menu. If you don't speak Japanese, and those of you who need these explanations probably don't, bring a Japanese friend along. No English in the menu.
Teppanyaki: different ingredients are cooked on a hot iron plate (the teppan).
Okonomiyaki: a Japanese-style omelette containing octopus, meat etc., according to the case.
Modanyaki: Okonomiyaki with noodles on top.
Sobayaki: noodles cooked over the teppan.
Prices are always around 800 - 900 yen.
There are 25 types of Teppanyaki, enough to keep you busy for a while: moyashi, kimchee, squid, pork, tofu, mushrooms, tofu ... You can even have a tofu steak.
One last thing: the maccha icecream there is excellent.
May 2003