A new star has risen in Munich’s culinary sky, enriching the neighborhood around Schwabing’s Viktoriaplatz. Entrepreneur and chef Viet Hai Pham, who already runs Aimy and Shimai, has now opened his third restaurant in Munich here. ROTA is now delighting diners with Japanese grilled specialties and fresh sushi.
A restaurant steeped in history
Even from the outside, the green corner building on Viktoriaplatz in Schwabing is quite a sight. For many years, it was home to Roland’s Eck, which became an absolute cult bar. This was followed by the restaurant “Kapitales vom Rind,” where food was prepared on an open grill right in the dining room. After 14 years, however, it closed, and in 2025 , Roland’s Eck returned to Vikrotiastraße as a pop-up—much to the annoyance of the neighbors. “Too loud and too dirty,” were their complaints. After six months, it closed again; there was no extension.
Fortunately, local residents don’t have to worry about noise or mess with the new ROTA. Here , the focus is on the food, not the partying. The restaurant closes at 11 p.m. Owner Viet Hai Pham lived in this neighborhood himself as a teenager and went to school here. This makes it all the more meaningful to him to now take over the legendary Roland’s Eck, which is why he places even greater importance on maintaining a good relationship with the neighbors. They were also invited to the grand opening party in mid-July, where they had the chance to experience the art of Japanese grilling for themselves.
“Art of Fire” at ROTA
True to its name, ROTA’s interior is entirely red. Glittering red chandeliers hang from the red ceiling, and even the chairs are a shade of burgundy. The restaurant’s concept centers on Japanese robata, where food is slowly grilled over charcoal. This is complemented by elements of Korean BBQ, creating a unique culinary experience. You’ll still find the open grill from the former KVR in the dining room. You can choose what you’d like to eat, and it’s then prepared right before your eyes. Whether it’s spicy chicken, pork belly, or tender beef, here you can sample a wide selection of Asian meat specialties.
If you’re looking for vegetarian options , you can also choose vegetables or mushrooms . And if you’re not in the mood for grilled dishes at all, there’s also delicious sushi and sashimi on the menu. ROTA places great emphasis on the quality of its ingredients. Fresh and high-quality—that’s the motto. And you can really taste it. To accompany your meal, there are fine wines, delicious cocktails, and, of course, Japanese sake. To round off the evening, dessert is a must—the pistachio cheesecake comes highly recommended.
📍 Location: Viktoriastr. 23
🕐 Hours: Wed–Sun from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
