Yakitori guide to Tokyo
Nothing quite hits the spot like eating yakitori with an ice-cold beer. Great yakitori restaurants go the extra mile by being selective around the breed of chicken used to cook. The result is meat that has a bit more bounce to the bite while still being extremely juicy. Here are the yakitori restaurants I’ve visited so far in Tokyo and my thoughts about them.
Yakitori Omino
Worth trying once: Yes
Would I go back: Yes
Price: $$$
Omino is my favorite yakitori restaurant so far. The chef trained for six years under the legendary Ikegawa Yoshiteru at Torishiki, regarded by many as the best yakitori restaurant in Japan. After many years, I have yet been able to get a reservation at Torishiki so Omino is the next closest thing.
The food is excellent and my personal favorites are the grilled tofu, meatballs, wings, and skin. The chef chooses what to serve you so there is no need to order individually, although you may do so if there is something in particular you want to try. Do let him know if you don’t eat offals as there are quite a few such as liver, heart, gizzards, and even ovaries! The meal ends when you let the chef know you are full. He then lets you choose if you want to end with an oyakodon or braised ground chicken over rice. Can’t go wrong with either choice.
Reservations are difficult but can be made online. Try making them a couple of months in advance and you should have a decent chance at securing a seat.
Birdland
Worth trying once: Yes
Would I go back: Yes
Price: $$$
I’ve been to Birdland a couple of times and the food has been consistently great. I love the texture of their chicken as it’s juicy yet has bounce to the bite. The restaurant is larger than other high-end yakitori places and has more tables and seats, so it’s a great option for larger groups. The staff is very English-friendly and they have a nice wine selection.
Reservations are not difficult to book and prime-time spots can be reserved just a couple of weeks in advance. Overall, it’s a very solid restaurant all around.
Toriki
Worth trying once: Yes
Would I go back: No
Price: $$$
Toriki is another top yakitori restaurant earning both Tabelog Bronze and a Michelin star. The food is delicious and the chef is very friendly. However, there weren’t any dishes that stood out in particular, making me want to go back. I would rather try other restaurants in the future. Having said that, the list of top yakitori restaurants isn’t very long in Tokyo, so I would still recommend this place to anybody interested in high-end yakitori.