Yakitori

There is not a lot of things that would bring me happiness than meat and vegetables cooking away on a charcoal grill. This is exactly what I will recommend you to do today, whether you’re in Japan or if you’re elsewhere. I will be discuss the art and unmatched experience of a Yakitori restaurant. 

For those in Japan, I strongly feel that going to a Yakitori is a must-do. I understand that sushi and sashimi could not always be consumed or enjoyed by everyone, but one thing we have - or should have - in common is our love for grilled food. In any decent Yakitori places, which are almost everywhere, you could really feast or really good meat. For those that do not consume meat, there are things for you too! You will see a picture I took further below of some vegetarian dishes that you very well enjoy. 

Originally, Yakitori refers to grilled chicken, and this is what most places should be good at. These grilled chicken skewers often come in two forms. One is that they’re brushed with really delicious sweet and salty sauce that’s sticky and just divine. The other version is much more simple, just with salt. Personally, I prefer the version with yakitori sauce, since the glaze is a sauce in itself and you don’t really need anything else to make your skewers taste better. The taste is actually enhanced when the chicken comes straight out from the charcoal grill, piping hot, and is brushed by yakitori sauce. The heat from the cooking process sucks in all the deliciousness and stickiness of the sauce and this, trust me, is unmatched by you dipping your chicken into a bowl of sauce.

*While Tori refers to chicken, they do not disappoint the clients by just serving up chicken thigh. You may also try out their specialities in other meat, or even in the liver, heart and cartilage of the chicken!

Now onto what I had during my yakitori experience. I mentioned about the grilled chicken skewers at the top, and that was exactly what I had tried. I think this is one of the few pictures I have that actually speaks for itself. This illustrates how delicious and perfectly cooked this was in every pixel. Like many other places, there’s more than just the chicken on these yakitori skewers. Leek has also been added to balance out the taste of the meat with the rich sauce, making possibly the world’s best piece of grilled meat. It was so good that I probably licked the dish afterwards, how well-behaved of me. 

Next up, the best grilled asparagus I’ve ever had. It’s not so common for me to have grilled asparagus, but the way it was grilled, seasoned, and then paired with a huge slap of mayo was something else. It was lightly and efficiently seasoned and the sweetness of the asparagus shone through. The mayo there, was really good as per Japanese standards. You may also enjoy other vegetarian options, from cherry tomatoes to mushrooms, or to a mix of bacon wrapped vegetables.

And now for another healthier vegetarian dish. This is a very simple salad, but what makes this my Top 3 salads ever, is the dressing. The dressing is very simple in taste to that off the sauce that is used to brush the grilled chicken. The texture is obviously a little bit different as it is more runny and less sticky in form. The crunchiness and the flavours of the dressing really make for one killer of a salad. And look at how simple it is. This is really the most simple salad I’ve ever had in my life. 

And for dessert? No, no dessert needed. The only thing you’ll need to wash down awesome food like this is a cold drink, a beer, or for those that do not drink, calpis water. 

As for where the best Yakitori place is, I really cannot comment. It is best that you discuss with the reception of where you’re staying as locals always know the go-to spots! Even if you’re not in Japan, most big cities now a day would have a place or two that grill up these goodies. 

What I really enjoy about yakitori other than the delicious food options is the ambience and elegance to it. I love how the atmosphere is super casual and puts you right at ease. The prices for the food also leaves you with no stress. Most of the time, you could find a place that will charge 100-200yen for a skewer, in which I find very reasonable considering that you’re not preparing it and you don’t have to stay for hours in front of the heat. We also pay for their expertise and of course, passion. Everything is cooked by order and freshness is always a guarantee. In Japan, this is the type of places that people would go to after a long and hard day in the office. This is the place where you grab some beer, grab some meet, grab some friends and have a fantastic time. Oh yes, by this, people tend to have yakitori meals for dinner or later on in the evening! I’ve never come across a place that does this for lunch, but there might be.. not too sure. 

Yakitori is another great reflection of Japanese cuisine: it doesn’t always have to be healthy and in small portions. This is another dimension of Japanese cuisine and culture that is a must-experience whether you’re in Japan or elsewhere! You don’t have to plan to have a meal here. By all means, this is also a place you could go after your main meal for drinks and a few bites. You could either make the whole thing a feast or just some light snacks to go with your beers. 

If you like the content of this post, or just want to check out some pictures that I take on my adventure, feel free to like and/or follow me on instagram at oat93, cheers!