Four Yakitori restaurants you must go in Tokyo

Tokyo is home to some of the best yakitori (grilled skewered chicken) restaurants in the world, offering everything from casual, no-frills spots to Michelin-starred establishments. Here are five of the top places you can experience yakitori in Tokyo:

1. Toriyoshi

• Location: Meguro
• Why go: Toriyoshi is a well-known yakitori spot that offers a traditional experience with a focus on high-quality ingredients and meticulous preparation. They offer a variety of chicken cuts, from the more common to the rare, such as chicken heart and gizzards, all grilled to perfection over binchotan charcoal.
• Must-try: Tori-kushi (grilled chicken skewers), Tsukune (chicken meatballs), and their signature Toriyoshi sauce.

Toriyoshi (鳥吉)

2. Bird Land

• Location: Ginza
• Why go: This Michelin-starred yakitori restaurant is one of the best places for a refined yakitori experience. Bird Land serves skewers made from high-quality chicken, often paired with a selection of sake or wine. The chefs are meticulous about preparing each skewer, ensuring it’s grilled to perfection.
• Must-try: Various cuts of chicken, especially the tori kushi and the negima (chicken with leek), as well as the chawanmushi (savory egg custard).

Bird Land Ginza Yakitori restaurant in Tokyo

3. Yakitori Imai

• Location: Akasaka
• Why go: Yakitori Imai offers an intimate and exclusive dining experience with expertly grilled skewers. This restaurant prides itself on its use of premium, locally sourced ingredients and the expertise of its chefs, who grill each skewer to order over white-hot charcoal.
• Must-try: The kawa (crispy chicken skin), momo (chicken thigh), and reba (chicken liver).

Yakitori Imai in Shibuya

4. Sumiyaki Toriyoshi

• Location: Shibuya
• Why go: Toriyoshi is a traditional yakitori restaurant that offers a wide variety of chicken cuts, each grilled on skewers over traditional charcoal. The atmosphere is welcoming, with both counter and table seating, making it a great spot for casual dinners.
• Must-try: The toriwasa (fresh, rare chicken), chicken liver, and their negi (chicken with scallions).

Sumiyaki Toriyoshi Tokyo Shibuya

Each of these restaurants offers a different experience but all deliver excellent yakitori. Whether you’re looking for an upscale tasting menu or a more casual, authentic yakitori experience, you’ll find something to suit your taste in Tokyo.

Other recommendation:

Things to do in Tokyo：Imperial Palace

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Written by Tsuyoshi, Tokyo AIC Associate writer
Living in Sapporo, Hobby Golf.