yakitori
My favorite “entertainment” in Japan would definitely have to be food. Next to eating great sushi, YAKITORI restaurants would have to be 2nd favorite. This is one of my favorite yakitori places in Japan. They spread out all the food on basket woven dishes. Some of it is already skewered, and then to the right you can see they’ve stocked a fish tank with large shrimp and abalone. Again, these pictures were shot with my iphone, the quality is offensive but bear with me.
So the front of the restaurant is sort of the MENU. Its a “live” menu, as I said, with all the food they are going to grill for you. You, as the customer, can pick out what you want to eat. There are no tables here, everyone sits around the bar, surrounding the vast area of raw food in baskets.
Random white dude sitting alone to the right . He was really really cute. Like who was he? Dressed super clean and preppy, my favorite style for when it comes to guys, of course I never attract guys like this because I DRESS like a total freak. I never get crushes on people who I could possibly date, just strangers. Maybe I should start doing the whole Carolyn Bessette thing except I’m not drop dead stunning and 6 ft tall…..hmmm…
Yakitori in Japan is supposed to be entertaining in itself. Its not supposed to be “just another restaurant to eat at”, but a place where salarymen gather with or without their young mistresses to convene after work. The waiters at this restaurant, as you can see, are the stars of the show. But they are not only waiters, they are the cooks as well. I wonder where these dudes go after their work is done to let loose/eat.
Flash fried fish. As you can see, yakitori restaurants now vary from skewered meat to prepared fish. They took out a live fish from the tank, pierced the whole thing with a stick, and deep fried it. The stick was removed in this picture.
Grilled little crabs. They are supposed to be eaten as “crackers”. You obviously won’t find any substantial meat in these little crabs. The flavor of the shell is savored most.
Someone had ordered the live shrimp sashimi, with the eggs (the orange stuff). Again, a focus on “fresh” ingredients; they literally grabbed the shrimp out, dismembered the head, peeled the outer shell, and chopped the meat up and served it right away.
PART 2: YAKITORI IN the U.S.
It was only a matter of time before this popular method of cooking/eating would transfer itself to the states. Yakitori TAISHO on St. Marx street is by no means dedicated to freshness. I love coming here because I came here all the time during college and I’m attached to it but the food itself/service is mediocre. Actually the service is below mediocre, sort of heinous to the point where you have to constantly yell out for Iced water. But even with the low grade quality meat that is so chewy to the point of beef jerky, I still enjoy the food. Maybe its because I am always drinking when I’m here, everything tastes good when you’re inebriated. The yakitori here is definitely NOT the same quality but its good enough.
Again, a huge focus on the “bar” is made at all yakitori joints. Interactivity between the cooks/customer is quite important. There were too many people at the bar by this time so we got a table.
The heart of the restaurant, the skewers and grill. See that huge brownish jar? Thats where they dip all the raw meat skewers.
You can tell so much about a restaurant just from the menu. If there’s an option that says “Party” platter, you know what you’re in for…..
Too salty Edamame. Good to eat with beer.
Obligatory beer. In asian culture, you’re supposed to pour beer for your friends first. This is what Christina was doing for me. If you’re in Asia and you don’t follow this custom, they may not say anything to your face but they’ll think you’re a jerk and talk smack behind your back saying “you’ve got no manners”.
We didn’t get the party platter, and instead ordered a customized deal. You can see that freshness isn’t valued here, its more about replicating a “street food” style of serving food. These are the perfect bites to eat with beer and its easy to gossip in between when you don’t have to focus on cutting up your food with a fork & knife.
Quail egg and scallion.
1/2 bit into steak skewer. You’ll notice several things. The meat is overcooked. You can also see its “tough”, not tender. As I said I usually have to chew this off with exertion. But somehow…its ok, it tastes good.
Agedashi Tofu. Its basically super soft tofu cubes lightly fried in potato starch and then placed in a light soba sauce. Usually its garnished with scallion and Dashi as well.
Customized with a good helping of Shichimi.
Onigiri. Onigiri is exactly what the picture describes, a grilled, triangular rice ball with stuffing. On the outer edges of the rice they brush it with the teriyaki soy before they grill it. Its sort of like a big sushi ball, except this one doesn’t have the seaweed laver. Usually Onigiri is wrapped with laver. The stuffing may consist of Spicy tuna, salmon, ikura, or shrimp We ordered the one with Spicy Cod Roe, or Mentaiko. Its sort of like when you go to a convenience store, there are the pre-wrapped sandwiches…Well this is the Japanese equivalent. A triangular rice sandwich with filling. Fast, and usually eaten with your hands.
They use raw mentaiko (pickled cod roe in its raw state) but then the mentaiko becomes slightly opaque as the heat of the rice slightly cooks it. I love this. I love slightly cooked mentaiko. If you break open the Onigiri too early, your eggs may still be raw. This is usually how its eaten, in its raw state. Since they are pickled it doesn’t matter if they are uncooked. This is just how I prefer to eat it. All it takes a little patience.
For the second round of drinks we ordered Calpico cocktails.
Fried squid legs. You know how when you order Calamari from Italian restaurants they’ll give you mostly the white squid rings and then several squid legs mixed in? I only like the legs. It has a chewier texture. In Yakitori they serve squid legs separately and I’ve always appreciated that. These were very crispy (probably fried in some egg white/starch mixture) and salty…
Fresh japanese Ramen.
Noodles littered with Shichimi pepper.
The real gem of this dish is the UBER salty, UBER savory broth. This is the stuff that calms your stomach when you start to get nausea from drinking. You can see the pickled ginger (red string like texture) paints the broth pink.
Category: Food | Tags: feature 64 comments »
May 29th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
This is really fascinating. Lately I’ve been thinking more and more about going to Japan (honestly, my interest was kind of peaked looking at dropnap.jp….but its not just the fashion). It seems like an almost-mysterious culture.
May 29th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Oh and I would love love love it if you could take a look at my blog. Have a great weekend!
http://fashionroadkill-halifax.blogspot.com
May 29th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
that made me so hungry. What I wouldn’t kill to go to Japan and eat Japanese food…mmmm.
May 29th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
I'm hoping to go to Japan this summer and I will be hunting around for foodie joints like that. Those little crabs look like they're still alive… insane. I know what you mean about places that aren't good and don't cook good but somehow…. taste good. We have a place like that over here which serves fusion asian food that isn't great but get stuck into the plum wine and it all tastes fantastic.
I too am attracted to preppy dressed guys BUT dress somewhat crazily at times. I lured my boy in by dressing normal for a month but now that he takes my blog pictures he knows somewhat the extent of my wardrobe & what hes gotten himself into. Too late to back out now! ahah.
Anyway. Late night commenting is always somewhat incoherent. Great post! xoxo
May 29th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I have got to go there one day, if not necessarily for the food, just because you reccomended it.
May 29th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Ashley–
Yes I’ve checked out your blog several times! I don’t comment a ton but will definitely drop you a line..
Geisharock–
yes I know. I think its just habit, you’re used to going to some place, its comfortable, and there are already built in memories. I always go to these type of places out of habit.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
god, i love taisho (kenka as well but that’s for when you’re way past inebriated, lol)
May 29th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Great post, I didn’t know yakitori but it sounds good
You made me very hungry haha!
May 29th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Wow this was a great read thanks for posting! You know so much about food and Asian cultures lol. I wanna go to a good Yakitori restaurant now.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
I’m so jealous!! You went to Japan! I personally reallly want to go to Taiwan… These were great reviews!
May 29th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
My (white) friend has this horrifying– but hilarious– story about using a public bath in Korea: a group of little girls laughed openly at her naked body. I’m half-Korean (god, is there a better way to say that?), and now I’m terrified to go.
Sweet blog, by the way.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
the yakitori joint in japan looks unreal. i love that style cuisine experience
scallions are my favorite, grossly underused in my opinion…
May 29th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Also, someone mentioned Kenka! Such fond memories. Did anyone ever read the rules printed on the front of the menus? No masturbating in the bathrooms, and only graffiti in Japanese, please.
April
May 29th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Oak glasses;
Personally I don’t like Kenka at all. The supermarket lighting + crazy loud army music is unappealing to me but somehow everyone prefers Kenka over Yakitori. Total mystery to me..
May 29th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
I hear you– the appeal, for me, is definitely the abrasiveness of the kitsch. But only in small doses, every once in while!
(Also, having lived in NY during college, I know that part of the mass appeal was the laxness of their carding policy.)
May 29th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
You girls eat a LOT! Haha, I totally appreciate that.
I liked that you added bits about the preppy guy in Tokyo, we don’t hear enough boy-talk at Luxirare. Haha.
(Oh, my guess is that the waiter/cooks at the yakitora Japan go karaoke after wook!)
I’d eat everything in those pictures, except maybe the shrimp roe, :/ Acquired taste I think, I can’t appreciate poutry liver either.
You’re right about how you can tell a lot from a menu. The best (or rather the most expensive) ones usually just have words in fine print and no price, haha.
May 30th, 2009 at 3:01 am
oooo you hit the spot!! i was just moaning and groaning to my bf about taking a trip to japan at the end of the year. your food shots are making me so hungry even though i just ate…
i have 0 tips..not gonna lie…clearly i’ll need some from you!
May 30th, 2009 at 3:09 am
Yum, Have you been to Minca (5th St btw Ave A&B)? It's not Yakitori – really just a little noodle joint, but oh so good. The soups with house-made noodles and tea eggs are amazing and you can BYOB.
May 30th, 2009 at 4:39 am
i’m sitting here chowing down edamame and now i totally feel like taking a trip to japan.
awesome post!
May 30th, 2009 at 7:11 am
Some of that food looks a little good and some of it looks, not so good!=P
May 30th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Silje–
To each their own =)
Liz!
No, but now that you suggested it I have to go check it out
Lucrecia–
You must drag your bf and go.
Karla–
EDAMAME IS THE DEVIL. I can seriously eat it forever nonstop.
May 30th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Yo, have you tried Yakitori Toto on 55th Street? DELICIOUS. I hang out with alot of the restaurant folk and they recommend this all the time. Super insider, people barely speak English, I think me and my friends are the only Americans there sometimes. It’s on 55th between Broadway and 8th on the 2nd floor, it’s kind of right next/ above East Sushi.
May 30th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Actually the quality of your iphone photos is pretty awesome.
May 30th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
ladiv-
so weird because I was just reading a review on the newyork.com saying how fantastic that place was. I must check it out and document pictures.
May 30th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Ohhh, many a nights were spent doing horrid sake bombs at Taisho. I love the tofu. LOVEEEEEE the tofu.
Have to agree with you on Kenka. I can’t decide if it’s because it reeks of white male Asian appropriation or with all those Japanese occupation stories my grandmother used to tell me.
May 31st, 2009 at 1:10 am
you owe it to yourself seriously.
May 31st, 2009 at 1:58 am
I m seriously drooling over those food pics (except for the Edamame)! Ur blog has fast becoming one of my fav and hope u will do more foodie postings in the future.
May 31st, 2009 at 4:38 am
this posting is truly amazing!!.. i feel so inspired.. i am dying to experience these photos in my own life… wow wow wow.. yayyy life! so amazing and full of enjoyment..thanks for sharing..
May 31st, 2009 at 8:29 am
i could eat myself to death on all of this, especially the squid legs!
May 31st, 2009 at 10:18 am
Yakitori Totto is really really good. Not sure where it is but it’s a small Japanese place up some stairs. Near Broadway I think? The kurobuta pork is amazing as well as the beef tongue and chicken heart if you’re up for that kind of stuff. You should definitely give it a go.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:55 am
HA, thoroughly enjoyed this post. Taisho’s service is so mediocre, yet there’s always a 45 minute wait on weekends. I love the place though, such memories.
Also totally agree with you on being attracted to guys who look like they wouldn’t be into your style. shame shame.
May 31st, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Love the way you refer to Japan as the city, not a country, cos, that’s what it most likely is; one big city.
I wonder how the countryside looks like over there.
Also, love to torture myself with your food posts ( damn type 1 diabetes). And now back to my broccoli…
May 31st, 2009 at 1:47 pm
dust-
type 1 diabetes??? ahh this is when I start to feel guitly about posting food pics.
I meant to refer to TOKyo as the city but I made the mistake of saying “japan”. Glad you thought it was purposeful though.haha
The countryside looks very serene, full of mountains, sparsely littered homes and volcanos
ALA recherchede-
yes I don’t understand the wait on the weekends which is why I go on the weekdays. The service is really heinous but I still manage to go at least 1 a month
May 31st, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Dooon’t feel guilty!
I just wanted to tell you how broad your audience is.
And your picks are SUGARFREE too, being just pictures…
Keep the good work!!!
May 31st, 2009 at 3:16 pm
wow, you’re iphone takes pretty good pictures! mine never turn out that well!
your blog is total food porn for me! even after i’ve stuffed my face silly and on the verge of purging, your pictures still make me salivate. sorry, gross description, but you get my point =) yummm…
May 31st, 2009 at 6:00 pm
amazing, are you in japan right now?
ok, i already replied on my blog, but just in case you miss it gotta say it here too, the other one is mine, the big coloured leather one… not the grid one, i could not do ruffle knickers!
May 31st, 2009 at 6:59 pm
ooooh THANKYOU SO MUCH, I will have a look now
May 31st, 2009 at 7:06 pm
oooh you shouldn't have tempted me haha, I want them even more now but I'm afraid it would bust the bank balance, I probably need to be more pratical and get a new pair of boots for winter as I'm moving to the cold city
camille x
May 31st, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Yum yummmm… Its took me two days to go over all these photos
The foods look delicious.
xoxoxo
Nini
May 31st, 2009 at 11:05 pm
btw, i made a reference to your blog from mine. hope you don’t mind!
myweekendstyle.blogspot.com
June 1st, 2009 at 12:00 am
Even if the food/service here is mediocre, I’m still a huge fan of the pork broth ramen. Once, the chef lifted out the pigs head from the soup to show my friends and I what made it so flavorful. I was impressed, but I think my friends were revolted.
xxx,
Tiffany
June 1st, 2009 at 4:01 am
i saw these and i instantly thought of you hope you like:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALEXANDER-McQUEEN-skinny-Jeans-UK-8-BNWT-Lace-up-legs_W0QQitemZ290320441810QQcmdZViewItemQQptZWomen_s_Clothing?hash=item43987261d2&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1685%7C66%3A4%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A200
June 1st, 2009 at 8:30 am
Tinklestar–
Will check it out promptly
66sick-
OMG I had no idea! That’s why its so good…thats so crazy they showed you though
trude–
Okay, just checked the pants out and they are really really amazing. I sort of wish the lace ups were in the front!
June 1st, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Wow, what a great photo at top! I have been praising your blog to anybody who will listen recently, it really is great! xo
http://www.honeyortarr.blogspot.com/
June 1st, 2009 at 1:03 pm
i loved this post! thanks for culturing me
June 1st, 2009 at 4:20 pm
ok so gennie and i have been discussing that the three of us need to go on a major crab extravaganza.
party time excellent!
June 1st, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Salty Edamame has got to be my favorite daytime snack. I JUST made some onigiri too, with salmon though. I adore eating out in japan (although my last stay was only a week) the atmosphere is so much more lively than any other place I've ever been. Anyhow, in reply to your comment I emailed you. I would appreciate an answer, thank you <3
KISS, China L.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Hi-
I was wondering what the yakitori restaurant you featured in Tokyo is called/where it is? I happen to be in Japan right now and would really love to go! Thanks
June 1st, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Hi anon,
here is all the info for you.
[ADRESS]
Postal Code : 106-0032
1F 7-8-4 Roppongi Minato-ku Tokyo, JAPAN
[SUBWAY]
・Toei Oedo Line “Roppongi” Station EXIT No.7
・Tokyo Metro Hibiya line “Roppongi” Station EXIT No.4A
[TEL]
+81-3-3408-9674 (From Over Seas)
03-3408-9674 (Local)
[FAX]
+81-3-3408-7110 (From Over Seas)
03-3408-7110 (Local)
[OPEN]
PM5:00～PM11:00
*Seven days a week. (Closed on New Years holiday)
Please inquire.
If you want more info about reservations, go to their website, they have english translation
http://www.roppongi-robataya.com/
enjoy it!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:13 am
What an amazing post! Thanks for sharing!
I am hoping to go to Japan for the 1st time end of this year, and can’t wait! LOVE Japanese food! I’ve tried Yakitori here Down Under, but am not sure how authentic it is…
xx
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:40 am
Whoaaa, this is awesome!! I LOVE sushi…I’d love to go to Japan some day and try it, for the experience. YUMMM! Great pictures and post.
xox, mavi
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:36 am
Oh, funny. I just got back from a week in Tokyo doing street-snaps and eating ridiculous amounts of sushi/yakitori. Now that we have an Ippudo and Setagaya in NYC, I don’t have to gorge myself on ramen in Tokyo. Fuku in Yoyogi is my fave yakitori place in Tokyo.
But yes, definitely try Yakitori Totto even tho its in Midtown and its a bit pricier. But they have the good stuff like bonchiri (tail) and I guess the cartilage, but I don’t like that so much…
I just found your blog and I love it! My two favorite things — fashion and food. God, I’m so Asian.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 am
it’s boring to see so much pictures of food
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
mmm…everything looks so delicious !
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:33 pm
argh! why do you always have to food posts when im sitting in my uni library supposed to be studying?!
mmm so hungry now…
i love edamame. could finish bowls and bowls of it non-stop.
just wanted to ask, when you went to japan did you either speak the language/know someone who was already living there? id love to go to Japan but am a bit apprehensive about going there and not having anyone to show me around and explaining to me when i was being culturally offensive…
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I tried that yakitori place for the first time during my last visit and loved the hipster/dirty waiters/cramp seating vibe. The food was very comforting, especially if you're going with a few friends. I don't really ask for much when dining, just decent simple foods and it definitely did the trick for me.
I've always wondered how the Japanese can be so over the top but demure at the same time. I think because they're all robots now, but I've always been way more interested in the more traditional Japanese culture.
(BTW: Anthony Bourdain's Japanese excursions are always the best!)
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:56 am
Love the images you took – thanks for sharing. I've always found it incredibly difficult to find good Japanese food outside of Japan. It's probably worse if you've been there and have something to compare, but I have yet to find a place with the same level of freshness and perfect mix of ingredients. I think a lot of places try to put a spin on it or substitute certain ingredients with others. What still baffles me though, is that even the cities that get local seafood produce will go through the effort of shipping in seafood from Japan so they can label it "japanese', which completely misses the point of fresh food. I've had raw tuna served to me 5 minutes after it was fished from the water, so having it flown across a continent first won't really be the same. There are still places outside of Japan I love though, I guess tastebuds can't get used to anything after a while!
June 5th, 2009 at 12:19 am
this looks really delicious. i've always wanted to try yakitori but the lines at ALL of the restaurants on Saint Marks are always crazy long!
i will definitely try this place the next time i go to tokyo!
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:58 am
your amazing – i totally love your blog and your passion for two of my most fave things, food and fashion. Just wonderful.
August 7th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Okay, very random, but this post just really freaked my out. Not because of the food, but because the girl the background of your japan pic looks exactly like me. Strangely enough, I was in Japan in January, but it is def not me. I dont usually wear my glasses out and wear my watch on the other wrist. Random, but yea, still freaked me out.
September 10th, 2009 at 12:45 am
randomly walking through but I must say: robataya != yakitoriya.
both good but different.
in NYC, for Yakitori:
Totto is the best, Yakitori Torys is good, but not as good (IMO – others online seem to disagree)
Both of them have a wider menu than pure yakitori.
there are also robataya in NYC…
October 16th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Hi lady! Just came across your website today via the bento box post, and it is mesmerizing. creative and detailed and just lovely. I’ll be traveling to Tokyo next month with another lady friend, and i was just curious where else did you go, or what did you do there that was amazing? The last time I was there was in 2005 and my Japanese was mediocre then, and yet a lifetime better than it is now. Just curious if you know the language, and if not if it was hard getting around. If so, its amazing that you found such a great place. thanks for expanding the walls of the internets!
-jade
October 28th, 2009 at 8:34 am
[...] Yakitori [...]
January 7th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
yes, totto is my go-to as well, and its very good!