10 Best Yakitori Restaurants In Tokyo

1. Yakitori Imai

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Yakitori Imai will not disappoint! The owner Takashi Imai has successfully given customers the gourmet yakitori experience, often pairing his yakitori with craft beer and wine to compliment the taste.

Be sure to try the signature ‘isobe’, which is rare breast meat wrapped in seaweed, and tsukune, which is minced chicken patties, both of which are paired with vegetables.

Yakitori Imai

Address: 3-42-11 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Website: Yakitori Imai

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 5:30pm – 10pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

2. Yakitori Ogawa

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Yakitori Ogawa is found in the center of Arakicho, the nightlife center of West Yotsuya. This yakitori restaurant is unique in that it strays away from the traditional tavern set up of yakitori restaurants.

This establishment is small and intimate, containing only around 15 seats facing an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare the meal. It is similar to a sushi restaurant where your meal is served in courses.

Yakitori Ogawa

Address: 9-1 Araki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 5pm - 11:30pm (closed on Mon)

3. Toritama Honkan

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Toritama Honkan is a great place for those who want to try something out of the ordinary. While most yakitori restaurants serve the common parts of a chicken for customers, Toritama Honkan prides itself on its beak-to-tail yakitori. They offer a whopping 30 selections for the kind of meat you can have on the skewer.

Aside from the usual cuts, they also offer organs such as the spleen, heart, and even more. You can wash the dish down with some top-quality sake.

Toritama Honkan

Address: 6 Chome-22-19 Shirokane, Minato City, Tokyo 108-0072

Website: Toritama Honkan

Opening hours: Wed - Fri: 5pm - 12am; Sat: 4pm - 12am; Sun: 5pm - 11pm; Mon: 5pm - 12am (closed on Tue)

4. Torisawa

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Torisawa is a place that offers a wide variety of exquisite yakitori with a lot of different chicken parts such as chicken liver and ovaries that are grilled to perfection. You are guaranteed to have your taste buds go for a ride in this restaurant.

The perfectly grilled chicken is accentuated with sauces, one of which the chef only refers to only as their “special sauce.” If you’re confused about what to order, you should choose the famous omakase, a selection of dishes chosen by the chef.

Torisawa

Address: 2-24-13 Kameido, Koto-ku, Tokyo

Opening hours: Mon - Thurs 5:30pm - 11pm; Fri: 5:30pm - 11:30pm; Sat: 5:30 pm - 11pm (closed on Sun)

5. Yakitori Ebisu

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

The savory scent of chicken being grilled on charcoal will bring you straight to the doors of Yakitori Ebisu. Aside from traditional yakitori dishes, they also offer pork, beef, and vegetable skewers. They are also proud of their izakaya-style dishes. The wide array of choices is complemented by artisan sake from across the country.

Whether you’re here solo or with a group, Yakitori Ebisu is the place to dine, drink, and have a good time.

Yakitori Ebisu

Address: 3 Chome-11-5 Nishiogiminami, Suginami City, Tokyo 167-0053

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 4pm - 10pm; Sat: 12pm - 10:30pm; Sun: 12pm - 9:30pm

6. Torishiki

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Torishiki is at the pinnacle of gourmet yakitori. The restaurant has a classy setting accentuated by the charcoal-grey walls and wooden sliding doors draped with noren curtains. The head chef, Yoshiteru Ikegawa, is dubbed the Yakitori Maestro.

The interior is small, plain, and intimate, and the seats run along the three sides of the chef’s workspace so that the yakitori can be served straight from the grill to the customer, which is how Ikegawa believes it should be served. You do not have to worry about ordering because omakase, the chef’s choice of dishes, is the norm at this restaurant. You need only sit back and watch the chef assemble your skewers and enjoy your night.

Torishiki

Address: 2 Chome-14-12 Kamiosaki, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 141-0021, Japan

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 5pm - 11pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

7. Shibuya Morimoto

Shibuya Morimoto has been around since 1952 and has become quite a well-known restaurant, and it is only 300 m (984.2 ft) away from the famous Hachiko Memorial Statue.

Shibuya Morimoto opens at 4pm and you may need to get there quick before they’re sold out for the day. They can fit up to 25 people inside sitting shoulder to shoulder at counters, a traditional setup to encourage socializing. If you’re in Shibuya, you have to stop by at this yakitori restuarant.

Shibuya Morimoto

Address: 2 Chome-7-4 Dogenzaka, 渋谷区 Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0043, Japan

Website: Shibuya Morimoto

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 4pm - 11pm; Sat: 4pm - 10pm (closed on Sun)

8. Bird Land

Bird Land is located in the basement of a subway station, but don’t be fooled, the restaurant has a Michelin star.

When you enter the shop, you are greeted by the loud conversations of lively customers and a smokey atmosphere mixed with the aroma of grilled chicken from the kitchens. It is suggested that you go by the chef’s omakase to have the best experience. You should definitely not miss this restaurant while visiting Tokyo.

Bird Land

Address: B1F, Tsukamoto Sozan Bldg, 4-2-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0061, Japan

Website:

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Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 5pm - 10:30pm (closed on Sun & Mon)

9. FUKU Yakitori

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

FUKU Yakitori is within a five-minute walk from Yoyogi-Uehara station and is easily accessible. You should call ahead for reservations because the place is almost always packed, with enough space for seating just 25 customers at a time.

Aside from the usual yakitori offerings, they also take pride in their house specials, such as the chicken tail.

FUKU Yakitori

Address: 3 Chome-23-4 Nishihara, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0066

Website: FUKU Yakitori

Opening hours: Thu - Tue: 5pm - 11pm (closed on Wed)

10. Tokoshima

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Besides the usual chicken cuts, Tokoshima also serves out-of-the-ordinary parts such as gizzards, hearts, and the like. The chef cuts the chicken by themselves. A variety of sake is also provided at the restaurant for the convenience of guests.

Fresh seasonal vegetables are acquired by the restaurant to craft truly exemplary dishes. The chicken is grilled on a charcoal fire, imbuing the signature smokey flavor to the yakitori.

Tokoshima

Address: 〒154-0024 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Sangenjaya, 2 Chome−8−10 ルナパーク三軒茶屋 105

Website: Tokoshima

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 5:00 pm - 11:30 pm (closed on Sun)

Embark on a culinary adventure in Tokyo

If you’re looking for a place to grab some food in Tokyo and maximize your experience of Japan, go out and get some yakitori. The above list has a range of restaurants that specialize in various styles of preparing yakitori, be it a traditional take, gourmet style, or a more unique twist. There is no shortage of yakitori in Tokyo, so surely, this guide will help you find the best spots to make the experience one that you and your tummy will never forget!