Behind the Counter at a Japanese Yakitori Shop of a 72 year old Master

Jul 09, 2023 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Hidden Secret Food Spot location in Tokyo Nakameguro. This local Japanese Yakitori Chicken Skewer Restaurant gained a reputation among locals for its high quality, freshness and authenticity.

Just a 3 minute walk from Tokyo’s nakameguro station, I’m taking you behind the counter of this hidden gem and into the heart of one of my favorite yakitori shops. The yakitori shop is run by a 72-year old master, that’s been around for almost 30 years serving freshly grilled chicken skewers. Starting at 18, years of hard work, dedication and passion for his craft allowed him to build 6 successful yakitori shops while also endearing his customers to a point where they don’t call him master, but rather “the Legend”. The shop uses a special ‘Date-dori chicken’ which is delivered fresh every single day directly from a farm in the southern part of Japan’s Tohoku region. The chickens are raised near pristine waters and natural surroundings and are known for their exceptional quality, taste, soft and juicy texture with an elegant umami flavor. In Japan, it’s typical to have counter seats like this where the yakitori is grilled in the center by the chef. It may be quite intimidating to those who’ve never experienced it before, but it’s actually a great way to order as you can see what everyone else is eating which allows customers to point at the various foods to the chef that they might want to try for themself. Inomata san says that there’s often a chain reaction when someone orders a chicken skewer and the people around see it and end up ordering the same item.

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