Inexpensive for a decent amount of food, great service, fast prep times, engaged wait staff Wholesome spot overall, tight space not a lot of extended seating so go with parties 4/5 or smaller

+6

I first came here 10 years ago as a young college student. It was my very first trip to NYC and my aunt and uncle treated me to an amazing dinner here. Cut to 10 years later and I brought my parents, grandma, and brother here on their first trip to visit me in NYC since I moved here. The food was just as delicious as I remembered and the staff were fantastic. The atmosphere is amazing and you truly feel transported. The chicken with wasabi was a stand out for me. Other highlights were the mushroom skewers with scallops, the tuna sashimi, the stuffed shishito peppers, and the short rib skewers. I wish I had more pictures of the food but we all devoured it so quickly! I’ll definitely be back again and will not wait another 10 years this time!

One of my neighborhood go-tos. Been coming here for over 15 years now, and the quality is still consistently great. For yakitori, it’s one of the the best quality and value there is in NYC. Torishin may be more high end in terms of decor and atmosphere and offer slightly more variety, it is also higher in pricing. So to me, Yakitori Totto comparatively is of good value without sacrificing quality. Order the specials early for they sell out quickly. The extensive selection of yakitori is great, and I personally love the kyona salad, and for lunch, I really enjoy the ramen of all the lunch dishes.

This place was fantastic, you must try the stuffed pepper yakitori! Staff was friendly and helpful. Try to reserve a head of time this place is very very busy.

+2

Excellent food and a staff who were perfectly welcoming, attentive while discreet and unhurried. A new favorite!

authentic Japanese yakitori at a reasonable price for NYC. Good service and atmosphere. Beer was super expensive so better for tea drinkers.

One of my favorite yakitori places outside of Japan. The selection is generous though limited compared to what you get in the mainland but tasty nevertheless. Prices are reasonable with each skewer going between $3.50 and $8 (if you count things like a single lamb chop as a skewer.) It gets plenty crowded even during the week so come prepared to wait - it is definitely worth the wait. One quick gripe - the plum wine (梅酒) was decidedly worse than expected. There wasn't really a selection and what was available wasn't really anything to write home about.

+6

If you want to try the special menu come earlier because they run out. We got only one skewer from the special menu the chicken neck. Overall the food was great but it didnt sit so well with my stomach in the end. The sago tea dessert was fantastic however.

Yes, yes, yes. What a great find for my bf and I who are food enthusiasts, especially when travelling! The food here was delicious, we commented on each one as they were brought to our table. The service was also very pleasant. The tables are a bit close to one another, easily disrupting your neighbour's meal if someone needs to get up from the inside bench, but cosy nonetheless.

+6

This is a review for lunch, which is an amazing value. You can get 3 skewers over rice with miso soup and a salad for $11.50. For the quality of food that you get, it's pretty amazing. It's also amazing because it's hard to find decent yakitori in NYC, but even more so at this price when you go for lunch.

This is my favorite of favorites in nyc. The stuff I recommend most is the LIMITED category. Normally, you can order only one for each entry in that category for one person. I have tried neck, tail, heart and heart source. I love the heart source and the chicken neck the most. I heard the others in LIMITED are also good. I also like the pork neck and premium beef. Premium beef is a little fatty, I personally taste it with a little wasabi. Not a big fan of his thick beef tongue. I usually ordered the Takana Jako, which is delicious but does not easily make you feel full like eel bowl.

+5

Yakitori Totto in NYC is a culinary gem. The skewers are a flavorful dance of perfectly grilled ingredients, each bite a tantalizing blend of textures and tastes. The cozy ambiance and authentic Japanese grill experience elevate the dining adventure. From succulent chicken to expertly crafted small plates, every dish showcases culinary finesse. The extensive sake selection complements the meal seamlessly. Yakitori Totto is a haven for food enthusiasts, a place where traditional techniques meet modern palate delights, leaving patrons with a savory memory of New York's exceptional dining scene.

+5

Really enjoyed eating Yakitori here. Nice ambiance and decor, feels like you are in an old yakitori place in Japan. All the yakitories are great, the chicken oyster, wings, and Kalbi were my favorites. I also liked the Junmai sake recommended by our host.

+4

Amazing food, great service. Get the chicken skin and shitake mushrooms. My favorite were the meatballs... They were super juicy! From the appetizers, I recommend the eggplant! The fried chicken is perfect. Remember to seize the lemon on it but careful, it's hot! Nothing beats fresh.

ATMOSPHERE: Small but cozy space with a bar that faces right into the grill area where you can watch the chefs masterfully cooking skewers. FOOD: Rice balls (4.5 out of 5): Eating loads of grilled meats leaves me wanting some rice, but nobody wants a bowl of boring white rice. Instead, these rice balls are grilled to a crispy outside and glazed with a savory sauce. We got both the yakitori sauce and miso sauce, both were delicious, and the miso was the stronger flavor of the two (and a bit saltier). Nasu Mizore Gake - eggplant (5 out of 5): Really soft eggplant with mushrooms and mochi balls in a really umami-filled rich savory broth. Eringi - King oyster mushroom (5 out of 5): I didn't think I'd like a mushroom skewer so much, but this was actually one of the best skewers of the night. Very rich in flavor. Shishito peppers (3 out of 5): Very good for shishito peppers, but personally I'd choose other options over this. Tori Dango (4.5 out of 5): Tender and flavorful chicken balls. Kalbi (4 out of 5): Good flavor. I've had kalbi many places before and this skewer was just as expected. Zaru tofu (3.5 out of 5): Very mild flavor of house-made silken tofu, which are meant to be eaten with the bonito flakes and other condiments. Was nice, lite, and refreshing if that's what you're looking for, but for me I typically prefer strong flavors. Matcha Tea Affogato (4.5 out of 5): Nice dessert to top off the evening. Not to sweet, but a nice ice cream that you pour the matcha over to balance out and cut some of the sweetness.

+2

Great service and amazing food. Only in New York you can taste yakitori from Japan

Been coming this place for long time. Love the low key atmosphere and tasty skewers. Tako wasa is a must

+2

perfection. everything is delicious. you cannot go wrong with anything you order. service was professional and attentive. it’s never a trip to NY without a visit to this tiny hole in the wall with the best food of its type.

Very good Yakitori Place in NYC. They serves differents kinds of delicious yakitori. Sake and Japanese beers were also good enough. They closed until late night.

+6

This isn't fancy restaurant but you can absolutely enjoy authentic Japanese Yakitori as well as small dishes which mostly served at Izakaya in Japan. The atmosphere is totally Yakitori restaurant or Izakaya(Basically both restaurant have quite similar atmosphere in Japan.). I had deep fried eggplant and mochi with soy sauce dashi soup and grated Daikon radish and Nameko mushroom. That was fantastic!! Yes. OMG! All stuffs are super kind and table and seats are clean. My brain got confused like Am I in Japan now? :) I can definitely recommend this restaurant to those who is looking for authentic Japanese food or Japanese restaurant atmosphere. If they have Yuzu-kosho which is seasoning made of Yuzu and pepper, it's 200% perfect and satisfied!

+6

Situated near the bustling heart of Columbus Circle, Yakitori Totto offers a dining experience that masterfully blends tradition and warmth. During a recent visit for their lunch special, I was immediately struck by the restaurant’s intimate atmosphere, which evokes a sense of nostalgia. The warm lighting and cozy layout make it feel like a hidden retreat from the city’s energy. Sitting at the counter, I watched the chefs expertly grill skewers to perfection right before my eyes, a detail that elevates the entire experience. The yakitori itself was exceptional—each skewer bursting with flavor, showcasing the precision and artistry behind their preparation. In addition to the lunch special, I indulged in a few extra skewers, each one a testament to the restaurant’s commitment to quality ingredients and authentic technique. For anyone seeking a dining experience that combines incredible food with an inviting ambiance, Yakitori Totto is an absolute must-visit. It’s the perfect spot for a meal that feels both comforting and extraordinary.

I almost don't want to give this place more positive reviews because I don't want anyone else to find out about this small gem in NYC. The food is just perfect. Every bite of it. There are loads and loads of vegetarian and vegan options. The food is always cooked perfectly and it comes out to you within a decent time. It's just small in here. Very small and tight. If you sit at the main bar area where you can see them grilling the food (which I recommend) you will be rubbing elbows with the person next to you.

This small lively restaurant was well worth the reservation. Each and order was delicious and I had no complaints for any of our dishes. We ordered quite a bit including waygu beef, eel, lamb chops, chicken heart and gizzard, and pork jowl. I would recommend this location to anyone! If you found my review helpful, follow my local guide profile to see my experiences with other destinations!

+4

Not sure how I haven’t reviewed Yakitori Totto before, but it’s really become a required stop every time I’m visiting NYC. It’s tiny and feels like it is straight out of a side street in Tokyo but the food is amazing - flavorful and cooked perfectly. Book ahead of time and try to eat right when they open so you have room to breathe. Service can be a bit rushed at times when they are busy but they are quick to serve you and provide drink refills. You have to be able to walk up a pretty steep flight of stairs from street level to get in.

+4

My friend and I enjoyed a great dinner at Yakitori Totto. My favorite dish was the tori dango with steamed rice dumplings filled with chicken meatballs, and the beef tongue was also fantastic. The Tebasaki chicken wings, broiled eel, bacon wrapped asparagus and the shishito peppers were also highlights of the meal. The service was great, and the food came out quickly. The waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and made great recommendations. The food was fantastic, and the prices were very reasonable. I would definitely come back here again. The restaurant was very busy, but the service was great. Our waitress was very attentive and helpful. The food was fantastic.

+6

We had a great time at Yakitori Totto! I recommend getting a reservation ahead of time, as they don't accept them same day. We waited about 30 minutes for a party of 3 on a Friday - not bad at all for NYC. The hostess, waitress, and staff were all very friendly, helpful, and accommodating. The ambiance was great and not too loud. They have seats along the entrance way so you can sit down and wait until you're called. We ordered a bunch of different yakitori and some appetizers. Everything tasted amazing and the service was fairly quick. They have a variety of options, including yakitori with beef, seafood, pork, or vegetables instead of chicken. My favorites were definitely the chicken neck skewers, chicken heart skewers, and the roasted garlic. The scallops were perfectly cooked and the skirt steak skewers was perfectly seasoned. We will definitely come back and/or recommend to friends!

+1

I’m French, and I was visiting New York, looking for a really good Japanese restaurant!! I absolutely loved this place! The food was out of this world — such an amazing culinary experience. Everything was so fresh and authentic. If you’re looking for a real Japanese restaurant in New York, this is the one. The staff were incredibly kind and welcoming too!

Great place for having one of the best yakitori experience you could ever taste! However, one thing you might want to know is that ‘limited’ menus aren’t always available and you may want to be the first one to arrive to at least get some of the limited parts from the menu. If my memory is correct, the waitress advised me that they bring in their limited parts on Wednesday where you may have the highest chance to get your hands on them!👏

+6

On the 2nd floor in midtown west, this place is so good and a good experience. I loved sitting at the bar by the grill. Tons of skewered meats and veggies + bowls / noodles if you prefer. Highlights were the beef skewers, momo chicken, shishito peppers, and octopus balls. They have great drinks too, great highball. I honestly usually take more food photos for Google reviews, but was really into the experience so I forgot!

Quaint restaurant in a nook. Great authentic Japanese skewers. They have chicken skin, heart, gizzard, thigh, and more! We also enjoyed their pork and beef skirt skewers. Their pudding dessert was especially delicious!

Pretty good yakitori place on the second floor. This place is pretty small so you may have to wait for a table or spot at the bar. Go early because they have special skewers that run out; for example, the chicken oysters (muscle in the thigh) was amazing but they didn't have it this time I went. I also enjoyed the grilled eggplant dish (under hot appetizers); it had a lot of depth of flavor. The grilled smelt was also flavorful. You can eat the whole thing, bones and all. There was really good roe on the inside. Sake / wine list has some good selections. The service is friendly but maybe a little slow.

+1

Perfection in grilling! Their yakitori are grilled to perfection, with just a right char. Service is awesome. I will highly recommend a reservation. I came here alone and didn't have a reservation but luckily was seated by the yakitori bar. Grilled chicken skin yakitori was great as well as a duo of scallop and king mushroom yakitori. I was in a hurry so I just ordered these two things. Looking forward to try other menu.

+6

We came here on a Friday night and made a reservation ahead of time bc they have limited seatings. The food were GOOOOOOOD!!!! We ordered almost everything(yakitori) on the menu and everything was delicious. The drinks were good too they have fruity flavor shouchu at a pretty reasonable price. Their service was great and food was delicious and price was very affordable. Would definitely come back again!

+6

We went here for my partners birthday. It was an absolutely amazing experience. Everything was so delicious. I can still imagine the taste of the wagyu melting in my mouth. The prices are incredibly reasonable for yakitori. My favorites where the stuffed shisito peppers, the kalbi beef, the miso eggplant and the wagyu.

First time coming here after watching the interview between Anderson Cooper and Anthony Bourdain. The grilled meat and vegetables here are PHENOMENAL. Cooked to perfection and affordable. Juicy yet not overly tender. The perfect transfer of flavor of the grill. Don’t pass on the dessert either, the banana pudding and tofu pudding were another level. Service is casual and efficient. Highly recommend.

+3

when I miss my childhood home of Tokyo THIS is where I go. like any solo diner in Japan, I grab a seat at the counter, and immediately order my favorites: tebasaki (chicken wings), tsukune (chicken meatball), shishito, hatsu (chicken heart). Sometimes I get a highball, sometimes I get sake, but I *always* enjoy my time here.

+1

Really enjoyed our dinner here - came on a Tuesday night with a reservation, which I'd recommend - the place was packed throughout the evening and it's not a big venue to start with. We ordered the chicken skin and heart (of course), the pork neck, miso aubergine, shisito peppers stuffed with tsukune, okra with bonito, grilled rice cakes with miso and some other assorted sides. The chicken skin, neck, okra, and stuffed peppers are must-orders in my book. Annoyed we forgot to order the smelt! The cocktail drinks weren't anything super special, just fine - so I feel like there's other places you can go before/after if you're inclined. The matcha affogato was a little odd (the matcha is of course quite runny), but the mochi in the dish were wonderful. If you're fancying a sweet treat, my vote goes for the apricot kernel pudding instead - a soft, creamy, pannacotta like option.

We had an amazing dinner last night at Yakitori Totto All staff were sweet and nice even though we were the last customers of that day The food and environment were very authentic, I really loved the taste of short rib, rib finger, mushroom, and shishito pepper chicken thingy I will def go back soon 😋 perfect dinner spot after late night Broadway show

Came here for the eel over rice and very satisfying! Surprisingly the Takoyaki is the crispiest that I’ve ever had! Overall every dish is delicious and I like the way you can order just one piece each and try more variety.

+1

Maksuda Nabi

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five-Star Review for Yakitori Totto Yakitori Totto is a true gem! From the moment you step inside, you’re welcomed by a cozy, authentic Japanese atmosphere that instantly sets the mood for a fantastic dining experience. The yakitori is absolutely outstanding — perfectly grilled, incredibly tender, and packed with smoky, savory flavor. Each skewer is cooked to perfection, with just the right balance of seasoning and char. The variety of options is impressive, and everything we tried was fresh and delicious. The side dishes and small plates were just as flavorful and complemented the meal beautifully.

Mark Cruz

I do love coming here for great Yakitori when I’m in town. The first time was on a recommendation by a friend who lives nearby and last time was our trip to see a broadway show. All the skewers are so delicious and the servers are great. I’m so glad the are still around and serving great food. I recommended getting here early as there is limited seating.

Paul C

Yakitori Totto is easily my favorite yakitori spot in the city, and I’ve been coming here consistently for years. It’s a great value, casual, and always welcoming. The staff is genuinely friendly, and at this point they recognize me when I walk in. Especially this one server Steven always consistent and greeting me with a smile and already knows my usual order. I’ve been treated well from my very first visit, and that consistency keeps me coming back. I will admit it's not the absolute best and you shouldn't compare it to other high end places but it's great for a casual easy meal the menu delivers every time. The only gripe I have is that the specials tend to sell out quickly, so you have to time your visit right to catch them. Highly recommended Grab an Asahi draft and a couple of skewers with some friends and you won't be disappointed.

S A

I have been here many times over the years and it's always a wonderful experience. I usually get most of the vegetable skewers and chicken and wagyu skewers. they have wonderful selection of drinks. What seems like a very unassuming restaurant is a hidden gem. I love this place and will be bringing my party of 6 there next week celebrating the closing of our play.

C D

Fantastic food and wish I took more pictures but my wife ate before I could take photos! It was so good - she wanted to pay for the meal which is a first time in years.

Anna Zhang

This is my FAVORITE yakitori place in NYC 💕 The moment you walk in, the lively atmosphere and the smoky aroma from the grill set the tone🍢The yakitori is outstanding — perfectly grilled with a crispy char on the outside and juicy tenderness inside😍😍Highly recommend the chicken knee bones and chicken oyster for something unique and flavorful. Agedashi Tofu is also a great option😋😋 Service is attentive yet unobtrusive, and the menu has plenty of variety. Portions are on the smaller side, which makes it fun to order multiple skewers and share.🙌🏻 The quality and authentic experience are well worth it. Whether it’s a casual dinner with friends or an after-work drink with skewers 🍻🍻Yakitori Totto is easily one of the best spots in New York for authentic Japanese yakitori.

D. Michl Lowe

While the actual building footprint is small, the food was amazing and the prices were not bad at all. We left fat and happy for sure!

+4

Jason Backus

I travel a lot, but Yakitori Totto gave me one of the most memorable meals I’ve had in NYC — and maybe anywhere. Tucked away upstairs on a shadowy stretch of 55th St, it feels like a secret you're lucky to find. The kind of place you have to know about, and once you do, you never forget it. I started with the shishito pepper appetizer (perfect level of heat and char), then moved into a knockout trio: crispy chicken skin, enoki mushrooms wrapped in bacon, and melt-in-your-mouth short rib skewers. The flavors were deep, smoky, and balanced — so much so that I doubled up on the enoki and short rib because I just couldn’t leave without having them again. But the biggest surprise of the night? Dessert. I ordered the matcha tea affogato on a whim, and it completely blew me away — creamy ice cream, red beans, lychee, toasted sesame seeds, and a warm matcha syrup poured over the top. It was unexpected, comforting, and complex. Honestly, the best bite of the night. The vibe is cozy, the service is warm, and the food is unforgettable. Yakitori Totto is everything I love about New York dining: unpretentious, passionate, and quietly perfect.

Rachel Santillo

Absolutely mouthwatering. I enjoyed a glass of yuzu sake with the salmon crispy rice followed by the kalbi don. Everything was excellent and the service was very friendly. As I was dining alone, I really could have skipped the appetizer because it ended up being far more food than I needed BUT, I'm glad I didn't because the crispy salmon (or "cripsy" as it's listed on the menu) was delicious. But the kalbi don! Oh my oh my goodness. Absolutely sumptuous. The beef was so tender and perfectly cooked it melted in my mouth like butter. Seasoned rice and an onsen egg pulled it all together. Simple perfection. I don't know when I'll find myself back in New York, but when I do, I'll be seeking out this gem of a restaurant again.

Eui Sun Chung

We ordered a variety of yakitori, and every single one was delicious. The chicken wings were especially outstanding, with a subtle smoky flavor. They would pair perfectly with beer as a snack. We visited for lunch and had yakitori along with ochazuke, which was also incredibly tasty.

+2

J Y

Such a wonderful dinner! Everything was simply delicious. The eel especially perfectly cooked - not too greasy; just tender and fresh to the exact amount. I loved the matcha affogato. My favorite dessert of this year. Service was attentive. Place was busy but not too loud. Window seating was lovely. Pricing was fine - approximately $50 per person. Be aware they don’t take Apple Pay though

+2

Daniel Borenstein

This is my favorite Yakitori spot in NYC. I come a few times a year and every time is always delicious. With a fantastic selection of skewers you can get a little bit of everything here from skin to heart. The kibi dango are also delicious (but order them first as they take 20min or so). The staff have always been very friendly and accommodating to my friends who have allergies. Highly recommend visiting this spot if you're a fan of Yakitori.

+2

Sheau Ng

Hidden gem in midtown. I’ve been coming here for more than a decade, and their service and quality remain consistently top notch. To finish your meal, negitori-don or some rice bowl or udon is a must. And my favorite dessert here is their annin tofu. We were party of 4, full and satisfied for a tad over $130. That’s a steal for midtown dinner.

+8

The staff is super friendly and the food is decent. Recommend roasted beef don and salad.

+1

Decent yakitori place. Reminds me of Yakitori Taisho in the 90s (not today's). Price is "reasonable", given the options available in NYC these days (especially since how Tashio is these days). I recommend you try it once, but I am not sure if I will come here often.

+6

It’s a small restaurant pack of diners. Yakitori is fine not really amazing, but will recommend Ochoa Zuke with salmon! The service is nice, and the location is easy to find as well!

+3

Yakitori place with a decent number of selections. It was a pain to get a reservation here. The chicken was generally well done, but I was not a big fan of their vegetables

My first time experience was great. The dishes are pricy but they were all yummy and the service was great. Second time I traveled from Brooklyn to get there but there was error from the restaurant vs. the google reservation confirmation so I could not eat there. Unfortunately the host could not do anything about it.

+3

Love this place. I’d come more often if I lived closer, but it’s as close as we can get short of going back to Tokyo. Service also great. Don’t think so just go and eat everything. Be open to organ meat.

+6

We got here at 11:30am on a Saturday and by 11:45 it was packed and there was a queue. I enjoyed this place, had a more modern decor. It brings u back to a more upscale Japanese yakitori place. Overall, pretty solid food, but it was expensive. I would come back again now that we know what kind of yakitori is good here.

+4

Food was excellent. Portions are a bit small, especially for the price. Service was slow as they seemed understaffed - our 3 min wait for the table to be set up was more like 15 mins after the waitress assured us twice.

+5

The yakitori here is OK, and the Karage is a bit dry and be sure to ask for the Mayo! The chicken skin is a bit too stale, there is no significant taste of salt or tare (sauce) for the yakitori. The chicken thigh (momo) is good but also not that juicy. The beer and highball here are also ok but not surprising. Overall, it is still a good choice for Yakiotri Izakaya in the area!

+1

This was a reliable old standby in the Columbus Circle area. Food was still quite good but it seems to need a refresher, felt rather stale. Prices are kinda high where it used to be a value, now seems a little gouging.

Authentic Japanese yakitori place! The environment was nice, staff was friendly, food was above average. Reason why 4 star was, two of us spent $100 and after the dinner we were not full, and we don’t feel worth it to get more food there either.

+5

Food 7/10 Pricey but decent yakitori. Some of the skewers were a little salty and oily, but we ordered a wide array of dishes. I enjoyed the smokiness, and their chicken don was good too. Left very full and content. Atmosphere 6/10 Very smokey inside, wished their ventilation was better. Service 6/10 The took forever to bring up wings and the gizzard sigh.

One of the hidden gems of NYC. Reasonably priced and it was just above the average, which is good. Must try if you are in the area. FYI there is a minimum requirement of $20 per person.

+1

It’s easy and fast. My favorites are the non-chicken skewers. Their appetizer options aren’t my favorite. Overall, a solid spot!

3.5 / 5.0 - Yakitori Totto used to be one of my favorite Japanese spots in the city, serving authentic Japanese food. During my most recent visit, I was overcharged for a rice ball—only ordered one, but was charged for 2. They’re $5 each, so including tax and tip, that’s $6.50 of overcharge. I only realized after I got home and called the restaurant the next day, but they never picked up. Considering the amount, I never followed up, but it left a poor impression. Still giving 3.5 stars, considering how delicious the food was, although a bit pricey. One of the great things about Yakitori Totto is that you can order a variety of dishes to share. My friend and I ordered: - Kyona Arugula Salad ($15+) - Dashimaki Tamago ($11+) - Gyoza / Dumplings ($10+) - Eringi x2 - Momo - Negima - Sasami x2 - Yakinasu Dengaku x2 - Yakionigiri - Onigiri / Rice Ball *All skewers and rice ball: $5+ each I would recommend everything except for: - Sasami (unless you like wasabi—no flavor without it) - Yakinasu Dengaku (I love dengaku in general, but the amount of miso paste on the eggplant was overpowering) - Yakionigiri (my friend ordered this and it wasn’t what we’d envisioned) If you’re not a big eater or drinker, this may be enough food for you and you could keep the cost under $100 per person. Drinks were $10 or higher ($10+ for beer, $12+ for plum wine), so you can easily exceed $100 if you have a couple of drinks and more skewers. So it’s not a cheap option, but if you’re looking for a taste of Japan, you can find it here.

+2

One of the best Yakitori in NYC food is excellent, but they give less sauce to yakitori. Beware that you might need to order extra sauce. The price is a bit high. Basic yakitori is $5 per one skewer. Beef was $9. Unagi was $12. Servers are very kind. You need a reservation.

+6

I am a returning customer who loves this Yakitori place. The food, the service, the decor and atmosphere. Transports me back to travelling days in Tokyo. I haven't been back for nearly 2 years and was really looking forward to tonight's dinner. It did not let me down however to be critical, i felt the taste of the skewers were a little rushed in grilling with little flavor. Maybe they are rushed with time to keep up with the orders but I felt the quality of the grilling and flavor could be better. More charcoal taste and a little slow grilled char taste would be great.

+3

This delightful place is a little hidden second floor restaurant, in a “shotgun” style layout - long and narrow, but still plenty of room to sit comfortably. Service was excellent, with prompt and unobtrusive attention y the staff, always ready to bring food and drinks to the table. Six of us sat near a window and enjoyed grilled skewers of steak, chicken, and vegetables. I rather enjoyed the eggplant and unagi, and we particularly liked the casual and comfortable atmosphere. Yakatori did not disappoint, and was a welcomed and relaxing time with the adults in the family. Worth returning.

+2

I felt like I was transported to a Yakitori in Japan. Staff was friendly and service was pleasant. Each skewer is really meant for one person, but we ordered many so we shared them . Our favorite was the bacon wrapped enoki mushroom it was smoky and just a great chew . The chicken thigh was delicate and moist as was the skirt steak. Our least favorite was the pork belly which was tough. We were there on a sweltering hot day and as we ascended the steps, we were worried it would not be cool inside . we were pleasantly surprised to find it very air-conditioned and while it’s a small space, the tables are spread apart. There’s a large counter area surrounding where they’re cooking the skewers and there’s an elevated area a little closed in, but not totally.

+2

I like this place. I visit NYC six times a year and have been coming here for the past four years. However, I think this will be my last visit because the waitress kicked me out after just an hour. The restaurant wasn’t busy—they had open seats at the bar. When I wanted to order another drink, she told me I had to finish it in 10 minutes. I understand if there were a line and people waiting, but it would have been nice to at least finish my drink. Plus, my bill wasn’t cheap.

+3

Won P

The food was great, but the tipping system needs to be updated. Tips were calculated on the after‑tax total, which basically means you’re tipping on tax — a generous donation to Uncle Sam that he never actually receives. If they fix this, back to 4.5 stars. Owner reviewed feedback and promised to look into the SQUARE POS to fix Uncle Sam post tax tips calculation. Revised back to 4 stars..

Yiu Kei Cheng

This is a decent choice if you are looking for a good date in the heart of Manhattan. In my opinion, the food was worth what I expected, and the taste was decent.

+2

wenny chao

Was here five years ago. Came back last week. Food quality was as good as before. Service was great, even the waitress who served us was the one who served me years ago! Ordered mostly everything that’s was marked ⭐️ on their menu, all grilled perfectly! Delicious 😋 for drink, I got their summer special drink yuzu shawah, mix of yuzu and sake, carbonated, super refreshing! Some tips for y’all: ✨we were super hungry and ordered a lot in the first order, had 1/3 of them to go. Would recommend to place the food in separate orders. ✨It’s usually packed during dinner time so definitely make reservations in advance to avoid wait lines at the door. Overall, it was a great meal! Will be visiting again soon! (Hopefully not another five years haha) 🎎🍥🍶

+19

T Hom

If you’re looking for yakitori, this is definitely the place to try. Everything we ordered was delicious. While the menu doesn’t have a wide variety of entrées, the food was excellent overall

+6

Rolane Qian

Overall: The experience was a mix of ups and downs. Some of the food was very good, and a few were very disappointing. The servers were fast and polite. My water was never low for long. There were a lot of people and the small space made being seated near two loud parties less bearable. The small space was also nice as I was watching the chefs grill the skewers. I did make a reservation. I could've spent less as 4 skewers and 1 app would have been enough (I got 6 skewers and 2 apps). Food Details: Good: Agedashi tofu, chicken liver, chicken thigh, chicken neck, combo of scallop and oyster mushroom. Okay: Chicken heart with sauce, Zaru tofu Disappointing: chicken skin Notes: -Agedashi tofu is particularly good -All skewers in the good category are very well cooked and I would order a second if I didn't try so many in general. The neck was deboned and just really tender. Those scallops were really good too. - Zaru tofu is extremely nice quality tofu but it's a very clean plain dish. Next to the Agedashi, I chose to finish the Agedashi. -Chicken skin was too chewy for me. And the lack of sauce or seasoning means it was chewy with grill taste only.

+2

From good reviews online, I decided to come here for an anniversary dinner a few days ago. My partner and I decided to start off with takoyaki, which wasn't too badly priced, at $10 for 6 pieces, along with a bowl of miso soup. The takoyaki was a pleasant surprise - crispy on the outside and very soft on the inside, with good flavor. However, the miso soup was extremely salty, definitely overpowering. I got used to the saltiness after a few sips. We also ordered a calpico drink mixed with soda, which tasted great. The ratios of both made for a perfect blend. I was a little surprised by the taste of the miso soup, but nothing too standout yet. Soon, we got our yakitori skewers: wagyu beef, enoki bacon, kawa, and negi pon. The texture of the wagyu was disappointing, but acceptable. The enoki bacon texture was amazing; nothing remarkable about the kawa and negi pon textures. Texture is important, but so is flavor, which is what all of these yakitori skewers were lacking. The flavor for all the skewers were extremely underwhelming, and my partner and I had to drown all them in salt, pepper, and soy sauce to give it an okay~ flavor. Next, we ordered one totto udon bowl to share. The servers provided each of us an individual bowl & soup spoon. I don't have much to say on this dish - it was just average udon. No complaints but no particular compliments either. To finish off the night, we ordered a green tea affogato, and needless to say, this was the highlight of the dinner. The green tea blended perfectly with the vanilla ice cream to produce a sweet matcha-like flavor. My partner ate all the red bean so I can't comment on that, but the mochi balls that came with it were relatively flavorless, but it had a nice chewiness so I won't complain about it. The total cost of all this came out to about $80~, and we tipped about 20% since our waiter was extremely kind and accommodating, great service!

When the skewer was good, it was REALLY GOOD. But half of the skewers fell short in terms of flavor. Chicken Skewers The chicken wing skewer was delicious (especially the skin), but the chicken thigh skewer was a bit dry and lacked flavor. Pork Skewers "Negi Pon"skewer was the best of all the skewers I tried. So much flavor, the only skewer that was topped in green onions and literally sat in a pool of juices. The pork mustard on the other hand paled in comparison in terms of flavor... not bad, but just average. Beef Skewers The kalbi beef skewer was very juicy and had a lot of good flavor. The other salted beef skewer had an overpowering beef flavor that was way too strong... almost gross tasting. Service A few minor hiccups with forgetting one of the things we ordered and the waitress sort of hovered a little bit more than I would have liked, but overall service was good and staff was very friendly. They tried their best saying "irashaimase" lol. Atmosphere Very chill atmosphere, but very small # of seats available. Definitely make a reservation in advance, the place is quite popular with avg wait time of 30 min. Price Most skewers are $3.50-4.00 with the beef at $5.50 (with one premium $10 beef option). Expected price. Verdict I would probably come back again despite the flaws.

Average yakitori. Our favorite was probably the chicken oysters; it's hard to go wrong with that. We also tried the frozen banana dessert. It was fine, perhaps a bit light on the banana. Definitely go for the bar seats if it's a small group. Overall, the experience was okay.

Food was overall good but nothing special and quite overpriced on some items such as the lamb which is two very small pieces for $21 Service was quite slow. The host server. Spent a while having a conversation with someone at a table before attending to me to get a table and then took a while to even give me a menu once seated. Would have expected to just grab a menu whilst seating me.

Covid era review: I wanted to love it but unfortunately it fell flat for me. The service was excellent, so props to the wait staff. Can’t say the same for the food and I’m hoping this is only a one-off case. The chicken breast with a scallion tori was dry and overly salty. The chicken skin yaki was flavorless. It’s a yakitori place so getting fish is not recommended but we ordered it and the tuna-don was blah. The quality of the fish was worse than fish that you can buy at wholefoods. The unagidon was good, thank goodness. I may try them again but this visit was disappointing.

Went there for a birthday date. Juicy yakitori. Portion is small, and the quality was not much different from sake bars in East Village, which you can get for a better deal. Seating is pretty close to each other. Service is not as attentive.

Its....okay. entrance is hidden and hard to find. We saw the B rating from their most recent health inspection and contemplated some life choices, but went for it. Climbed the stairs and we were met immediately by a very small/loud/intimate environment. It was post-snow storm and hot as hell in there. We contemplated leaving after being seated/watered due to the heat and B rating. Got a few skewers. The Japanese sausage was easily our favorite by far. I'd go back just for a few sausage skewers. Chicken breast skewers were meh. Bland, kinda off "milky" flavor which made us not finish. Grilled shishito, tasty. Gyoza, tasty. Fried chicken...meh. its dark meat which is fine but you can tell. Everything was pretty salty. Despite the sausage....wont be back. Mostly due to the inspection grade. We were afraid to eat too much more.

+1

Brett Ofdawild

This place is still pretty good but the taste has definitely declined a little from before covid. I still recommend it as a good place for yakitori. They used to have really amazing salad dressing and pickles but they seem to have changed the recipe.

Google and yelp reviews don't reflect this shop for now. I will not dine again. Nothing excited about it. Foods ok. 200 plus bill for 3ppl. Japanese restaurant but you will get charged 3$ per cup of tea. Even paying money for tea still take time to serve. Rice take time too. May be they cooking bak there. Problem is servers are not paying attention to customers. They seem like they are bosses of joint. Maybe post covid problem. Still 20% tips. But I will dine at east village area where I feel goods about foods and service. Yakitori taisho, benemom and yokocho ( hope to open soon again ) or If you stop by at tampa area , try Izakaya tori. Really good with reasonable prices. Thx for reading.

The middest of mids. Seems v disorganized, there were plates of skewers piling up on the counter getting cold, overheard multiple mix ups of skewers too. And in fact, every single skewer we got was cold and took forever to get. No flavor either. Don’t waste your money!

The service here was next level awful. We asked the waitress for guidance regarding the menu and it really came across like we were burdening her. She never came by the table once to check on us at all so I had to signal her down for water and service. Towards the end of the night she did mention that the restaurant was closing which is fair- but she literally came by the table with an all purpose cleaner to clean the table to push us out immediatey after I signed the check. Just a classless move. The food was very good and it is a shame to have such a bad memory associated with this venue. To add- if you look at other reviews of your this restaurant- it's actually a theme. Guests are consistently pushed out. Do better.

The food only tasted Ajinomoto or pure salt the music volume was too loud and to get to the restaurant one had to climb very steep steps to 2nd floor. There are much better Yakitori restaurants in NY. If you want some tasty sauce you have to pay for it!

Other food are good, but the shiitake mushrooms are bitter. This meal was charged about $260 for 2. And when I told the server this is bitter, she told me that the shiitake mushrooms may be bitter. She didn’t tell me that their foods may be bitter, otherwise I would not order it. The bitter food should not serve to guest.

ben l

Food is on the higher end for yakitori but it's well worth it. The yakitori's were juicy, super sized and came out quick. Really well seasoned and the staff was attentive. I do have to say... While we were still eating close to the 2 hour mark, it's the first time I had the indignity of being pressured and rushed to leave. I mean if we just sat there not eating and chatting away I'd totally understand. We (5 of us) ate and was still eating at the 2 hour mark, spent almost 600 hundred bucks, only to be rushed and herded out. Saying that the next party is waiting while we didn't see one person and another table was sitting empty. I mean I do get it but we WEAR STILL EATING. Perhaps they had another parry coming but still, there has to be a better way of approaching situations like this. Perhaps tell the next party 'we're running behind schedule' and let them wait a few minutes while we finish but to make us leave before finishing? It's bizarre. We didn't even get to order dessert for the birthday boy and ended up going nearby to a bar for some cake. It was so disappointing... Not the food but the service and how were treated. I seriously doubt we'll ever be back because this is nyc and there are so many other choices. I'd seriously recommend others to consider an alternative.

+2