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The best yakitori in Toronto can be found at several Japanese restaurants and izakayas scattered across the city, with a handful solely dedicated to the Japanese delicacy.
The art of yakitori involves a lifelong pursuit for chefs in Japan, with yakitori-ya dedicated solely to grilling the skewered chicken. Yakitori is essentially chicken threaded on a kushi (bamboo skewer) that is slowly cooked over a charcoal grill and is then finished with salt or tare sauce (a thick, sweet soy sauce). There are several different types of yakitori to choose from such as the mune (breast), tebasaki (wing tip), kawa (skin), seseri (neck), reba (liver) and the prized oyster (the most tender part of the chicken, located on the back of the chicken near the thigh). Yakitori is undoubtedly the star, but you'll find several other options offered on the menu, such as shishito peppers, beef, seafood and more.
Below is a list of the best spots to find yakitori in Toronto.
Cabbagetown
193 Carlton St
Zakkushi on Carlton
Japanese
This cozy spot in Cabbagetown has fantastic yakitori, as well as other skewers, meant to be enjoyed with plenty of beer.
Zakkushi on Carlton
Cabbagetown
193 Carlton St
This cozy spot in Cabbagetown has fantastic yakitori, as well as other skewers, meant to be enjoyed with plenty of beer.
Japanese
Markham
3160 Steeles Ave E
Izakaya Ju Japanese Restaurant
Japanese
This tiny Japanese spot is known for its charcoal-grilled yakitori.
Izakaya Ju Japanese Restaurant
Markham
3160 Steeles Ave E
This tiny Japanese spot is known for its charcoal-grilled yakitori.
Japanese
Koreatown
668 Bloor St W 2nd Floor
Kintori Yakitori
Japanese
From the minds behind Kinka Izakaya, this Koreatown spot is focused primarily on yakitori. The meats are skewered onto bamboo and grilled over charcoal for that classic yakitori flavour.
Kintori Yakitori
Koreatown
668 Bloor St W 2nd Floor
From the minds behind Kinka Izakaya, this Koreatown spot is focused primarily on yakitori. The meats are skewered onto bamboo and grilled over charcoal for that classic yakitori flavour.
Japanese
Sake Bar Kushi
This spot in Midtown is focused around kushi, grilled Japanese skewers. They offer a variety of unique options like chicken hearts, livers, necks and shishamo.
Sake Bar Kushi
This spot in Midtown is focused around kushi, grilled Japanese skewers. They offer a variety of unique options like chicken hearts, livers, necks and shishamo.
Church and Wellesley
459 Church St
Kintaro Izakaya
Japanese
This small spot near Church and Wellesley serves up plates of yakitori and other Japanese dishes.
Kintaro Izakaya
Church and Wellesley
459 Church St
This small spot near Church and Wellesley serves up plates of yakitori and other Japanese dishes.
Japanese
AKA-ONI Izakaya
This sleek little spot does beautiful plates of sushi as well as skewers. You can be sure to find unique dishes like sushi rolls with gold flakes in addition to beautiful plates of yakitori.
AKA-ONI Izakaya
This sleek little spot does beautiful plates of sushi as well as skewers. You can be sure to find unique dishes like sushi rolls with gold flakes in addition to beautiful plates of yakitori.
Rain Izakaya
This restaurant in North York by Yonge and Sheppard does beautiful boxes of sushi and incredible little skewers of meat, including yakitori.
Rain Izakaya
This restaurant in North York by Yonge and Sheppard does beautiful boxes of sushi and incredible little skewers of meat, including yakitori.
Ki Modern Japanese Bar
This sleek Japanese lounge and restaurant is the ideal spot to find yakitori.
Ki Modern Japanese Bar
This sleek Japanese lounge and restaurant is the ideal spot to find yakitori.
Ronin Izakaya
This small authentic Japanese spot in Baldwin Village is known for its skewers. The beef (kushiyaki) and yakitori are among the most popular.
Ronin Izakaya
This small authentic Japanese spot in Baldwin Village is known for its skewers. The beef (kushiyaki) and yakitori are among the most popular.
Downtown
130 Dundas St W
DonDon Izakaya
Japanese
This spot by Yonge and Dundas is a bustling little izakaya that does excellent yakitori and other kushi skewers as well.
DonDon Izakaya
Downtown
130 Dundas St W
This spot by Yonge and Dundas is a bustling little izakaya that does excellent yakitori and other kushi skewers as well.
Japanese
