Toritanaka

This high-quality yakitori shop in Sumida, Tokyo is fast gaining a reputation as one of the hardest places of its kind to reserve. The style of cooking has its roots in the street stalls of Japan’s Meiji era, but in recent years, skilled chefs have elected the craft to a higher level of culinary excellence. The high-quality grilled chicken dishes at Toritanaka are made with top-grade poultry, with a focus on provenance. Barely a part of the bird goes to waste, with everything from the usual breasted thigh meat to the ovaries and skin on offer. Book as early as possible to avoid disappointment, as word of mouth spreads like wildfire in Japanese gastronomy, so it’ll only get more busy from here.