Yakitori from Anime: Japanese Chicken Skewers

Yakitori from Anime: Japanese Chicken Skewers

Yakitori — grilled chicken skewers glazed with tare sauce or simply seasoned with salt — appears constantly in anime wherever characters dine at street-side yakitori stalls. It is the quintessence of Japanese street food.

History and origin

Yakitori became a mass dish in postwar Japan of the 1940s–50s: affordable chicken and simple cooking made it workers' food. Today specialist high-end yakitori restaurants are part of Japan's gastronomic heritage.

Key ingredients

Classic chicken parts for yakitori: thigh meat (momo), skin (kawa-yaki), hearts (hatsu), cartilage (nankotsu). The key tare sauce is made from soy sauce, mirin, sake and sugar, reduced to a glaze.

How to cook at home

Thread the chicken pieces tightly so they don't dry out during grilling. Brush with tare sauce several times as you cook — each coat caramelises and builds up a rich glaze.

Try this recipe at home — it's much easier than it looks and will make you feel part of your favourite universe.