Decided to try Japanese food that weekend, something other than sushi. For the first time we decided to start with something simple. We chose an inexpensive, modest place with its own pit stop, not far away, so we could walk there and take the food home. We found Tokyo yakitori, about 10 minutes away by foot.
We ordered miso soup, teriyaki chicken, and spicy chicken. After about 15 minutes, we picked up the carefully packed bag with the food. The waitress pointed out to us that there was a separate bag of dressing (in this case she meant the side dish). There were also two jars of spicy adjika inside and a jar of vinegar dressing for salad.
The miso soup turned out to be a nice broth reminiscent of something between mushroom and beef flavors. In the soup we found sliced soy cheese – tofu. It was peculiar in texture, similar to popcorn pulp. This soup was a pretty good way to start a meal, but it didn’t make me feel like, yeah, someday I’m really going to wake up and say, “I just can’t have it!” Just a nice broth.
Next came the chicken (the portion is quite large!). Each box came with rice to accompany the meat and, for example, a salad of fresh/stewed vegetables and herbs, or just boiled corn. The teriyaki chicken was delicious, for it was cooked on the fire, while remaining juicy. Topped with a sweet and sour sauce. The chicken was great.))
I enjoyed the spicy chicken just as much. It was cooked in foil, mixed with vegetables, in their juices, with lots of spices, including peppers. That said, the pepper didn’t make your eyes burn at the first bite, rather it left a spicy aftertaste.
On the whole this is the place where we started our acquaintance with Japanese cuisine. I got the impression that its specialty is preserving the natural flavor of the food. Not a single dish was flashy and drool-inducing. Yet even any cooked vegetable had the taste of that very vegetable, not watery grass. The sauces were moderately rich. Even the spices in the spicy chicken were added extremely carefully.
For a hearty and healthy lunch for 2 adults, we left $17.
Bottom line: Overall, it’s not a bad place to eat and not a bad meal for when you don’t have time or just don’t feel like cooking.
