Yakitori Toto - Midtown Manhattan

-
Yakitori Toto, New York, NY
After becoming aware of the mind-blowingly delicious phenomenon that is yakitori, I set myself on a mission to find the best of the best. Living on Staten Island at the time, my local options were non-existent. So I searched Manhattan and Brooklyn until I came upon this place: Yakitori Toto. The penultimate purveyor of skewered grilled meats and vegetables.

The Grub:

For those in need of enlightenment, yakitori is traditionally skewered chicken lightly seasoned and prepared over a special charcoal grill. The term can also be extended to other meats and vegetables which is then served in small-plated portions meant to be eaten along with beer in a tappas or tavern style manner. Toto offers a variety of cuts and rare bites that just have to be tried - crispy chicken skin, liver with salt, beef tongue, kobe beef, chicken heart, and shishito peppers with miso to name just a few. Honestly, everything on the menu deserves a try at least once, even if it might sound as though it falls outside your comfort zone. After ordering a beer and a few plates, you will soon feel that all is right with the world.

My Order:

- Negima, Kawa, Reba, Sasami, Harami, Hatsu, Negi Pon, Shishito, Asparagus Bacon and a Smoked Lamb Chop. If I still feel hungry I keep ordering.
- Beer. More beer.

The Digs:

Yakitori Toto is a 2nd floor restaurant above the Manhattan location of Soba Noodle Azuma. It is a small, but comfortable space that gives the feeling of being transported straight to Japan. A modern, clean setup that surrounds the open grill/bar where you can watch the cooks charring your meal to perfection. Service is always prompt and courteous. Might I suggest calling ahead for a reservation if you plan on going for dinner as they are usually pretty crowded. Be sure to take public transportation unless you feel like paying for parking or circling for hours looking for a spot on the street. 

The Nitty Gritty:

Deceptively simple, extremely delicious grilled things. Go. Go now.

 Yakitori Toto
251 W 55th St,
New York,
NY 10019

 © 2018 The New Jersey Foodhound. All rights reserved.

Popular posts from this blog

Five Alive: The Greatest and Rarest of Juice Drinks

-
Image
Growing up, one of my favorite things to drink was orange juice. Honestly, I may have had a bit of a problem as I would often choose OJ over water 90% of the time. Probably lucky to still be alive. After solidifying what could charitably be called an addiction to citrus flavors, I rarely drank anything that didn't feature the sweet-and-sour flavor I had come to love. Then one day, I found what many (mainly myself) have come to call the king of all citrus drinks, the rare and ever sought after - Five Alive . Like a fruit-drink ghost, it has appeared in my life a number of times and vanished as quickly as it came. Bodegas, small grocery stores, the one off chain while on vacation - it has been spotted in a number of places but, the moments are fleeting. For those not in the know, Five Alive is a blend of 5 citrus juices created by Minute Maid under the Coca-Cola corporation. It combines orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime and tangerine into one of the best god-damn ...
Read more

The Corner and It’s Delights - Bergenfield, NJ (Now Closed)

-
Image
  I popped into the The Corner on a hot, muggy August day seeking cold refreshment and the  delicious juice I was handed absolutely delivered. They serve a bevy of beverages with flavors including mango, passionfruit, guava, strawberry, Lulo and blackberry.  I tried both the Lulo (tropical and sweet/sour) and strawberry. Both were fresh and and quickly helped me beat the heat that summer day. The Corner and it's Delights also offers an array of Columbian and American food options like empanadas, burgers, and salads - so stop in and try it out if you're in the neighborhood! By Amanda Z. for the NJ Foodhound The Corner and Its Delights 103 S Washington Ave, Bergenfield, NJ 07621 (201) 743-3722
Read more

Sophie's Cuban Cuisine - NYC (Various Locations)

-
Image
Hell's Kitchen has no shortage of places to find a quick lunch, the trick is finding one with good food that breaks the typical mold of catering to the hot-table zombies. Luckily, Sophie's Cuban is here to break the monotony of the everyday routine with time-tested, delicious Cuban classics. The Grub: Sophie's is a great grab-and-go eatery obviously specializing in Cuban cuisine. Their offerings include some of the well-known classics like roast pork, fried chicken cutlets, baked chicken, and pork-chops with onions which are also their most popular dishes. I would also suggest giving their spicy grilled chicken and shredded beef stew a try, though quite honestly - you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu here. When you order, you are asked to pick an entree and 3 sides - which, in and of themselves could make a meal for most. Again, no wrong choices with the side dishes, but I would suggest some Moro rice, black beans (unless you are gluten-free like ...
Read more