The Place Located at Duxton Road, Torikami is a relatively understated Japanese yakitori restaurant in Singapore which opened quietly this year. It is a minimalist looking entrance which leads into a trendy black room where the main dining hall is. 

It is a counter seating with an open view of the kitchen, where their Japanese chef owner used to train at Japan’s most difficult-to-reserve yakitori restaurant, and he became the owner of Torioka (now Torikami) in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo, in 2021. 

The Food There is only one menu at Torikami, an 11-skewer yakitori omakase meal. The curated menu features meticulously chosen chicken and vegetables, where each skewer is selected to highlight the finest parts of the chicken, including Kashiwa (chicken thigh), Nami (chicken skin), Seseri (chicken neck). 

Another emphasis is on the premium Binchotan Charcoal, which provides high, consistent heat. 

Here is what to expect from the 11-course yakitori menu: 

Appetizer 
For a start, I had Potato topped with duck breast meat served alongside an Umeshu cocktail. 

Slow-cooked Chicken Broth 
A small bowl of soup was served next, which features a luscious chicken broth cooked for more than eight hours with chicken bones. 

Charcoal-grilled Chicken with Echire butter 
The chef uses charcoal to melt that layer of French butter so you can imagine that all the good oil is absorbed into the chicken. 

Seseri – Chicken Neck Meat 
This tender meat is topped with fresh wasabi. 

Bonjiri – Chicken Tail 
One of my favourite parts of the chicken, this Bonjiri is good just on its own with a squeeze of the lemon. It has a nice char at the edges. 

Kashiwa – Thigh 
The chicken thigh course is a plump strip of chicken meat which goes well with a tinge of sansho pepper. 

Chawanmushi 
A mini bowl of chawanmushi which is prepared with chicken stock. 

Broccoli  
Grilled over charcoal for about 30 minutes, the best part is the broccoli is topped with shaved Italian parmigiano cheese aged for a year.

I love how tender the broccoli from Nagano prefecture is, and it goes very well with the cheese. 

Charcoal-grilled Tofu 

Chef’s plate of the day 
I didn’t expect to have Siew Mai in a Japanese restaurant but this Chicken Siew Mai hits quite differently. 

Chef’s choice of grilled Innard 
The innard of the day differs from time to time and I had the Chicken heart with Yuzu Kosho and lemon. The texture of the heart is chewy and soft, and it had a really clean taste too! 

Chef’s choice of grilled Vegetables 
The vegetable served depends on seasonality, and I had grilled Ginkgo nuts. 

Tebasaki – Wings 
I always love a good wing and the version here spots a nice smokiness with a little char. 

Donabe Rice (Japanese earthenware pot) with 3 kinds of rice accompaniments 
For the main course, a big pot of donabe rice is served along with some accompaniments. 

You can also choose to have the remaining rice ochazuke style where it is poured with the rich chicken broth. 

Tsukimi Tsukune – Chicken ball with egg yolk 
The last skewer was served with the donabe rice, where the rice tastes better as I added the remaining egg yolk into it. 

Dessert 
Last but not least, some Japanese fruits to conclude the meal. 

Rants The service could be more understated for me. There were moments where I could sense that the staff were almost staring at each bite I took with each course.

Will I Return Again? Torikami is an upscale yakitori dining experience in Singapore. Each skewer is done meticulously, and the flavours deliver as well. It is not the boisterous kind of yakitori setting, more ideal for an intimate date night or celebratory occasion. 

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TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4.5/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 4/5 

Torikami 
34/35 Duxton Road 
Singapore 089498 
Tel: +65 9022 1423 

Opening Hours 
Monday to Sunday: 5pm to 11pm 
Closed on Thursday 

Ranted by The Ranter