Whenever I find a place with delicious yakitori lunch, I make sure to visit! This time, I went to Yakitori Driff (焼き鳥ドリフ) in Shintomicho. This place usually operates only on weekdays, but since the end of last year, they’ve started serving lunch on the second Saturday of each month. The menu is slightly different on those days. I visited on a weekday this time.
The restaurant has both counter and table seats, but the seating is quite limited—probably around 20 seats in total. The nearest station is Shintomicho. There aren’t many landmarks in the area, but the grid layout makes it easy to navigate. It’s also near “Kagaribi,” a popular ramen shop that recently opened.
The lunch menu is quite simple, mainly featuring bento-style meals. According to a friend, you can add extra yakitori skewers. There used to be a combo option with gyu-kalbi (beef short ribs), but it seems they no longer offer it. Also, note that you pay in advance when ordering, so be ready with your cash!
They also offer takeaway with almost the same menu. Since the yakitori is grilled one by one, even for dine-in customers, I highly recommend calling ahead to make a reservation.
I only found out later that you can add extra skewers, so even though I wanted to try the white liver, I ordered the 5-skewer set instead. Sitting at the counter, watching the skewers being grilled right in front of me, was pure bliss🎵 And here it is—my 5-skewer set!
The moment I opened the lid, the amazing aroma hit me—this scent alone is a treat! The skewer selection changes slightly daily, but mine included (from left to right): heart, breast, gizzard, thigh, and bonjiri (chicken tail). The miso soup was made with shijimi clams, and the broth was full of flavor.
Each skewer had a delicious smoky aroma from the charcoal grill. The texture was wonderfully plump, and the cooking was on the firmer side. The skewers paired perfectly with the rice. Although the rice looked shallow at first, as I kept eating, I realized it was quite filling—it’s surprising how much fits into these bento boxes!
But what stood out even more than the yakitori was this—the salty soy-seasoned chicken soboro (minced chicken)! I could easily eat a whole bowl of this alone. In fact, they offer a Tori-ju (鳥重 / 1050 yen), which is half yakitori and half soboro, so I’m definitely getting that next time!
And let’s not forget this fluffy scrambled egg! Next time, I’m definitely trying the white liver…
About
Name Yakitori Driff (焼き鳥ドリフ)
Open Lunch, Dinner
Reservation Available for dinner time
Credit card Unavailable
URL Instagram
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