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Yakitori

Specialist yakitori (literally, “grilled chicken”) restaurants are more easily detected by smell than sight.

The aroma of skewered morsels of chicken roasting away over hot coals wafts out of doors and vents, drawing in the passers-by as if by magic.In fact, many yakitori joints are just bars fronted by high stools only separated from the outdoors by a curtain.

This is food to be enjoyed with a drink and in a social atmosphere and is a favourite amongst salarymen on the way home from work.Popular choices include negima (chicken pieces interspersed with leek), tsukune (minced chicken meatballs) and chicken wings.

First timers might be surprised to find nankotsu (chicken cartilage), gizzards and sometimes even whole sparrows on the menu - whatever’s on your skewer, make sure you wash it down with a cold beer.

Everything will come seasoned either with salt or as sweet sauce called tare.Yakitori is also often on the menu at izakaya style restaurants.