Torishin : An amazing Omakase Yakitori Experience!

My fiancé and I have walked past Torishin (1193 3rd. Ave. between 64th and 65th St. New York, NY) almost everyday for the past 2 years and have always wondered what it was all about. The window display shows a menu of Omakase, but not the typical Omakase most people think of, which is raw fish sushi style. This version of Omakase is all about meat and skewers, better known as Yakitori! 

The restaurant is much smaller than we both expected and there was not a single empty seat in the house. Most of the restaurant is counter seating so you can watch the chef's work their magic. There are a few small tables in the front, but definitely not the place to be, since watching the chef's is what this place is all about. We had made a reservation ahead of time for four people, and when we arrived and didn't see any seats, we got a little nervous! Little did we know that we were going to be led to a private area in the back for four people to sit right at the counter. This area was the best in the whole restaurant because we got the show, and also we had some privacy and it was much quieter back where we were.

Front Row Seats to the Kitchen!

Seated So Close with a great view!

Our private counter booth for 4 people! 

Chef's Omakase

Omakase Menu

Grated Daikon (Radishes) - used as a palate cleanser

Even radishes tasted super delicious at this place!

Seasonal Dish - Clam with seasoning on top of a salt display. Chicken, Chickpeas, mushrooms, over top a Japanese fruit

Receiving this dish to start definitely paved the way for the rest of the meal. It was creative, had a lot of flavor, and was visually appealing. This was definitely also a healthy dish. The chicken was grilled to perfection and the texture was just right. MMMM. 

Broiled Sea Urchin with Garlic (Not part of the Omakase)

We ordered the broiled sea urchin appetizer because we had been on a sea urchin kick that week, and also saw someone else order it, and couldn't resist. The presentation was gorgeous, and the flavor was unreal. It was perfectly seasoned and had a delicious garlic flavor. The texture was rich and creamy.

Grilled Asparagus Skewer

Nice and healthy! The asparagus was crunchy and grilled with sear marks. It was lightly oiled and seasoned. MMM.

Thigh Meat Skewer

Tender, moist, and delicious!

Heart Skewer

The heart skewer was one of our favorite skewers because of the rich flavor, and the most tender texture. It was almost creamy because of how smooth and tender it was.

Avocado with Dashi (flavored soy sauce) and Yuzukosho ( not part of the Omakase)

The avocado with dashi was not part of the omakase, but definitely something worth trying. It was lightly grilled and topped with flavored soy sauce. Definitely a unique way of serving an avocado. I wouldn't say this is my favorite way of eating an avocado, since I generally like the freshness of avocados, so a grilled avocado isn't really for me.

Pork Belly with Garlic Miso Skewer

The pork belly skewer was so moist and tender and full of flavor. The miso paste that was served with this skewer had such a unique flavor and was a nice addition to the flavor.

Qual Egg over grits with pickled veggies and roe

The qual egg over grits was interesting. It wasn't my favorite thing we ate, but I enjoyed it. It was served with pickled vegetables and roe as well. I wouldn't expect to have grits at a Japanese restaurant, so this was quite the surprise.

Sot l'y Laisse (Chicken Oyster/ portion of backbone)

The chicken oyster skewer is from the backbone area, which is a part of the chicken or any animal, I am not sure I have had. 

Grilled Zucchini Skewer

Neck Meat Skewer

Soboro Don - Ground Chicken over Rice with Soup

The ground chicken over rice was one of my favorite parts of the meal. The chicken was full of flavor, and very hearty. The soup that it was accompanied with was similar to miso soup and was a nice addition to the portion of the meal. 

Special Meatball Skewer (Chicken and Duck Meat)

The meatball skewer was my personal favorite skewer of the night. It was a mixture of chicken and duck meat. It was so flavorful and delicious!

Homemade Shiso Sorbet

The shiso sorbet was refreshing and minty. It is made with fresh pieces of shiso, which is part of the mint family. It was definitely better than the green tea sorbet.

All in all, the Omakase experience at Torishin was a great one! We loved how each skewer and course came out one at a time. This gave us the opportunity to try each skewer slowly and take in all the flavors of each one. It was also very interesting how we were given so many different areas of the body to try, and how each one different so much in flavor and texture. We never felt rushed at the restaurant and would definitely return! I left feeling stuffed, but in a good way :)  I would recommend this to anyone!