If you have been to Japan, you may have seen Torikizoku’s bright yellow signboard in busy neighbourhoods, usually associated with affordable yakitori, highballs and casual after-work meals.
The chain started in Osaka in 1985 and has grown into a huge yakitori brand there, so its first Singapore outlet at VivoCity naturally drew some attention.
It has also opened another outlet in the CBD at 18 Cross Telok Ayer.
The biggest selling point here is that all food items are priced at $3.90++ per plate, from yakitori skewers and side dishes to rice, noodles and desserts. (Alcoholic drinks are listed separately at $9.90++.)
On paper, it represents an incredibly budget-friendly way to enjoy an izakaya meal without watching the bill slide out of control.
The menu is built around chicken skewers, with salt and sauce versions of drumette, thigh, tail, skin, heart, gizzard, wings, liver and chicken meatball.
There are also larger Signature Kizokuyaki skewers, available in salt, sauce or spice.
However, the actual pacing of the meal left a lot to be desired. The arrival times for the food felt highly uneven throughout our dinner.
The side dishes and rice items hit the table relatively quickly, but the kitchen struggled to coordinate the flow of the hot food.
The signature skewers arrived last though, appearing at the table only after we had completely finished every other item we ordered.
Having the main grilled meat arrive so late in the meal created a disjointed dining experience.
To be completely honest, the food itself also felt slightly lacking.
The chicken meat tasted largely unmarinated on its own, meaning the flavours relied almost entirely on the heavily brushed-on sauce rather than coming from within the meat.
More importantly, the skewers lacked the robust smokiness often associated with charcoal-grilled yakitori, and arrived lukewarm rather than freshly charred.
The Chicken Kamameshi was one of the better-value orders, served in a small pot with rice and chicken.
It was mild and comforting, though I would say more functional than memorable.
That said, the $3.90++ pricing does soften expectations a little.
Torikizoku is probably not where you go for a serious yakitori meal with deep charcoal fragrance and carefully seasoned chicken parts.
It feels more like a casual Japanese chain where the fun is in ordering a spread without worrying too much about different price points.
Torikizoku – VivoCity
VivoCity #01-104/105, 1 HarbourFront Walk, Singapore 098585
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Torikizoku
VivoCity #01-104/105, 1 HarbourFront Walk, Singapore 098585
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
Other Related Entries
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Onigiri Gon (Fortune Centre)
Sushidan (Raffles City)
SukiyakiJIN (Orchard)
Niku Niku Oh!! Kome (Westgate, Sentosa)
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