7 Must-Try Japanese Skewers | Bird’s Nest Restaurant

Japanese Skewers, also known as Japanese yakitori, are famous dishes that originated in Japan.

Yakitori means “grilled chicken”. Yaki as fried and Tori as a bird, and sometimes used informally as kushiyaki, which means grilled and skewered foods. In cooking terms, tori refers to chicken.

Japanese yakitori is delicious as it is classically cooked on charcoal grills, giving the meal a smoky flavour. It tastes sweet and salty that is much similar to Teriyaki sauce. It can either be an appetiser or a main meal with sides. It’s usually served with newly cooked steamed rice and paired with Japanese alcohol or beer.

There’s no need to travel to Japan to enjoy this popular Japanese food; when you can easily enjoy it at home or a nearby Japanese restaurant.

Types of Japanese Skewers by Bird's Nest

Some of these Japanese Yakitori might sound strange, but if you’re up for it, give it a try!

Negima

Tender and juicy, Negima Yakitori is a Japanese Yakitori where pieces of chicken thigh or chicken breast are scattered, with scallions (known as welsh onion) in between the meat.

This dish is one of the most popular choices in a Japanese skewers menu. Its sauce has a combination of umami, soy sauce, sweet and salty glaze, and grilled to perfection. There are other secret ingredients that different restaurants use to enhance the rich flavour of Negima Yakitori.

Grilled veggie skewers

Grilled veggie skewers consist of fresh Grape tomatoes served with salt, Zucchini with soy butter, Eringi (king oyster mushroom) with soy butter and Okura with soy butter.

Grilled veggie skewers have it’s health benefits. According to studies, grape tomato contributes to good heart health and can fight cancer. At the same time, zucchini has 40% Vitamin A which is vital for growth, development, maintenance of the immune system, and good vision.

On the other hand, eringi or oyster mushrooms are beneficial antioxidants and can lower cholesterol levels, block cancer growth, and boost brain health.

Okura is considered an antioxidant too and is rich in Vitamin C and K. It can also lower the risks of heart diseases and cancer.

Grilled Vegetables Skewers by Bird's Nest

Butabara

Batubara is a Japanese skewer generally called “Kushiyaki”, which means grilled meat. It is a pork belly on a stick and has the benefits of pork meat, like high-quality protein and iron.

It is usually prepared in two ways, either grilled with salt or grilled and dipped in tare (sweet soy sauce), considering the other ingredients of different Japanese restaurants included in the dish.

Okura

Okura is the Japanese word for Okra. Okra is a flowering plant that is known to be a vegetable but is also a fruit. It has a sweet, grassy flavour and a texture that can be crispy and creamy depending on how cooked.

Okura skewers are Japanese vegetable skewers that can be appetisers in a meal course. It’s soaked in soy butter before grilling. It also includes Japanese ingredients and herbs, but it can differentiate in different Japanese restaurants.

Okura skewers are low in calories and full of nutrients. They have Vitamin C that supports the immune system, Vitamin K1 that helps the body clot blood, and Vitamin A aids in growth, development, maintenance of the immune system and good eye vision.

Okura skewers can also benefit pregnant women, improve heart health, control blood sugar levels, and help fight cancer.

Okura, vegetable okra skewers by Bird's Nest

Eringi

Also known as king oyster mushroom skewer, Eringi is a typical Japanese vegetable skewer with a mild and subtly woody or seafood taste that can have a meaty texture when properly cooked. The skewer is cooked on the grill with a touch of soy butter before being served.

Oyster mushrooms are a rich source of protein, vitamins, minerals, fibre, and other antioxidants that protect the body cells from damage that leads to chronic diseases, strengthening the immune system. It has low calories, fat-free cholesterol, and is gluten-free.

Bonjiri

Bonjiri is a type of Japanese yakitori and belongs in a category of Japanese skewered chicken dishes. This yakitori dish is grilled and prepared with chicken tail and seasoned with sesame oil and lemon with salt.

Bonjiri can be intimidating to yakitori beginners, but it’s one of the most unique and delicious Japanese dishes when appropriately cooked. This type of yakitori should be crispy outside and a fair amount of juicy meat on the inside.

Torimomo

Torimomo, like other yakitoris, is known to be a Japanese barbecue with the flavourful taste of soy sauce and other herb ingredients. It’s a classic and popular food in Japan.

As Torimomo uses chicken as its meat, it has the same health benefits as chicken meat. It contains higher amounts of omega-6 fatty acids than other animal meats. It is also high in protein and essential vitamins and minerals such as B6, B12, iron, zinc, and copper.

Some of these Japanese Yakitori might sound strange, but if you’re up for it, give it a try!

Next time you hit up a Japanese yakitori restaurant, you won’t have to look up every yakitori; some of them could sound strange and unusual to other regular foods, but give it a try. You might just be waiting for a pleasant surprise!

Try one of the best Japanese restaurants here in Brisbane, where this menu is available for you to try.