Yakitori Totto

Came here for the eel over rice and very satisfying! Surprisingly the Takoyaki is the crispiest that I’ve ever had! Overall every dish is delicious and I like the way you can order just one piece each and try more variety.

If you want to try the special menu come earlier because they run out. We got only one skewer from the special menu the chicken neck. Overall the food was great but it didnt sit so well with my stomach in the end. The sago tea dessert was fantastic however.

Not sure how I haven’t reviewed Yakitori Totto before, but it’s really become a required stop every time I’m visiting NYC. It’s tiny and feels like it is straight out of a side street in Tokyo but the food is amazing - flavorful and cooked perfectly. Book ahead of time and try to eat right when they open so you have room to breathe. Service can be a bit rushed at times when they are busy but they are quick to serve you and provide drink refills. You have to be able to walk up a pretty steep flight of stairs from street level to get in.

From good reviews online, I decided to come here for an anniversary dinner a few days ago. My partner and I decided to start off with takoyaki, which wasn't too badly priced, at $10 for 6 pieces, along with a bowl of miso soup. The takoyaki was a pleasant surprise - crispy on the outside and very soft on the inside, with good flavor. However, the miso soup was extremely salty, definitely overpowering. I got used to the saltiness after a few sips. We also ordered a calpico drink mixed with soda, which tasted great. The ratios of both made for a perfect blend. I was a little surprised by the taste of the miso soup, but nothing too standout yet. Soon, we got our yakitori skewers: wagyu beef, enoki bacon, kawa, and negi pon. The texture of the wagyu was disappointing, but acceptable. The enoki bacon texture was amazing; nothing remarkable about the kawa and negi pon textures. Texture is important, but so is flavor, which is what all of these yakitori skewers were lacking. The flavor for all the skewers were extremely underwhelming, and my partner and I had to drown all them in salt, pepper, and soy sauce to give it an okay~ flavor. Next, we ordered one totto udon bowl to share. The servers provided each of us an individual bowl & soup spoon. I don't have much to say on this dish - it was just average udon. No complaints but no particular compliments either. To finish off the night, we ordered a green tea affogato, and needless to say, this was the highlight of the dinner. The green tea blended perfectly with the vanilla ice cream to produce a sweet matcha-like flavor. My partner ate all the red bean so I can't comment on that, but the mochi balls that came with it were relatively flavorless, but it had a nice chewiness so I won't complain about it. The total cost of all this came out to about $80~, and we tipped about 20% since our waiter was extremely kind and accommodating, great service!

Yakitori Totto in NYC is a culinary gem. The skewers are a flavorful dance of perfectly grilled ingredients, each bite a tantalizing blend of textures and tastes. The cozy ambiance and authentic Japanese grill experience elevate the dining adventure. From succulent chicken to expertly crafted small plates, every dish showcases culinary finesse. The extensive sake selection complements the meal seamlessly. Yakitori Totto is a haven for food enthusiasts, a place where traditional techniques meet modern palate delights, leaving patrons with a savory memory of New York's exceptional dining scene.

Really enjoyed our dinner here - came on a Tuesday night with a reservation, which I'd recommend - the place was packed throughout the evening and it's not a big venue to start with. We ordered the chicken skin and heart (of course), the pork neck, miso aubergine, shisito peppers stuffed with tsukune, okra with bonito, grilled rice cakes with miso and some other assorted sides. The chicken skin, neck, okra, and stuffed peppers are must-orders in my book. Annoyed we forgot to order the smelt! The cocktail drinks weren't anything super special, just fine - so I feel like there's other places you can go before/after if you're inclined. The matcha affogato was a little odd (the matcha is of course quite runny), but the mochi in the dish were wonderful. If you're fancying a sweet treat, my vote goes for the apricot kernel pudding instead - a soft, creamy, pannacotta like option.

This small lively restaurant was well worth the reservation. Each and order was delicious and I had no complaints for any of our dishes. We ordered quite a bit including waygu beef, eel, lamb chops, chicken heart and gizzard, and pork jowl. I would recommend this location to anyone!

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