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Have you heard of the famous yakitori brand Torikizoku? The Japanese yakitori chain is known for its simple menu pricing, with all skewers priced at the standard 390 yen in Japan. And guess what? You’ll soon be able to taste their skewers in Singapore; the chain is opening its first Singapore outlet at VivoCity!
The new outlet located at #01-104/105 will have its grand opening on 15 Jun. If you wish to visit earlier, it is open to the public from 29 May, although the menu offerings will be limited.
During a media preview on 28 May, I discovered firsthand what Torikizoku has to offer!
The shop has a pretty spacious interior with quaint-looking furniture with simple lines. Like most Japanese eateries, you’ll hear a loud and welcoming “irashamase” from the staff upon walking in. To give a feel of Japan, there is also Japanese music playing in the background.
As with their Japan outlets, a fixed price applies to most items on the menu. Skewers, rice & noodle items, desserts and non-alcoholic beverages are all priced at S$3.90++. Meanwhile, items on the kids’ menu and alcoholic drinks are priced at S$9.90++.
We decided to order 3 items from the Top 5 Fan Favourites: the Signature Kizokuyaki Thigh (Sauce), Grilled Fluffy Grated Yam and Chicken Kamameshi (Japanese-Style Claypot Rice).
The Signature Kizokuyaki came with slices of leek between the cubes of chicken thigh. The chicken was tender, while the leek had a crunch to it. Not bad!
Topped with thin seaweed, mayonnaise and quail egg, the Grilled Fluffy Grated Yam looked really appetising. However, it leans towards the salty side, so I recommend you order a drink alongside.
The most special item was the Kamameshi Chicken & Rice. It was presented in a mini claypot, and we had to wait 20 minutes for the ingredients to cook, and another 5 minutes for the food to rest.
Finally, it was time to try it. We enjoyed the stickiness of the rice and the combined flavour of the rice, chicken and vegetables.
We also ordered 2 other items, which included the Stuffed Bell Pepper with Ponzu. The bell peppers were crunchy and slightly bitter, while the meat stuffing within wasn’t too plain nor too salty.
Next up was the Chicken Meatball with Cheese. Its savoury, juicy exterior and soft meat won us over.
We also had a go at the Time Challenge Game, which will be available to the public from 15 to 30 Jun.
To win, participants would have to start a timer by clicking on the red buzzer on the top of the mascot Toriki, and try to stop the buzzer at 3.9 seconds for a free meal. I was in luck and managed to hit exactly 3.9 seconds!
Even if you’re just slightly off the 3.9 timing, there’s still a prize for you. For those who achieve a timing between 3.7 and 4.1, you’ll earn a cute Toriki plushie!
Overall, the meal at Torikizoku was a pleasant experience. As someone who has never travelled to Japan, this was a good chance for me to experience authentic Japanese cuisine in Singapore. If you’re visiting VivoCity anytime soon, consider trying Torikizoku!
