Ministry of Foodies Review
Cuisine: Japanese
Average price per person: 35€
Environment: 8.5/10
Food: 8.5/10
Service: 8/10
Other: Solo dining, Delivery
Website: https://yakitoro.com
Yakitoro is a Japanese-style grill bar that fuses yakitori traditions with bold Iberian flavors. Born out of a dream by Alberto Chicote, it brings skewers and tapas to a charcoal grill-centered concept and has become a steady favorite for both casual dinners and lively nights out. I have not been to many yakitori places, so I was curious to try this popular restaurant.
We visited on a Sunday for dinner.
Location / Environment
You’ll find Yakitoro both close to the Sandiago Bernabeu stadium, but it also has a restaurant in Chueca. The space evokes a modern izakaya meets Spanish tavern: wood tables surround a visible charcoal grill, while the lighting feels warm and energetic. One of the details I particularly like is the ice buckets embedded in the table with some bottles already chilling there. The staff will switch them and put there whatever you decide to drink once you place your order.
The staff is polite and efficient, but without being extremely attentive or friendly. Sufficient level of service, although not exceptional.
Yakitoro – Menu
Yakitoro’s menu is focused on yakitori (skewers) and those are incorporated in the starters, mains that include classic chicken yakitori variations, as well as different types of meats.
On the drinks front, expect their own craft beers alongside other international labels.
Yakitoro – Food
Our first dish was the lemonfish ceviche with passion fruit and leche de tigre. There was a mix of sweet, crunchy, spicy, and acidic elements. Overall, it was a solid and balanced dish, but nothing that you would not find elsewhere.
The katsu bao with slow-roasted duck and chipotle mayo was delicious. The mayo was spicy, there was some acidity from the onion, and the duck was succulent. One of my favorite dishes.
We also tried the tuna sando katsu, which was very tasty with the lightly breaded tuna and crispy bread combination.
The white rice seasoned with oriental flavours was very sweet for my taste and had a lot of sesame. My friend liked the flavours, but I would not order it again.
Next, we tried the tempura aubergine with satay and lime sauce. The aubergine was light and not very oily and the sauce was flavorful. A very well executed dish, although if the aubergine was cut into smaller pieces, it would probably be even better.
The grilled chicken thigh with aji amarillo sauce and peppers was very average. While I love aji amarillo, the sauce was spicy without having any particular depth. Not bad, but nothing memorable in terms of flavour.
We tried the sirloin cubes with peanuts and red curry sauce. Considering the restaurant does not specialize in Thai cuisine, the red curry sauce was quite good, and the meat was well-cooked. Nevertheless, the sirloin was under-seasoned and relied only on the sauce to get some flavour. If there had been more seasoning to the meat itself, this could have been a great dish.
Our last savory dish was the veal bone marrow with hamachi tataki. Fish from the tuna family and bone marrow is now a classic combination, with the latter adding a buttery taste to the fish. Rich combination, but bone marrow is quite fatty in general.
For dessert, we opted for a white chocolate custard with berries and passion fruit. Balanced and not too rich in chocolate, all in all it was a nice ending to the meal.
Conclusion
Yakitoro is a place where grill tradition meets innovation and where brochetas are more than just skewers, and every bite feels thoughtfully composed. While the execution is not always perfect, it’s a place that will deliver good flavours with interesting combinations. Another bonus is the small size of the dishes, which allows you to order and try several options. Reservations are advisable, especially on weekends, considering the value for money aspect of Yakitoro that drives a lot of customers to the restaurant.
Visit: November 2025
Address – Chueca: Calle de la Reina 41, Centro, 28004 Madrid