Yakitori Totto Introduce
Welcome to Yakitori Totto, an authentic Japanese restaurant located right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, New York City. This renowned spot has made a name for itself by specializing in yakitori—a traditional Japanese style of cooking where various cuts of skewered chicken are grilled over a charcoal fire. But it’s not just about chicken; Yakitori Totto offers a diverse menu that includes pork, beef, seafood, and vegetable skewers, ensuring there’s something for every palate.
Known for its warm and inviting atmosphere, Yakitori Totto provides a genuine taste of Japan without ever having to leave the city. Whether you’re a New Yorker looking for a new go-to spot or a tourist eager to explore the city's diverse culinary scene, this restaurant is a must-visit. Its commitment to quality ingredients, expert grilling techniques, and a wide variety of offerings make it a standout choice for anyone seeking a delicious and memorable dining experience.
As a local favorite, Yakitori Totto is popular for both lunch and dinner, making it an ideal place for a quick bite or a more relaxed meal. The restaurant's cozy and casual setting, combined with its fast and attentive service, makes it a perfect destination for solo diners, small groups, and anyone looking to enjoy an authentic Japanese meal in a friendly environment. With its reputation for great food and a relaxed vibe, it's no surprise that this place often has a wait, especially during peak hours.
### Location and Accessibility
Yakitori Totto is conveniently situated on the second floor at 251 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019. This prime location in Midtown Manhattan makes it easily accessible from many of the city's major landmarks and transit hubs. Whether you are coming from a Broadway show, exploring Central Park, or simply in the neighborhood for work, the restaurant is just a short walk away.
For those traveling by public transit, the restaurant is a short walk from multiple subway lines, including the N, Q, R, W, and F trains at the 57th St-7th Ave station, or the C and E trains at the 50th St-8th Ave station. If you are driving, be prepared for paid street parking, which can be limited. However, the central location means that getting there is straightforward no matter how you choose to travel. The second-floor location provides a cozy and intimate setting, allowing diners to escape the bustling city streets below.
### Services Offered
Yakitori Totto provides a variety of service options to meet the needs of its diverse clientele.
- Dine-in: Enjoy a full-service dining experience within the restaurant's casual and cozy atmosphere. The restaurant features a bar onsite and table service, allowing you to relax and enjoy your meal at your own pace.
- Takeout: For those on the go, the restaurant offers takeout services. You can call ahead or place an order in person to enjoy their delicious yakitori and other menu items wherever you are.
- Delivery: While not a direct service, the restaurant’s availability for delivery through third-party platforms ensures you can have their food delivered right to your home or office.
- Reservations: Given its popularity and tendency for a wait, Yakitori Totto accepts and recommends reservations, especially for dinner. Planning ahead ensures you can secure a table and avoid a potential wait, though even with a reservation, it’s worth noting that the restaurant can be very busy.
- Payment Options: The restaurant makes it easy to pay for your meal, accepting a variety of methods including credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments, providing a modern and convenient transaction experience.
### Features and Highlights
Yakitori Totto is celebrated for several features that set it apart from other dining establishments.
- Authentic Yakitori: The primary highlight is the exceptional quality and variety of yakitori. Skewers are prepared with care and precision, offering a true taste of traditional Japanese grilling.
- Fast Service: Customers often praise the restaurant's fast and efficient service, ensuring that orders are taken and food is delivered promptly, even when the restaurant is busy.
- Great Tea Selection: For those who appreciate a well-rounded beverage menu, Yakitori Totto is known for its excellent selection of teas, which perfectly complement the flavors of the grilled skewers.
- Variety of Offerings: Beyond yakitori, the menu includes a range of other Japanese dishes, from salads and hot appetizers like Agedashi Tofu and Gyoza to hearty bowls and noodles like Oyakodon and Una Ju. The beverage menu is equally extensive, offering a selection of beer, cocktails, wine, and hard liquor.
- Cozy and Casual Atmosphere: The restaurant has a welcoming, cozy, and trendy vibe. The small space allows diners to watch the chefs at work, grilling the skewers over the open flame, which adds to the authentic and engaging dining experience.
- Popular with Locals and Tourists: The restaurant's appeal extends to both local New Yorkers and visitors, creating a lively and diverse crowd. It is a well-known spot for solo dining and a quick, satisfying meal.
### Contact Information
Address: 251 W 55th St 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10019, USA
Phone: (212) 245-4555
### What is Worth Choosing
Yakitori Totto is a fantastic choice for anyone in New York City looking for a truly authentic Japanese dining experience, specifically focused on the art of yakitori. The name itself, "Yakitori Totto," highlights their specialization in these grilled skewers, and they certainly deliver on that promise. The food is consistently praised for being juicy, well-seasoned, and expertly prepared, with some reviewers noting the generous size of the skewers. The quality of the ingredients is evident in every bite, from the perfectly cooked chicken liver and chicken thigh to the succulent American Wagyu Kalbi and smoky lamb chops.
While the menu offers a wide array of choices, it’s the grilled items that truly shine. The chicken skewers, in particular, are a highlight, with options like Seseri (chicken neck) and Hiza Nankotsu (chicken cartilage) being particularly popular for their unique textures and rich flavors. Other standout dishes include the Agedashi Tofu, which is praised for being particularly well-made, and the Takoyaki, a Japanese street food staple. For those looking for a more substantial meal, the various bowls, like the Negi Tori Don and Oyakodon, offer delicious and filling options.
One of the most compelling reasons to visit is the overall dining atmosphere. Despite the small space, the cozy and casual setting, along with the view of the chefs grilling, creates a lively and engaging experience. While the restaurant can be busy and there might be a wait, the high-quality food and efficient service make it a worthwhile destination. It is a place where you can get a quick, satisfying meal without compromising on flavor, making it perfect for a pre-show dinner or a late-night bite. The restaurant’s ability to handle large crowds efficiently, while maintaining the quality of its dishes, is a testament to its professionalism and expertise. For anyone in New York City craving a delicious and authentic taste of Japan, Yakitori Totto is a top-tier choice that promises a memorable culinary adventure.
Yakitori Totto Menu
Cold Appetizer
- Kyona Arugula Salad $16.00
Arugu'la, poached egg, baby jako fish, creamed cheese
- Seaweed Salad $10.00
with Japanese plum dressing
- TOFU SALAD $8.00
Assorted vegetable with lemon dressing
- Totto Homemade Kimchi $7.00
Spicy pickled kimchee
- Tako Wasa $10.00
Raw octopus marinated in mildly spicy wasabi sauce
- Maguro Zuke $14.00
Tuna sashimi in garlic flavored say sauce with wasabi
- Spicy Cucumber Pickles $8.00
- Zaru Tofu $13.00
Hot Appetizer
- Fried Shishito Peppers $14.00
W/ miso yuzu sauce
- Gyoza $14.00
Homemade pork dumplings (6pices)
- Takoyaki $15.00
Japanese savory octopus donuts w/ sweet sauce, kewpie mayo, and bonito flakes
- Tori Dango $1,812.00
Yakitori Totto Special steamed chicken meatball covered in seasoned sticky rice
- Miso Soup $5.00
- Dashi Maki Tamago $13.00
Japanese soft rolled omelette
- Edamame $9.00
- Jidori Kara-age $15.00
Japanese style fried chicken. choice of regular or sweet and spicy sauce
- Salmon Crispy Rice $16.00
Lightly spiced and marinated salmon tartare over crispy rice
- Nasu Mizore $15.00
Deep fried eggplant and mochi with sweet spicy sauce containing daikon and nameko mushroom
- Agedashi Tofu $15.00
Deep fried tofu in dashi broth
CHICKEN YAKITORI
- NEGIMA $5.00
chicken breast and scallion
- KAWA $6.00
chicken skin
- TEBASAKI $5.00
chicken wing
- SUNAGIMO $5.00
chicken gizzard
- LIVER $5.00
chicken liver (choice of salt or sauce)
- MOMO $6.00
chicken thigh
- TSUKUNE $6.00
chicken meatball (choice of salt or sauce)
- Hatsu $5.00
Heart
LIMITED CHICKEN YAKITORI
- HIZA NANKOTSU $8.00
soft knee bone
- NANKOTSU $8.00
soft bone
- SORIRES $8.00
chicken oyster
- SESERI $8.00
neck
- BONCHIRI $8.00
tail
PORK YAKITORI
- BUTA TARE $6.00
Pork Belly with yakitori tare
- NEGI PON $6.00
pork belly with scallion and ponzu sauce
- TON TORO $6.00
neck w/ onions
- BUTA MISO $6.00
Pork Belly with Miso Paste
TOTTO ORIGINAL YAKITORI
- JAPANESE SAUSAGE $7.00
- ENOKI BACON $8.00
- SMOKED LAMB CHOP (2pieces) $21.00
- SHISHITO TSUKUNE $8.00
shishito pepper with chicken stuffing
- CUPOLLATE CON PANCETTA $9.00
Scallion + Pepper wrapped with bacon
- YAKIONIGIRI $6.00
grilled rice ball with choice of soy sauce, miso, or yakitori sauce
BEEF YAKITORI
- HARAMI $9.00
skirt steak
- AMERICAN WAGYU KALBI $13.00
AMERICAN WAGYU KALBI short rib
- ICHIBO $10.00
AMERICAN WAGYU Top Sirlion Cap
- NAKAOCHI $10.00
American Wagyu Rib Finger Meat
- ONE AND ONLY $8.00
Japanese Washugyu Beef meatball
SEAFOOD YAKITORI
- UNAGI $10.00
eel
- HOTATE ERINGI $8.00
scallop and king oyster mushroom
- EBI $8.00
shrimp
- SHISHAMO $9.00
smelt fish (2 pcs)
- COMBO MAMBO $8.00
eel, shrimp & scallop
VEGETABLE YAKITORI
- ERINGI $6.00
King oyster mushroom
- SHISHITO PEPPER $5.00
- SHITAKE MUSHROOM $4.00
- GARLIC $4.00
w/miso paste
- YAKI NASU MISO DENGAKU $5.00
eggplant with miso sauce
BOWLS NAD NOODLES
- NEGI TORI DON $20.00
grilled chicken and scallion with mildly cooked eggs and onion over rice.
- OYAKO DON $16.00
chicken and eggs and onion over rice
- UNA JU $28.00
broiled eel over rice
- AMERICAN WAGYU KALBI DON $29.00
American Wagyu Beef Short rib w/tare sauce, poached egg sesame seed, nori, sansho pepper over rice
- TOTTO HANAMARU UDON $17.00
Hot Udon noodles served w/chicken shiitake mushroom, nori & scallion
- TAKANA JYAKO GOHAN $16.00
takana greens and deep fried tiny silver fish over rice with mildly cooked egg
- OCHA ZUKE $15.00
rice in hot broth (choice of plum, salmon, spicy cod roe or dried salted kelp, (unagi $5+))
- RICE BALL $5.00
choice of plum, salmon, spicy cod roe or dried salted kelp
Yakitori Totto Details
Service options
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great tea selection
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Comfort food
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Late-night food
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Wine
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Trendy
Crowd
- Tourists
Planning
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
- Usually a wait
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Parking
- Paid street parking
- Parking
Yakitori Totto Photos










Yakitori Totto Location
Yakitori Totto
251 W 55th St 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10019, USA
Yakitori Totto Reviews
skewersgrilledshishitochicken thightsukunebacon wrapped asparaguschicken meatballschicken oysterskneeaffogato
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1Food is on the higher end for yakitori but it's well worth it. The yakitori's were juicy, super sized and came out quick. Really well seasoned and the staff was attentive.I do have to say... While we were still eating close to the 2 hour mark, it's the first time I had the indignity of being pressured and rushed to leave. I mean if we just sat there not eating and chatting away I'd totally understand. We (5 of us) ate and was still eating at the 2 hour mark, spent almost 600 hundred bucks, only to be rushed and herded out.Saying that the next party is waiting while we didn't see one person and another table was sitting empty.I mean I do get it but we WEAR STILL EATING. Perhaps they had another parry coming but still, there has to be a better way of approaching situations like this. Perhaps tell the next party 'we're running behind schedule' and let them wait a few minutes while we finish but to make us leave before finishing? It's bizarre.We didn't even get to order dessert for the birthday boy and ended up going nearby to a bar for some cake.It was so disappointing... Not the food but theservice and how were treated. I seriously doubt we'll ever be back because this is nyc and there are so many other choices. I'd seriously recommend others to consider an alternative.
August 05 · ben lOverall: The experience was a mix of ups and downs. Some of the food was very good, and a few were very disappointing. The servers were fast and polite. My water was never low for long. There were a lot of people and the small space made being seated near two loud parties less bearable. The small space was also nice as I was watching the chefs grill the skewers. I did make a reservation. I could've spent less as 4 skewers and 1 app would have been enough (I got 6 skewers and 2 apps).Food Details:Good: Agedashi tofu, chicken liver, chicken thigh, chicken neck, combo of scallop and oyster mushroom.Okay: Chicken heart with sauce, Zaru tofuDisappointing: chicken skinNotes:-Agedashi tofu is particularly good-All skewers in the good category are very well cooked and I would order a second if I didn't try so many in general. The neck was deboned and just really tender. Those scallops were really good too.- Zaru tofu is extremely nice quality tofu but it's a very clean plain dish. Next to the Agedashi, I chose to finish the Agedashi.-Chicken skin was too chewy for me. And the lack of sauce or seasoning means it was chewy with grill taste only.
May 18 · Rolane QianAbsolutely mouthwatering. I enjoyed a glass of yuzu sake with the salmon crispy rice followed by the kalbi don. Everything was excellent and the service was very friendly. As I was dining alone, I really could have skipped the appetizer because it ended up being far more food than I needed BUT, I'm glad I didn't because the crispy salmon (or "cripsy" as it's listed on the menu) was delicious. But the kalbi don! Oh my oh my goodness. Absolutely sumptuous. The beef was so tender and perfectly cooked it melted in my mouth like butter. Seasoned rice and an onsen egg pulled it all together. Simple perfection. I don't know when I'll find myself back in New York, but when I do, I'll be seeking out this gem of a restaurant again.
July 05 · Rachel SantilloThis is my FAVORITE yakitori place in NYC 💕The moment you walk in, the lively atmosphere and the smoky aroma from the grill set the tone🍢The yakitori is outstanding — perfectly grilled with a crispy char on the outside and juicy tenderness inside😍😍Highly recommend the chicken knee bones and chicken oyster for something unique and flavorful. Agedashi Tofu is also a great option😋😋Service is attentive yet unobtrusive, and the menu has plenty of variety. Portions are on the smaller side, which makes it fun to order multiple skewers and share.🙌🏻 The quality and authentic experience are well worth it. Whether it’s a casual dinner with friends or an after-work drink with skewers 🍻🍻Yakitori Totto is easily one of the best spots in New York for authentic Japanese yakitori.
August 21 · Anna ZhangWhile the actual building footprint is small, the food was amazing and the prices were not bad at all. We left fat and happy for sure!
August 16 · D. Michl Lowe
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