Listed in Restaurants
Yakitori Kintori is a compact bar perched above the recently opened Kinton Ramen on Bloor. The snack bar devoted to Japanese skewered meats is the newest edition to the Guu / Kinton / JaBistro family of restaurants.The dimly lit room accommodates 35 seated at sleek, custom built benches and bar rail stools looking into the enclosed kitchen.
The menu illustrates over a dozen parts of a chicken that can be ordered as single mini brochettes. Familiar cuts like chicken thighs, wings and breasts are listed alongside "rare" (meaning available in only limited quantities) selections like chicken oysters, necks and cartilage. Priced at $2.50 or less, each skewer offers a chance to savour the surprisingly varied flavours of each cut; juicy dark meat and even juicier tails, firm white meat dotted with wasabi or sweet plum jam, crunchy char flavoured cartilage.
Nothing on the menu exceeds $9. Premium skewers of marbled wagyu rib-eye and sliced Angus beef tongue, are the most expensive options but well worth it for the sake of variety. They're cooked over imported bincho (charcoal briquettes) and served simply with wasabi and smoked salts that draw out natural flavours.
Sake cheese fondue ($9) is an unexpected inclusion on the menu, but is a much appreciated contrast to all the meat I've just devoured. Melted Swiss cheese comes in a black vessel with a vibrant assortment of skewered brussel sprouts, quail eggs, taro, okra and bread.
The bar menu covers sake, sochu, beer, sangria and cocktails like the mango mojito ($8), a refreshing muddled mix of mint and fruit with rum, citrus and soda.
Yakitori Kintori is currently open daily from 5pm to 10:30pm, though hours may be extended to run late-night like the ramen shop downstairs.
Photos by Jesse Milns