Tori Shin: They say Yakitori is the Japanese equivalent of hotdog stand fare, but that’s like comparing Audrey Hepburn with a Vietnamese hooker. Sure, they both have necks, hearts, and tongues, but one is a finely prepared delicacy and the other you can pick up for a couple of bucks on a street corner. At Tori Shin, a swank eatery on the Upper East Side, it’s definitely not the same ol' Yakitori. The chefs wield their swizzle sticks like they were trained by Pai Mei as they work the grill with the efficiency of Anna Wintour at a party with Roger Federer. Meanwhile Japanese businessmen and stylish young types run to this place like they’re fleeing Godzilla, just to get a little piece of home and nibble on the skewered parts. Those born east of the Pacific Rim might be a bit yellow about trying the cuisine, but knock back a few shots of Shochu (the Japanese version of vodka) before the meal and you won’t feel lost in translation. |
