Shirokane Tori-Tama – Over 25 Chicken Parts At This Japanese Yakitori Restaurant

Shirokane Tori-tama was introduced to me by my friend who was super eager to try this yakitori item called Chochin. unlaid chicken eggs served on a wooden skewer. And as petrifying as that already sounds, my preconceived notions about the item was ostensibly justified by a series of photos portraying its round, uninviting, pimple-looking nature.

Not only is Shirokane Tori-Tama listed in the 2017 Singapore Michelin Guide, it is probably the only one Japanese restaurant in Singapore that sells Chochin amongst a huge selection of over 25 edible chicken parts including a range of grilled internal organs.

Despite my qualms, I agreed nonetheless; thinking he would probably be eating while I document the moment. But well… later then I realised I have signed myself up for something more than this.

Reservations wasn’t easy to make but we managed to snag a seat for two on a Friday night.

Despite arriving at its earliest opening hour, the restaurant was already packed to the brim.

Thankfully, the two seats right in front of the grill station had already been secured for us. This coveted spot was perfect for observing the chefs grilling the meats and vegetables, and was made even better by the glass partition which protected us from the open flames and irritable smoke.

If you want a view of the grilling, request for the counter seats. But be prepared to get ‘grilled’ because the area gets really hot after a while. 

As our main agenda includes having a taste of the peculiar chochin $6.50, we decided to order it first before scanning the menu for other items.

The staffs seemed rather busy for us to ask further questions or even for a quick food introduction.

Although I’m no expert in animal biology, chochin appears to be the ovaries of chicken that haven’t been laid. Without hesitation, my friend popped both into his mouth and exclaimed how delicious it was.

Honestly, I have never seen anything of the likes and it took me quite a struggle >.<

But still, challenged accepted! It’s time to face my fears…

The verdict?

The golden, liquid-filled sacs were outlined by a thin membrane, making the burst factor somewhat exciting (and arousing). I relished the comforting warmth of the liquid sunshine that coated my tongue in an instance. To be frank, it tasted similar to an ordinary egg yolk—nothing scary, just very much richer and decadent.

If you are open to eating the internal organs of a chicken, Shirokane Tori-Tama is definitely the place you should visit.

There are skewers of chicken hearts, windpipes, gullets, stomachs, spleens, gizzards and livers, affordably priced at $3.50 per stick.

The Windpipe $3.50, pictured below, was actually quite tasty and you could hear the crunchy sound when you bite through it. I was expecting it to taste like plastic from what I heard, but thankfully, it didn’t.

We also tried the Cockscomb $4 (middle) which had a more elastic texture.

The Liver $3.50 (second from right), on the other hand, was very moist and soft. But since I am not a fan of liver, I find it quite gamey.

Seasoning of the skewers were not bad overall.

If consuming internal organs is beyond your limits, Shirokane Tori-Tama serves the usual yakitori sticks as well, such as the Skin, Neck, Thigh and Tail at $3.50.

More premium items would be the Chicken Ball, Wing, Breast, Drum Stick, Special Thigh and Fillet at $5. 

I would recommend the Chicken Balls $5 filled with crunchy bits within the soft ground meats.

The Skin Tofu with Raclette Cheese $5 was forgettable with barely any hints of cheese.

Toritama Don $13 was overrated and simply a bowl of rice topped with a generous amount of minced meats, grilled chicken and a poached egg. The minced meats felt under-seasoned and did nothing to bring the taste of the entire dish out of its blandness.

For the price, we would have gladly eaten a few more tasty skewers.

While we feast, we notice many diners ordering bottled sake to pair along with the food too. The target audience is quite different from your usual run-off-the-mill Japanese restaurant.

Service could be a tad warmer and attentive, but nothing to shout about on the whole.

If you are craving for some exotic chicken parts or a good yakitori restaurant, maybe you could check out Shirokane Tori-Tama.

Would I return?

If I have adventurous friends.

 

Shirokane Tori-Tama

11 Unity Street, #01-02 Robertson Walk

Singapore 237995

Tel: +65 6836 5680

 

Mon to Sat: 6PM-11PM

Closed on Sun