Bird's Nest Yakitori

Bird’s Nest Yakitori & Bar is a funky little slice of Japan in Fortitude Valley – a lively bar eatery that is a go-to for delectable yakitori and bar nibbles washed down with Japanese beer, sake or shochu.

Punters can take a seat at the counter bar, with a view on the chefs cooking the yakitori skewers as they have done for hundreds of years on white hot charcoal grills, or at one of the handful of tables in the cosy dining nook at the rear.

On the menu to start or to accompany a drink are Toriezu such as Edamame, Nama Gaki (fresh oyster, Yuzu vinaigrette, salmon roe & ichimi spice), Mini Tama (soy-infused quail eggs and Japanese mustard) or Mitarashi Renkon Chips (crispy Lotus root chips and sweet soy caramel).

No visit to Bird’s Nest Yakitori is complete without sampling the melt-in-the-mouth main attraction, the Skewers, which come in a mix of traditional and East-meets-West options. Choose from Negima (the traditional yakitori skewer with shallot), Bo-Tsukune (traditional style meatball with grated Japanese horseradish or fresh wasabi) or Tebasaki (Chicken wing with lemon and cracked pepper) or break with tradition and try the highly recommended Buta Bara (Willi Willi creek pork belly with seeded mustard, grated Japanese horseradish or kimchi mayo) or Momo (chicken thigh with avocado and chilli coriander or basil mayo and salsa).

Meanwhile vegetarian diners have the choice of Green Mori (3 seasonal vegetable skewers), Kinoko Mori (mushroom skewers) or Atsuage (Homemade crispy tofu, Bincho grilled with traditional accompaniments).
Fried Dishes (Agemono) come recommended too – must try are the Pirikara Fries (spice fries with Japanese seven spice & mayo) or Mini Korokke (Japanese style potato croquettes with Tonkatsu sauce).

And to break things up with a little greenery recommended are the salads such as the Sarada mixed herb salad with wasabi dressing) and Wafu Caesar Salad (Baby Cos lettuce, 62 degree egg bonito flakes, Parmesan cheese and Japanese style Caesar dressing).

To finish there’s Houjicha roasted green tea ice-cream or Yuzu Sorbet (Japanese citrus sorbet) or traditional Grilled Rice dishes such as Yaki Onigiri (Grilled rice with tare glaze).

The comprehensive drinks list at Bird’s Nest Yakitori takes in the best of the east and the west, atrating with Bubbles such as Louis Roederer  or NV Canella Prosecco and a curated list of wines, divided into categories such as Bright Aromatic or Textural Bold Whites, Elegant Refined or Spicy, Earthy, Juicy Reds or Rose and Chilled Reds.

A range of Japanese beers include Draught, Bottled of Craft (think Tokyo Aged Pale Ale or Red Miso Lager) and Japanese Whisky includes Nikka from the Barrel, Chita Suntory Single Garin, Iwai Blended Whisky and Akashi Single Malt or White Oak Blended.

Shochu (Japanese Distilled Spirit) drinkers can choose from the likes of Mugi (barley), Shiso (Penilla leaf) or Imo (Sweet Potato) Shochu and Sake fans will find plenty to like with the variety of Sakes (Dry, Aromatic, Rich, Aged or Sparkling), which are served by the glass or jug.

And that’s not all. Ume Shu (Plum Wine) includes Organic Choya, Kokuto (sweet dessert liquor with brown sugar, rum and black vinegar) and 10 year old Furutsuru (one of the oldest wood aged plum wines in the market).
Lastly a small list of cocktails includes the Dirty Geisha (Belvedere vodka, Ippin Dry Sake, Organic Choya Umeshi and Umeboshi) and Miss Fuji (Japanese Apple Syrup, Belvedere Vopdka and Prosecco).

And for non-drinkers there’s Oolong or Green tea, Voss sparkling or still water and a range of soft drinks.

The restaurant has expended into the next door shop since our visit so images are not representative.

A full list of the best Japanese restaurants in Brisbane HERE