
Authentic and traditional Yakitori at Junsei, Marylebone
Experience all parts of the chicken cooked over coals on the skewer
Nestled in the heart of Marylebone is Junsei. This pretty and intimate restaurant takes the form of a Japanese yakitori.
The philosophy perfectly aligns with the core and traditional principles of yakitori, which is to extract amazing flavours from the most basic ingredients. This style of cooking respects and enhances every part of the chicken, and with their zero-waste approach, they carefully skewer and grill every part of the chicken over white-hot binchotan charcoal, which is the essence of yakitori.
The menu itself offers most parts of the chicken by skewer, alongside grilled vegetables, sides and donburi bowls for a larger dish. There is also a fantastic Chef Seasonal Selection menu which you can enjoy alongside a carefully selected drinks pairing, or a sake and shochu pairing if preferred.

We decided to go with the chef seasonal selection, as the menu was so large and varied. We were served up a huge variety of skewers and dishes, each tender, delicious and smoky from the coals.
From the chicken, we tried Chicken Shishi Maki Breast with Ume, Chicken Thigh with Spring Onion, Chicken Oyster, Chicken Wing, Chicken Heart and the Chicken Meatball. Each was tasty, but the star of the show for me was the Chicken Oyster which is derived from the back of the thigh. The taste was rich and full and almost tasted like bacon.
Alongside our chicken skewers, we tried skewered Shiitake Mushroom, Okra with Dried Tuna Flakes and Eriyingi Oroshi with Lemon (oyster mushroom), each had a powerful flavour and rich umami taste.
One of my favourite dishes we got to enjoy was a Wagyu Yaki Onigiri with Egg Yolk, Wasabi and Kimchi which was outstanding, with slightly thinner strips of the wagyu beef that were seared to perfection.
The drinks were also delicious. We enjoyed a Japanese style spicy margarita which packed a powerful punch, a beautifully light Sake which had notes of peach and pears and a stunning yuzu sake which was served alongside a Strawberry and Yuzu ice palette cleanser. Dessert was Ricotta with Seasonal Fruits which complemented each other very well.

Junsei is the debut restaurant of Chef Aman Lakhiani & Chef Zach Farr. Chef Aman Lakhiani’s journey to Japan was perhaps the awakening of something vital in his soul. Something buried deep within, through lineage, taste and culture.
He was absolutely overwhelmed by the happiness he experienced in the streets of Tokyo, where he ate and drank with the locals, sharing stories and igniting joy and laughter. That was what inspired him to open his debut restaurant in London. To share the experience he had in Japan. To share his passion and spread love and laughter. This can truly be felt through the love, care and passion he invests into his dishes.
My recommendation would be to take a seat at the counter so you can enjoy the theatre of fat and flames right in front of your eyes.
Find out more > www.junsei.co.uk

