The streets of Japan are lined with an array of shops and vendors churning out yakitori or chicken skewers cooked over charcoal fire with sweet tare sauce. But you don’t have to travel to the Land of the Rising Sun to get a taste of these skewered treats. Instead, you can just make your way to Nan Tei, a newly opened Japanese eatery at Montien Mall that specializes in yakitori and other tasty meat skewers.
Japanese wooden elements and stark white, minimal decoration, not to mention a smoke-free atmosphere, ensure a pleasant dining experience at the unassuming space. The menu, however, promises to be more impressive. It includes classic yakitori meat such as chicken thighs (B70), but also includes other options such as sori (chicken oysters or meat found in the pelvis of the chicken, B70) and tougarashi (chicken calves, B70). All these parts are quite rare and require extraordinary knifing skills to obtain.
But the shock value came when we were served chouchin (B120) or immature chicken egg yolk. It may put be off-putting at first, but one bite is enough to change your mind. The delicacy has a soft texture similar to chicken meat, but with a more delicate taste.
Nan Tei also grills other red meats like pork, beef (and other cow parts) and lamb, as well as fish, seafood and vegetables. The menu also includes other izakaya fare like the Salted Cod Roe Yakisoba (B240) and Gobo Root Yuzu Salad (B180). Small side dishes are also aplenty, such as fermented squid (B120) or grilled stingray (B190). Have these with one of their cold beers, mouth-puckering gin or a fruit liqueur.
Nan Tei also serves lunch sets (priced at B210++) from 11:30 to 14:30.
