Real charcoal grilled yakitori

Twenty years ago, when I had just moved to Paris, I saw "sushi yakitori" restaurants everywhere. Let's be clear, you will never see such a place in Japan. Sushi is prepared by sushi artisans, yakitori by yakitori artisans.

Later, I realised that not all these restaurants were run by Japanese people. I used to think that they ate strange sushi and yakitori, but now I appreciate them more, considering that they are dishes to be savoured in their own right. Nevertheless, I can't hide my amazement when I see these pan-fried skewers! They are fundamentally different from Japanese ones.

Nevertheless, when I am in Japan, I always go to real charcoal-grilled yakitori restaurants. I'm a big fan. In Paris, there are only one or two similar places. For example, Charbon Kunitoraya, which recently opened, uses charcoal from Shikoku. A friend of mine was the interior decorator there so I went. I take a bite and sigh. This is yakitori. It's top notch, maybe even better than some of the more famous Japanese restaurants in the area. 

In Japan, there are both popular kebab shops and luxurious restaurants where you can enjoy them one by one. You can order à la carte. At the Parisian restaurant mentioned above, the yakitoris are served in a formula so you can't choose them but it is quite possible to know their real flavour. The Shikoku udon served at the end of the meal is also delicious!
I suggest you try the authentic yakitori, those pieces of chicken perfumed over a wood fire! You can even discover the Bresse chicken brochettes, very rare in Japan.
I think about how far Japanese restaurants have come in Paris, and it's a real progress!