At the dinner table a few nights back the Missus and I like I think many other folks are these days, were discussing about where we'd want to have our first dinner out "AC" (After Covid)…...whenever that would be......I'm not sure how or when we'd feel comfortable enough to actually dine in; nor are we sure what changes would be in store for dining in. Yakitori Taisho was definitely on the top of that list. Granted, we haven't been back much after Taka-san left, but we were and are, craving yakitori.
By coincidence, on March 12th the Missus had plans to have dinner with Her friends so I decided to pay Taisho a visit.
It had been quite a while since I had walked thru the door at Taisho and hadn't visited since they expanded. The place now holds twice the amount of people, though it seems to have lost that cozy, intimate atmosphere.....which, in light of our current situation, may play in their favor when they do try to reopen.
I was greeted with a big smile from Kuma-san; who still remembers us from our visit to the original location of Yakyuudori in Nagoya, where he was manning the konro on that evening. He cracked us up, when he'd declare he was "better than Taka" while handing us our skewers! He does have some major Yakitori chops.
And of course; things started with some draft Sapporo.
And I was happy that nankotsu (chicken cartlidge) was on the menu. I really enjoy the distinct, crunchy-chewy texture of nankotsu.
I thoroughly enjoyed my Yakitori. I did notice that while Taka-san often had a lighter touch in terms of tare, salt, and carmelization; Kuma is more flavor forward.....knowing the personality of both of them, it just makes sense. It's all good!
Man, I really miss our meals at Taisho, what took me so long since I'd last visited? When the Missus got home from Her dinner, we chatted about Taisho and made plans on having dinner at Taisho in the near future. Then of course, March 16th came along. So, we're hoping to be able to safely and comfortably visit Taisho when we get on the other side of this pandemic. We're hoping......
Yakitori Taisho
(Currently Temporarily Closed Due to You Know What)
5185 Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92117
I'm sure many of you are thinking about places you're missing, and hoping to have meals at once restaurants open for dining in and you feel comfortable with eating in a restaurant.
Where would that be?
Great post! Taisho looks tasty—happy eating! DTF for us. We’ve gotten takeout and made our own XLB but it just wasn’t the same. Honestly though I’m not sure when we will feel comfortable enough to dine in even though places are opening up and SD seems kind of done with Corona.
Posted by: RedDevil | Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 09:19 AM
It may take a while for us to actually dine in as well RD. Take care!
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 09:22 AM
I too will probably not dine in for awhile. I think my first restaurant meal would be where I can at the sushi bar. We got takeout from Sushi Ota on Mother's Day, and the sushi hit the spot. They had a lot of orders lined up! Agree with Red Devil that takeout from Din Tai Fung is not the same as eating in for the XLB.
Posted by: Sandy | Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 12:52 PM
Funny. I was at Taisho that same night sitting at the counter in front of Kuma-san. Were you the one sitting in the far left corner? If so I think I was sitting right by you!
Posted by: Junichi | Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 02:00 PM
I totally get it Sandy! Glad you got your sushi fix in.Hope all is well.
Yes Junichi, that was me, sitting at the left side of the counter. Small world!
Posted by: Kirk | Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 02:50 PM
looking forward to anywhere they cook & wash the dishes afterwards:)
Posted by: kat | Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 09:21 PM
I would say Hino. My kids can eat at least 20+ chicken hearts plus other items and bankrupt me. BUT...I probably won't be back for awhile.
Posted by: TFD | Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 11:23 PM
Totally understand that Kat! Guess who does all the cooking AND the dishes afterward in our household? ;o)
They've got good taste TFD!
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 22 May 2020 at 05:30 AM
Mmm... Great looking yakitori.
Posted by: Soo | Friday, 22 May 2020 at 10:17 AM
It was delicious Soo!
Posted by: Kirk | Friday, 22 May 2020 at 10:32 AM
Taisho re-opening for dine-in starting tonight!
Posted by: Junichi | Friday, 05 June 2020 at 01:51 PM
Hi Junichi - Yes, my friends also sent me some texts messages about that. I'm wondering what the set-up will be like.
Posted by: Kirk | Saturday, 06 June 2020 at 05:47 AM
Kuma-san has decided to head back to Japan. His last day at Taisho is this Saturday.
Posted by: Junichi | Sunday, 02 August 2020 at 11:06 PM
Man, what a bummer Junichi! I saw the parking lot tents up for Taisho the other day. Thanks for letting me know.
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 03 August 2020 at 06:01 AM
I went last Tuesday and they were doing good business. They said sales were almost the same as pre-Covid so the news came to me as a surprise.
Posted by: Junichi | Monday, 03 August 2020 at 09:15 AM
There were people in line when I drove by at 4pm last week Junichi.
Posted by: Kirk | Monday, 03 August 2020 at 01:00 PM