Daji 大吉
Daji (大吉) is a chicken-centric yakitori house tucked into the basement of Jin Hongqiao International Center in Gubei, slammed with Japanese patrons from the moment it opens each day. Every cut is handled with connoisseur-level charcoal grilling technique, and the skewer variety — from thigh to meatball to wasabi breast — rivals the best dedicated yakitori bars in the city.
- Price
- ¥¥
- Area
- Changning / Gubei
Daji 大吉 sits in Changning / Gubei, one of Shanghai's neighborhoods where authentic Japanese kitchens have taken root. Check the posted hours before you go — traditional yakitori restaurants often close between service periods.
- The restaurant fills to capacity within minutes of opening — a level of consistent demand from the local Japanese expat community that speaks for itself.
- The chicken thigh, meatball, and nori-wasabi breast skewers demonstrate a breadth of technique beyond the monotonous salt-and-grill of lesser yakitori houses.
- The name 大吉 is a hallmark Japanese yakitori restaurant naming convention, placing the venue squarely within an authentic Japanese cultural identity.
- Accessible pricing — most skewers ¥10–12, highballs ¥30 — makes it viable for a casual weeknight Japanese dinner without budget anxiety.
Arrive close to opening time (around 17:00) to secure a seat without a long wait. Highballs are served in the correct, high-dilution Japanese style — order freely. — Format: Yakitori counter and izakaya. Authenticity: Chicken-centric yakitori specialist in Gubei packed with Japanese patrons from opening each day; connoisseur-level charcoal grilling technique; the name 大吉 (Daji, meaning 'Great Fortune') is a classic Japanese yakitori restaurant naming convention found throughout Japan.
More authentic yakitori in Shanghai
See all →
Other authentic cuisines in Shanghai
See all →
Authentic yakitori in other cities
See all →
About Daji 大吉
- Is Daji 大吉 an authentic japanese restaurant in Shanghai?
- Yes — Daji 大吉 is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for japanese in Shanghai: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused yakitori format.
- Where is Daji 大吉 located?
- Daji 大吉 is located at LG1019, Jin Hongqiao International Center (茅台路179号金虹桥国际中心LG1019), 179 Maotai Road, Changning District, Shanghai, Shanghai, China in the Changning / Gubei neighborhood.
- Do I need a reservation at Daji 大吉?
- Daji 大吉 does not publish an online reservation link. Walk-ins may be possible, but for popular yakitori restaurants in Shanghai we recommend calling ahead.
- What is the price range at Daji 大吉?
- Daji 大吉 sits in the ¥¥ price range — typical for japanese of this format in Shanghai.