Washoku Guide
← Shanghai
Shanghai · 焼き鳥

Authentic Yakitori
in Shanghai.

Charcoal-grilled chicken broken down part by part, salted or tare-glazed, served one skewer at a time.

03
Daji 大吉 — authentic japanese restaurant in Shanghai, Changning / Gubei

Daji 大吉

¥¥
Changning / Gubei · Yakitori · counter
JapaneseYakitoriIzakayaChickenCharcoal Grill

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.

View restaurant →
Other Japanese cuisines in Shanghai
Kaiseki in ShanghaiSushi in ShanghaiTeppanyaki in ShanghaiIzakaya in ShanghaiRamen in ShanghaiDonburi in Shanghai
Authentic yakitori in other cities →All authentic Japanese in Shanghai →
FAQ

Questions, answered.

What makes yakitori in Shanghai authentic?
Charcoal-grilled chicken broken down part by part, salted or tare-glazed, served one skewer at a time. In Shanghai, we apply the same standard: chefs trained in the discipline, ingredients and technique consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused yakitori-first format rather than a mixed menu.
How do you define authenticity?
Washoku Guide defines authenticity by the kitchen's grounding in Japanese culinary tradition: trained chefs (often in Japan), techniques and ingredients consistent with Japanese practice, a focused menu rather than a pan-Asian one, and a coherent dining format (sushi-ya, ramen-ya, izakaya, kaiseki, etc.). We weigh these signals together — no single factor decides.
Do you require Japanese ownership?
No. Japanese ownership is one positive signal, but it is not required. We also recognise restaurants with Japanese-led kitchens or non-Japanese chefs who have trained extensively in Japan and apply traditional techniques with discipline. What matters is the cooking, not the passport.
How are restaurants selected?
Each entry is researched and chosen by Washoku Guide editors — not voted in, not paid for, and not algorithmically ranked. We read kitchen biographies, study menus, talk to people in the industry, and visit when possible. Restaurants pay nothing to be listed.
Are the listings ranked?
No. Washoku Guide is a curated guide, not a ranking. Order on a city page is editorial and may change as the guide evolves; it does not imply that #1 is better than #5. Every listed restaurant has met our authenticity bar.
Are these the only authentic yakitori restaurants in Shanghai?
These are the ones Washoku Guide has researched and stands behind today. The guide grows over time; if you know an authentic yakitori restaurant in Shanghai we should consider, please get in touch.