Yakitori Near Me in Covent Garden: Yari Club's Rotary Grill Counter

Yari Club occupies prime West End real estate at 57 St Martin's Lane in Covent Garden, situated two minutes on foot from Leicester Square station and four minutes from Charing Cross. Opened in late 2024, the venue introduces an inventive technological twist to London's yakitori landscape: a custom-engineered automated rotary grill visible directly through the front street-facing window. As skewers rotate through calibrated heat zones on a vertical carousel, radiant ceramic heating elements ensure even, caramelizing heat distribution on all sides. Human grill masters then take each skewer off the carousel to apply house glazes, final blowtorch searing, and finishing garnishes before serving.

The technological setup at 57 St Martin's Lane solves one of the traditional challenges of quick-service skewered poultry: consistent cooking times. By regulating rotational speed and infrared temperature zones to exact specifications, chicken thighs remain succulent while chicken skin achieves an even, blistered crunch without blackened burnt edges. Once the automated carousel cycle finishes, kitchen team members finish the skewers over a short flame sear to impart smoky aroma, proving that modern engineering and traditional Japanese seasonings can complement each other effectively.

Diners can watch the entire grilling cycle through the front window before stepping inside. Skewers are inserted onto revolving vertical spindles that transport the chicken past dual ceramic heating panels heated to over four hundred degrees Celsius. As the meat revolves, excess chicken fat drips into cold-water collection troughs below, preventing bitter flare-ups while searing the exterior to an even golden brown. Once the timed carousel rotation concludes, line chefs transfer the skewers to finishing racks where sweet tare or spicy rayu chili glaze is brushed across the blistered surfaces.

The menu at 57 St Martin's Lane covers the essential chicken skewer spectrum alongside tempting seafood and beef additions. The classic negima combines tender chicken thigh with grilled scallion spears that blister under the automated elements. The momo skewers showcase juicy, skin-on chicken thigh meat, while the teba chicken wings offer smoky charred skin and tender meat on the bone. Skewered chicken hearts (hatsu) and gizzards provide authentic Tokyo street-stall crunch for adventurous offal lovers.

If you desire a heartier plate, Yari Club produces a range of satisfying Japanese curry dishes. The Chicken Katsu Curry costs £10.75, pairing a freshly crumbed, golden-fried chicken cutlet with a rich, spiced Japanese curry sauce, vinegar coleslaw, and yuzu pickles. Prawn tempura curry is priced at £11.75 with four crisp battered prawns, while a vegetarian curry featuring braised tofu, scallions, and tenderstem broccoli costs £9.75. For beef lovers, the Teriyaki Gyudon at £13.75 features thinly shaved slow-simmered beef with sweet onions over rice.

Snack pairings and desserts also reflect modern Japanese convenience culture. Guests can add crispy prawn tempura skewers or seasoned edamame to their bento boxes for a few pounds extra. To round off the meal, sweet dango mochi skewers brushed with sweet-salty soy glaze provide a traditional Tokyo street festival treat. The beverage selection features imported Japanese green teas, cold Ramune sodas with glass marbles, and a popular dirty matcha latte that blends chilled ceremonial-grade matcha with rich espresso.

Inside, Yari Club features a clean, contemporary Japanese aesthetic with minimalist plywood banquettes, stainless-steel service accents, and an open pick-up counter. Digital touchscreen ordering kiosks near the entrance allow diners to customize skewer glazes (spicy tare, garlic soy, or sea salt) and select bento combinations with ease. Orders are prepared swiftly within five to eight minutes, making it one of Covent Garden's most efficient dining spots for solo travelers, theatregoers catching an evening show at the nearby Noël Coward Theatre, and West End retail workers.

Seating is arranged along a high timber counter and compact bistro tables. While the vibe is lively and casual, the kitchen takes its culinary execution seriously: every skewer is brushed hot to order with signature glazes, ensuring that tsukune meatballs maintain a glossy sheen and chicken skin remains audibly crisp. Bottled Japanese green teas, cold Ramune sodas, and creative beverages like the dirty matcha latte round out the quick-service counter experience.

The grab-and-go packaging at Yari Club has been engineered specifically for West End theatre audiences heading to nearby venues like the Duke of York or the London Coliseum. Bento boxes feature molded compartments that keep hot chicken skewers separated from cold yuzu pickles and steamed rice, ensuring that the crispy skin does not soften during a short walk through Covent Garden. Individual skewers are wrapped in heat-retaining foil pouches with bamboo handles protruding, making it effortless to eat on the move before evening performances.

Yari Club operates seven days a week, welcoming diners Monday through Saturday from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm, and on Sunday from 12:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Because of its location in the heart of Theatreland, the busiest rush occurs between 5:30 pm and 7:15 pm when evening theatre audiences descend on St Martin's Lane for a quick pre-show meal. If you prefer a calm dining atmosphere with plenty of counter seating, plan your visit during the afternoon lull between 2:00 pm and 4:30 pm.

Reservations are not required as Yari Club functions on a walk-in, fast-casual model. Takeaway orders can be placed directly at the front kiosks or through local delivery services. The restaurant accepts contactless payments, chip-and-pin cards, and mobile wallets.

Should Yari Club have a queue stretching out onto St Martin's Lane during peak pre-theatre hours, walk five minutes east to Sticks'n'Sushi Covent Garden at 11 Henrietta Street (WC2E 8PY), which offers yakitori sticks and sushi across a spacious multi-level cellar. Alternatively, walk four minutes north into Seven Dials to Flesh & Buns at 41 Earlham Street (WC2H 9LX) for Japanese izakaya small plates and steamed bao.