Japanese yakitori restaurant One Eighty fires up the grills in Labrador
Those lucky enough to have travelled to Japan would keep fond food memories of dining in yakitori restaurants. The alluring smoky aromas, the gentle glow from the charcoal grill and, of course, the flame-licked skewered fare. The Gold Coast’s newest Japanese restaurant, One Eighty, takes notes from high-end yakitori establishments in Tokyo, combining traditional techniques with modern creativity to delight diners with an authentic and immersive eating experience.
Fronting the coals at One Eighty is head chef Akihiro Kitade, who honed his skills at Michelin-awarded Tokyo restaurant Yakitori Abe and its top-flight sibling Yakitori Haruka. During his tenure at these bustling dining spots, chef Akihiro caught the eye of Daiji Takashima, who was determined to bring high-end yakitori dining to the Gold Coast.
Chef Akihiro relocated from Tokyo in mid-2024 to help Daiji bring the One Eighty concept to life, with the quaint 30-seat restaurant opening in a purpose-built site below the Eve Residences tower on Labrador’s Marine Parade just before Christmas.
Diners at One Eighty are treated to an omakase-style menu (meaning ‘I leave it up to you’), which places your yakitori adventure in the very skilled hands of chef Akihiro and his team. There are two daily menus to choose from – a general and a premium – both centred around delicately skewered chicken and vegetables, grilled to perfection over charcoal.
“Each skewer highlights specific cuts of chicken, balancing smoky flavours and precise seasoning,” explains Daiji.
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The set menus feature around 14 courses and are also dotted with non-yakitori plates like fresh sashimi, oysters, miniature beef sukiyaki and a bite-sized eye-fillet sandwich. There’s also an option to add on plates like tuna belly, wagyu tataki and chicken karaage tulips.
“Some people who are familiar with Japanese yakitori say to forget about the sashimi, just give us the chicken skewers from the front to the back – so we can easily tweak the menu to suit,” says Daiji.
You can add on sake pairing to your yakitori experience, or dive into One Eighty’s extensive wine list and vast collection of premium Japanese whisky. The intimate restaurant also features an eight-seat private dining room, perfect for group celebrations and yakitori-filled corporate gatherings.
One Eighty is now open. For bookings and contact details, head to The Directory.