What is Matsusaka's local gourmet "Matsusaka Chicken Yakiniku"?

How did Matsusaka chicken yakiniku become established in the Matsusaka area and become the soul food of the citizens?


There are various theories, but it is said that during the Showa era, there were many farmers in the suburbs of MatsusakaCity who kept chickens.
Until then, chickens that no longer produced eggs were discarded.
It is said that it started when farmers, who felt that it was a waste, started eating chicken by mixing it with miso sauce and grilling it on a charcoal grill.


Based on the custom that took root in this way, chicken yakiniku restaurants began to open around the 1960s, and its popularity gradually increased.

There are three definitions of Matsusaka chicken yakiniku, which is familiar to MatsusakaCity.

① Must be miso sauce

A rich miso sauce that is perfect for the light flavor of chicken!
In the Matsusaka region, it has been common to use red miso in home cooking for over 100 years, following the red miso culture of the Tokai region.
Additionally, the rich flavor of miso sauce has the effect of eliminating the odor of chicken, so it is said that farmers in the past may have willingly used it as a seasoning.

② Must be Amiyaki

In fact, in MatsusakaCity, there are only a few ``yakitori'' restaurants where chicken is grilled on skewers, and most of them are grilled in the Ami-yaki style, where the chicken is grilled on a stove or on a charcoal stove.
The thick smoke and the fragrant aroma of grilled miso sauce are some of the real pleasures.

③ Specializing in chicken grilled meat (chicken is the first item on the menu)

Usually, the first thing on the menu at a Yakiniku restaurant is beef, but at Matsusaka Chicken Yakiniku, they specialize in chicken, and of course the first thing on the menu is chicken!
Chicken also has a variety of flavors and textures depending on the part.

Revitalize the town with Matsusaka chicken grilled meat! Everyone at NPO Do it Matsusaka

The members of the "NPO Do it Matsusaka" are working to promote Matsusaka chicken yakiniku as part of Matsusaka's food culture and liven up Matsusaka!

Do It is an organization founded in 2010 by volunteer members who wanted to revitalize Matsusaka, and currently has 15 members.

The ``Definition of Matsusaka Chicken Yakiniku'' was apparently established by the members at the time of its founding in order to make chicken yakiniku take root as a specialty of Matsusaka!

So far, we have promoted Matsusaka Chicken Yakiniku by exhibiting at events both within and outside the prefecture, and we have also developed products such as co-developing miso sauce with students from the Ouka High School Food Cooking Club, which is oka for its ``High School Students Restaurant.'' We are actively engaged in activities such as posting and posting information on SNS.

Let's go to the Matsusaka chicken yakiniku restaurant!

According to Do It, there are about 35 restaurants where you can enjoy Matsusaka chicken yakiniku, including those in the surrounding area!
Among them, this time we went to “Toriichi Honten”.

At Toriichi Honten, you can not only enjoy grilled chicken inside the store, but you can also take out fresh chicken and enjoy it at home!
There are many other stores where you can take out chicken, so if you are interested, please contact each store.


We purchased the most popular tender "Wakadori" (495 yen), "Hine" (495 yen) which tastes better the more you chew, and juicy "Kubi" (528 yen).
The appeal of Matsusaka chicken yakiniku is that it is both delicious and affordable!

You can find other restaurants where you can eat Matsusaka chicken yakiniku on Do it's official website or on the ``Matsusaka chicken yakiniku tori tori map'' published by Do it.

Matsusaka Chicken Yakiniku Tori Tori Map

Enjoy Matsusaka chicken yakiniku on the barbecue!

You can enjoy Matsusaka chicken yakiniku not only at the store or at home, but also by taking it out and enjoying it on a barbecue!

At MatsusakaCity Forest Park, where you can camp or stay overnight in a bungalow, you can enjoy a barbecue even on a day trip.

There is also a special site that can be used for day camping, and it is recommended that you can use it from 9:00 to 17:00, so you can enjoy it at your leisure without worrying about time.
Necessary equipment such as barbecue stoves, chairs, and tableware can be rented (for a fee), and charcoal and nets are also available for sale!


In addition to being able to bring in your own food, you can also order BBQ sets (reservations required at least 3 days in advance).

Enjoying grilled chicken on a tent site surrounded by nature is the best!

While grilling the chicken, Mr. Morishita, CEO of Do It, says, ``The chicken is delicious when it's on the grill without touching it too much, and the miso sauce just gets a little burnt.''
Combined with the smoke from the charcoal, it has a nice aroma. Chopsticks keep progressing!


At MatsusakaCity Forest Park, you can also enjoy day-trip barbecues at the BBQ house with a giant iron plate and the Shichirin nagaya.
For more information, please check the MatsusakaCity Forest Park website.

Let's also stop by nearby spots

After enjoying the Matsusaka chicken yakiniku barbecue, let's go to the surrounding spots!

Matsusaka Agricultural Park BellFarm, located near MatsusakaCity Forest Park, has a wide selection of souvenirs.

Matsusaka Shokai, a shop located in BellFarm, has a large store stocked with special products and souvenirs from MatsusakaCity and nearby areas, such as Matsusaka beef and its processed products, MatsusakaCotton goods, and famous Matsusaka sweets. It's great to be able to buy all kinds of products here!

The shop's recommended products are Matsusaka Beef Hormone (1,822 yen), Yakiniku Sauce (540 yen) from Kosaka Shokudo, a chicken yakiniku restaurant in the city, and Morohiya Hosoyuki Udon from Ukisatomura. (750 yen) We were able to get souvenirs unique to Matsusaka!

Furthermore, at ``Garden Café Loubel'' located in BellFarm, you can enjoy smooth handmade gelato made with fresh milk and lunch full of fresh vegetables.

It's cheap, delicious, and the food and beer go on and on! Be sure to try the Matsusaka Chicken Yakiniku, an authentic taste that will make you addicted once you try it.

Article production: MSLP & Senmaki Printing Industry Co., Ltd.