Yakitori spots are everywhere in Shanghai, but a reliable one — the kind you keep coming back to — is harder to find. Sake Ichi on Dagu Lu is exactly that: a no-fuss, late-night izakaya that earns its place in my back pocket.
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About Sake Ichi
Open since early 2019, Sake Ichi is the first F&B venture from Sake-X Group co-founder Michael, launched when Dagu Lu was at its quietest. The group also operates Sake Ichi Oden, Fuxing Project, Ichi Roll, and Umamiya.
The space is straightforward, if not a little spartan, but that’s the point. Counter seating at the bar puts you right in the middle of the action, ideal for solo diners or couples who want that buzz of movement.
There are also comfortable tables, as well as private rooms upstairs. It’s also open until 1am, making it a reliable late-night option for those on the night shift, or anyone who just wants a proper feed after hours.
Order Up
The food is where Sake Ichi makes its case. Their commitment to quality shows in the produce: Akigawa chicken, a premium breed raised without antibiotics or hormones, forms the backbone of their yakitori.
Everything is grilled over binchotan charcoal, and nearly all of their cooks have been with them since opening.
Beyond the traditional chicken skewers, they’ve added their own creative twists — among them “duckitori,” selected duck cuts cooked the same way. I skipped the signature chicken bites this time to sample the newer additions and others.
Top Three Bites: Mentaiko Rice Cake Roll, Wagyu Fat Cap with Leek, and Mentaiko Zucchini.
There were three standouts, but the Mentaiko Rice Cake Roll (¥28) reigned supreme. A thin sheet of pork belly wraps around chewy rice cake, salted mentaiko, and perilla leaf — the result is crispy, gooey, savory, and fresh all at once, with an umami punch that lingers. Do not miss this. Disclaimer: I’m a sucker for mentaiko.
The Wagyu Fat Cap with Leek (¥38) is utterly amazing. The fat cap renders over the flame making it rich but not greasy, paired with roasted leeks that soak up all that beefy flavor.
And the Mentaiko Zucchini (¥18) is a yakitori classic done right. Thick zucchini medallions coated in mentaiko, grilled tender and juicy with tons of flavor. Light on the stomach, heavy on satisfaction.
Duckitori
The duckitori section is a fun detour. The star of this category is the Smoked Duck Breast with Leek (¥68), brined in red wine and huangjiu, then coated in a house-made sauce that’s reminiscent of charsiu — sweet, savory, and tender.
The Roasted Duck Heart (¥12) is more about texture than flavor, with a slight iron edge brightened by salt, pepper, and yuzu. Meanwhile, the Roasted Air-Dried Duck Neck (¥48) is a dry-roasted, salt and peppered drinking snack — there’s more meat on it than you’d expect. They also do Roasted Duck Tongues (¥28), which I’m personally not a fan of, but each to their own.
Beef, Pork & Everything Else
For more beef and pork, the Wagyu Rib (¥42) delivers a satisfying chew and deep beefy flavor.
A more creative pick is the Grilled Salt & Yuzu Pepper Oyster with Wagyu (¥58). Thinly sliced wagyu is wrapped around an oyster and lightly kissed by the open flame. The meat is tender and luscious, the oyster still gooey in the center, the yuzu kosho adding a briny brightness to the whole thing. It’s done really well.
The Iberian Pork Belly Roll with Port Pepper (¥28) is a solid bite, but it just couldn’t compete after the mentaiko rice cake roll.
On the seafood and other skewer front, the White Eel (¥28) is worth ordering, roasted to perfection with a chewy, gelatinous skin and juicy flesh. The Grilled Tofu with Salted Scallion (¥22) has a light fermented funk to it, a sizable portion, and a satisfying addition to the spread.
Hot Dishes
Beyond the skewers, the Youda Wagyu Fried Rice (¥58) is the dish to fill up on. A heaping plate with serious wok hei, diced vegetables, egg, and the flavor of wagyu worked through its entirety, served with pickles and raw garlic for a spicy kick.
The Spring Rolls (¥48), filled with watercress and white croaker, are light and delicate, and a good way to start.
The Beef Intestine Mapo Tofu (¥58) is the curveball: spicy, peppery, slightly sweet, and richer than the usual ground meat version thanks to the braised beef intestines. And for the more adventurous, there’s the Stir-Fried Duck Gizzards (¥58) with pickled pepper and sour bamboo shoots — textured, punchy, and spicy.
To Drink
Drinks run on highballs here. Like their sister venue Sake Ichi Oden, they do a rotating lineup of flavored highballs alongside the ice-cold whisky.
A few overlap like the tomato and perilla peach, but Sake Ichi has its own picks: guava (my favorite), Ume, lychee, basil, and Earl Grey. They also have a highball machine for the original, poured cold and crisp, which is exactly what you want with a plate of skewers. The house highball is only ¥30, while flavored ones start from ¥38.
Sake Ichi is affordable, consistent, and open late. It’s a dependable yakitori / izakaya, one that rewards with simplicity and quality. Add this to your rotation.
P/S: Sake Ichi is also dog-friendly.
Nomfluence Readers Deals
- Highballs only ¥9.9! Limited one per person, for dine-in guests only.
Sake Ichi (酒一烧鸟·酒场)
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