Yakitori Jinbei - Review - Smyrna - Atlanta - The Infatuation

"There are many reasons to go to Smyrna’s Yakitori Jinbei for a casual lunch or dinner. The Korean-Japanese fusion menu is stacked with heavy hitters like hearty bowls of ramen, which we like topping with brussels sprouts and bacon. The robust sushi menu outshines most offerings in the area. There are admirable classics like fresh tuna rolls and pricier ones topped with seared wagyu and caviar, which could help this place earn a spot on your date night rotation. But look around this always-crowded, narrow dining room, and you’ll likely find that all 15 tables will have a plate of their Korean fried chicken on them. The massive pieces of lightly crisped chicken are coated in a sticky sauce that oscillates between spicy and sweet. And it's easy to see why this dish is their gold standard, especially when you find yourself licking the sticky orange goo off your fingers. Food Rundown Korean Fried Chicken This is listed under the small plates section of the menu, but there is nothing small about it. You get a platter filled with six to eight super-sized pieces of chicken. Each bite has a satisfying crispy crunch and is slathered with a sticky Korean sauce that starts off sweet and then zags to spicy at the end. photo credit: Juli Horsford Tan Tan Ramen This bowl of chicken and pork broth is alarmingly orange. But don’t be scared, it has a little kick but the spice levels won’t make your eyes water. The minced pork, egg, and noodles mesh well together, but we especially like the cabbage shreds, which make the bowl a little heartier. Get this. photo credit: Juli Horsford Beef Bulgogi Skip this in favor of better items here. The slivers of beef have a nice sweet flavor but come out a little chewy. The rest of the bowl is pretty bland with unseasoned carrots, broccoli, and fried rice that would’ve popped better with chicken. photo credit: Juli Horsford Wagyu Maki Order this. The thin slices of wagyu beef get torched so they have a nice smoky flavor. Brush off the garlic chips on top (which taste a little too burnt), and snag the ones with the biggest helping of caviar instead. photo credit: Juli Horsford Yum Yum Maki There are two reasons to get this. The first is the ASMR-worthy crunch that comes when your teeth make contact with the perfectly crispy shrimp tempura. The second is the heavy-handed pour of creamy yum yum sauce over the top of the roll—it makes the avocado and tuna on top sing." - Juli Horsford