Japan’s TORIKIZOKU Yakitori Chain to Open First Philippine Restaurant in BGC
Last Updated on October 6, 2026 by Over Here Toronto
Japanese yakitori chain TORIKIZOKU will open its first Philippine restaurant at Serendra in BGC on October 12, 2026. The opening brings the Osaka-born brand and its grilled chicken skewers to Filipino diners for the first time.
TORIKIZOKU started in Osaka in 1985 and now runs more than 600 restaurants across Japan. Its menu centers on yakitori, or grilled chicken served on skewers, alongside rice dishes, small plates, and drinks.
The BGC store also marks another step in the chain’s push into Southeast Asia.
TORIKIZOKU Opens at Serendra on October 12
The first Philippine TORIKIZOKU will open at Serendra in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
The opening date is set for Monday, October 12.
Ahead of opening day, people walking around Serendra may have already seen yellow signs featuring Torikki, the chain’s mascot.
The displays include QR codes that lead diners to TORIKIZOKU Philippines information and reservation options. Some carry short lines such as “Good Times, This Way” and “Traffic Can Wait.”
The Philippine campaign also uses the phrase “Toriki Tayo.”
The name plays on the Filipino word tayo, giving the Japan-based chain a local line built around eating together.
What Is TORIKIZOKU?
TORIKIZOKU is a Japanese restaurant chain focused on yakitori.
Yakitori usually consists of small pieces of chicken placed on skewers and grilled. Different cuts can be seasoned with salt, sauce, or spices.
TORIKIZOKU’s Japan menu includes chicken thigh, breast, skin, heart, gizzard, wings, and meatballs.
One of its best-known items is the Kizokuyaki, a larger chicken and leek skewer. Diners in Japan can choose versions made with thigh or breast meat and different seasonings.
Other dishes on the Japan menu include fried chicken, edamame, cabbage, potato dishes, noodles, rice, and desserts.
However, TORIKIZOKU has not yet published a complete Philippine menu.
That means items sold in Japan should not automatically be treated as confirmed dishes for the BGC branch.
Philippine Prices Have Not Been Announced
TORIKIZOKU is known in Japan for a fixed-price menu.
Its current Japanese menu lists food and drinks at ¥390 each, including tax.
That pricing model has helped shape the chain’s casual dining setup in Japan.
Still, no confirmed Philippine price list was available in the latest opening information.
Local diners should wait for the official BGC menu instead of directly converting ¥390 into pesos. Restaurant prices can change between markets due to ingredients, taxes, rent, supply chains, and local operating costs.
The same applies to serving sizes and drink options.
JTC Group Is TORIKIZOKU’s Philippine Franchise Partner
The Philippine expansion is being developed through JTC Group of Companies.
TORIKIZOKU parent company Eternal Hospitality Group announced its franchise agreement with JTC Group in 2025.
The Japanese company said it chose JTC partly because of the group’s background working with Japanese companies and its work in the Philippine food service sector.
Under the agreement, JTC can develop TORIKIZOKU restaurants in the Philippines using the brand’s trademarks and operating know-how.
Eternal Hospitality Group also provides support for restaurant operations.
The BGC store is the first result of that agreement.
TORIKIZOKU Is Expanding Outside Japan
The Philippine opening forms part of a wider international push.
TORIKIZOKU has been building stores and partnerships outside Japan under its Global YAKITORI Family plan.
Its overseas markets include parts of East Asia, while the company has also moved into Southeast Asia through franchise agreements in the Philippines and Singapore.
Founder and Eternal Hospitality Group CEO Tadashi Okura has said the company wants people outside Japan to first understand yakitori itself.
“I believe the priority is not to push the brand to the forefront, but to have people around the world learn about the cuisine and culture of ‘YAKITORI’ itself.”
That approach puts the grilled dish at the center of the company’s overseas expansion rather than relying only on brand recognition.
What to Expect From TORIKIZOKU’s Yakitori
The chain’s Japan restaurants serve yakitori in several cuts and styles.
Its signature Kizokuyaki pairs chicken with leek. Customers in Japan can choose sauce, salt, or the chain’s spice blend.
Other skewers include:
- Chicken thigh
- Chicken breast
- Chicken skin
- Chicken meatball
- Gizzard
- Heart
- Wings
- Neck
- Pork belly
- Stuffed bell pepper with chicken
Many standard yakitori servings in Japan come with two skewers.
TORIKIZOKU also sells dishes meant to go alongside grilled chicken, including cabbage, edamame, fried chicken, rice, noodles, and other small plates.
Again, the final Philippine selection may differ. Diners should check the BGC menu once the branch opens.
Torikki Is Already Around BGC
TORIKIZOKU has started introducing itself to BGC before serving its first customer.
Its yellow mascot, Torikki, appears on signs around Serendra in poses influenced by Japan and the Philippines.
The displays light up at night and include QR codes for people who want updates or advance reservations.
This gives the brand a visible presence in the neighborhood before October 12.
It also fits the social side of yakitori dining. In Japan, yakitori shops are often places where friends and co-workers meet over skewers and drinks after work.
For the Philippine launch, the “Toriki Tayo” campaign carries that group-dining idea into a local setting.
BGC Already Has a Growing Japanese Food Scene
TORIKIZOKU joins a part of Metro Manila that already has many Japanese restaurants.
BGC has ramen shops, sushi restaurants, tempura chains, izakaya-style spots, and other yakitori specialists.
Recent Japanese arrivals have also used BGC as their first Philippine location.
Hikiniku to Come, for example, opened its first local store at Uptown Mall before adding a branch at SM Megamall. Osaka-based Ikoka also opened a BGC yakitori restaurant in 2025.
TORIKIZOKU now adds a much larger Japanese chain to that list.
Its scale in Japan and casual format could make it another option for groups looking for grilled food around Serendra.
What to Know Before Going
Here are the confirmed opening details:
- Restaurant: TORIKIZOKU
- Opening date: October 12, 2026
- Location: Serendra, Bonifacio Global City
- City: Taguig
- Cuisine: Japanese yakitori
- Founded: Osaka, Japan in 1985
- Japan network: More than 600 restaurants
- Philippine franchise partner: JTC Group of Companies
- Reservations: Advance reservation access has already been introduced through TORIKIZOKU Philippines’ QR campaign
Philippine menu prices, full operating hours, and the complete local dish list were not included in the latest public opening materials checked for this article.
Diners planning an opening-week visit should check the brand’s latest Philippine updates before heading to Serendra.
For a look at the chain’s food and background, visit the official TORIKIZOKU site.
With opening day set for October 12, BGC diners only have a few more days to wait. Check the local menu and reservation details before your visit, especially if you plan to go during the first week.
