Walking along Flower St. next to high-rise buildings, I was lured into CHAYA Downtown’s Japanese Beer Garden by the enticing smell from the hibachi grill. Yakitori skewers of chicken, beef, shrimp, shiitake mushrooms and bacon wrapped dates seductively perfumed the outdoor dining patio.

We promptly ordered a variety of skewers,  with three pieces of juicy meat on a wooden stick. The tender beef is slowly cooked and served with a slightly sweet miso barbecue sauce and dab of horseradish cream. A couple of these beauties at $2 a skewer and a cool jar of my newest favorite summer cocktail, sake sangria, could easily suffice as an ideal after work or pre theater meal.

via Summer Grilling at CHAYA Downtown.

Courtsey of the Beverly Press. Published on July 14, 2011