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A play on the Japanese word “kushiyaki” and “barbecue,” KushiQ satisfies the midtown lunch crowd by churning out hundreds of delectable mini-skewers from its high-tech kitchen. Given the narrow dimensions and lack of seating, the modern, bamboo-lined restaurant is primarily a to-go place, but those who want to stay can try to finagle a seat at the bar, which runs the length of the restaurant. On the menu, patrons choose from eight kinds of tiny kebabs covering a range of meat and vegetarian options. The Tori-stick, KushiQ’s signature item, is nothing more than cubes of chicken breast, yet they’re surprisingly juicy—as is the fatty and flavorful Gyu beef stick. As in Japan, after coming off the grill, each skewer gets dunked in tare sauce (like a sweeter, thicker teriyaki) before being served on sticky rice or with green salad. Should you find tare’s syrupy taste overwhelming, a glass of the iced green tea is in order. Made daily in a different flavor like strawberry or yogurt, the drink’s bitter snap can cut through just about anything—including that intense tare flavor. — Benjamin Kneen

Tori bento, $6.50; gyu bento, $7.70