Hyperlocal Tokyo

The restaurant is located about a 5-minute walk from Ningyocho Station, accessible via the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and the Toei Asakusa Line. I arrived before 11:00 AM on a weekday, aiming to be there before the 11:25 AM opening. To my surprise, even at this early hour, I couldn't get in during the first round. (They are closed on weekends.) The waiting line seemed to have a lot of Asian tourists and foreigners. Maybe that was the reason... Since I was alone, I was guided to a counter seat on the first floor. Apparently, there are tatami-style seating areas on the second floor. Warm tea was served, and I could see the yakitori being grilled one after another right in front of me. After waiting for about 10 minutes, my long-awaited yakitori donburi finally arrived. The total time spent so far was about 60 minutes. I ordered the yakitori donburi with a large portion of rice (1200 yen). The large rice portion is free, and the meat portion is an additional 200 yen. When I came here two years ago, it was 1000 yen. * Payment is by cash or PayPay. The rice portion was large, but not overwhelmingly so. It might not be enough for a man. The meat portion is recommended. The chicken grilled over charcoal was fragrant, tender, and incredibly delicious. It had a bold flavor that I liked, and the sauce was generously poured over the rice. The shishito peppers and pickled vegetables added a nice touch, making it hard to put down my chopsticks. I devoured the meal in a flash and left the restaurant. Feeling happy and light on my feet, I hurried to the Amazake Yokocho (Sweet Sake Alley) in Ningyocho.

This restaurant is only open for lunch on weekdays, making it quite difficult to visit. I learned about it through social media and took a day off work to go. Turning left from the A4 exit of Ningyocho Station, you'll see the yellow noren (curtain) of Ogawa within 30 seconds. It's a popular place with a good reputation, so I expected a line and arrived over 40 minutes before opening. More customers gradually joined the queue behind me. After the restaurant opened, I went inside. It was a small yakitori shop, with the enticing aroma of charcoal-grilled chicken filling the air. I immediately ordered the lunch-only yakitori donburi (grilled chicken bowl). While there's an extra charge for more meat, a large portion of rice is free. I opted for the larger rice portion instead of extra meat. The chicken was grilled to perfection, with a wonderfully fragrant flavor. The meat was satisfyingly substantial, and the secret sauce was delicious, soaking into the rice and creating a perfect harmony of flavors. The meal also came with pickled vegetables and chicken soup. The chicken soup was rich with chicken bone broth, smooth and delicious.

Based on my experience over the past few months, even arriving 15 minutes before opening on weekdays, I couldn't get a seat in the first round. 💦 When I arrived at 11:30 am, I had to wait about an hour and 15 minutes. 😂 This place is incredibly popular. Recently, there have been many foreign tourists, and I rarely heard Japanese spoken on the second floor. The staff are very efficient at seating guests and will even politely ask those who are lingering to move along. They offer takeout, but I prefer to enjoy the freshly grilled skewers with a cup of tea in the restaurant. The atmosphere adds to the experience. 🥸 The aroma of charcoal, the warm skewers, the seaweed, and rice are a perfect combination. I always make sure to add plenty of sansho pepper.

I visited during the weekday lunch hour. There were about seven people in line, but the staff cheerfully told me that it was unusually empty, which was a shock! I was surprised because I usually see at least 15 people waiting in line. The restaurant has two floors, and I was seated on the second floor. It was a spacious tatami room, about 16 tatami mats, and it felt like they were using a whole house as a restaurant. I personally loved the atmosphere! The staff were friendly and charming, and the restaurant is even listed on Tabelog's Top 100 Restaurants. The food was as delicious as the rumors suggested! They only serve charcoal-grilled chicken bowls, so you don't have to worry about choosing from a long menu, which was a plus.

July 12th - First Lunch I arrived 15 minutes before opening, and despite the rain, I was the seventh in line. I had read comments about how crowded it gets during lunch, but since it was my first time, I was hesitant about waiting in the rain. I wasn't sure what time to arrive, but luckily, I was able to get in with the first wave. There seems to be a second floor, but I was immediately seated at the counter on the first floor. The chairs are spaced out, so you can sit comfortably. I couldn't find a shelf under the counter to put my bag, so I had to put it on the back of the chair. They grill the chicken right in front of you, so there's a lot of smoke. The savory aroma is very appetizing. The lunch menu only has the yakitori donburi for ¥1,200. They offer free rice refills and a ¥200 charge for extra meat, so many people order the large rice and double meat. Two men continuously grill the skewers without stopping. The yakitori donburi is delicious, with plenty of fragrantly grilled chicken that's tender and flavorful. I don't like chicken skin, but it's cooked well, so it wasn't a problem. The sweet sauce is perfect for me. There are two shishito peppers and seaweed under the chicken. The chicken soup is also delicious. The pickled cucumber and pickled napa cabbage are good too. The yakitori donburi was satisfying, with plenty of chicken and a delicious sauce. I might try the extra meat next time! You can order takeout with a day's notice, and they accept cash and PayPay.