Hyperlocal Tokyo

It's easy to imagine that this area used to be filled with many small izakayas. However, with large-scale urban redevelopment, small izakayas and yakitori shops are disappearing one by one. This is one of the few that remain. It opens quite early, around 3 pm. I arrived a little after 4 pm, and there was no one else there. There are six seats at the counter and it seems there are also seats on the second floor, but I didn't confirm. There's a menu, but it starts with a 5-skewer omakase course for 1500 yen. The otoshi (cover charge) is 850 yen. The beer mug is a small one for 680 yen. The omakase consists of four skewers and a large tsukune (meatball) that's bigger than the typical ones. The grilling is meticulous and quite delicious. The tsukune is also very satisfying. I didn't have time to try the sake, which is this place's specialty. I think you could also enjoy coming here for a course meal.

The seating is limited to 2 hours. The food is delicious. However, we were overcharged for our drinks. We only had about 7 or 8 beers between the two of us, but the bill showed 16 beers. It's unclear if it was a mistake by the staff or intentional. When we pointed out the error, they insisted that the bill was correct and refused to make any adjustments. It's hard to imagine anyone drinking 8 beers (about 4 liters) by themselves unless they're a serious drinker. It's a shame because the food was good. Always check your bill before paying to make sure the order is correct. I won't be going back.

The initial five skewers were pre-determined, and additional orders could be placed afterwards. All the skewers were generously sized, offering a satisfyingly hearty meal, and the flavors were delicious. It seemed like there was an option to change the pre-determined five skewers if there were any dislikes. However, the limited selection of additional menu items was a bit disappointing. There were outdoor seats available, and the overall atmosphere of the establishment felt like a classic, old-fashioned yakitori restaurant.

I recently visited with a friend and sat at the counter. They had three different appetizers, which kept us entertained until the yakitori arrived. The yakitori is served one skewer at a time, freshly grilled, and it's all made to order. The yakitori was truly delicious, the best I've ever had in my life. My favorites were the "hatsu" (chicken heart) and "tsukune" (chicken meatballs). The "hatsu" was huge, juicy, and incredibly impressive. The "tsukune" was so tender it practically melted in my mouth, a texture I've never experienced before. I don't think you'll find tsukune like that anywhere else! You can also watch the chef grilling from the counter, which I highly recommend. He also knows his sake and can recommend some great options. The service was also excellent, friendly and attentive, making it a comfortable place for women to dine alone. The staff were all very welcoming and had lovely smiles. I'll definitely be back! I'm already planning my next visit.

A hidden gem in the midst of Tokyo Station's redevelopment, this place easily ranks among the top 10 for its unexpected location. The yakitori is delicious, and they have a wide selection of sake.