Hyperlocal Tokyo

While I was in Tokyo on a business trip, I made a reservation online hoping for a chance to visit. Thankfully, the reservation was confirmed, so I canceled my previous plans and went to the restaurant. I had been there once before, and I felt that the atmosphere and service were better than I remembered. However, perhaps I was just more relaxed this time, as I had been nervous about the atmosphere of this renowned establishment during my previous visit. The food was excellent, including the skewers grilled to perfection. I enjoyed a variety of dishes, all of which were superb. The chef was constantly fanning the charcoal fire with a hand fan, and I realized that his focused energy was essential to the quality of the food.

My first visit in 13 or 14 years. Back then, the restaurant had a strong commitment to Japanese wines, offering a pairing of 'yakitori' (grilled skewers) and 'Japanese wine' that's now commonplace. At the time, I couldn't comprehend the world they were creating, but looking back, it was truly an eye-opening experience. Simply amazing. I have nothing but respect for the chef's dedication to his craft.

## Restaurant Information ---------------------------------------------- **Name:** Tori-ki **Hours:** [Weekdays] 5:30 PM - 10:45 PM [Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays] 5:00 PM - 10:45 PM Closed: Sundays and Holidays **Access:** 3-minute walk from the North Exit of Kinshicho Station on the JR Sobu Line 4-minute walk from Exit 3 of Kinshicho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line **Budget:** ¥8,000 - ¥9,000 per person (Dinner) **Recommended Usage:** Dinner with friends, acquaintances, or colleagues **Tabelog Rating (as of visit date):** ⭐️3.84 (2024 BRONZE/Yakitori Hyakumeiten 2023) ---------------------------------------------- ☆Recommended Points☆ ① A skilled yakitori specialty store with Michelin star experience ② A course featuring 12 skewers of domestic chicken and seasonal fresh vegetables is available for ¥6,050, offering excellent value for money. **Menu:** "Omakase Course (¥6,050)" "Otoshi (¥660)" **Photo 1:** "Chicken Sashimi" (Additional) ※Regular customer and reservation only Although it is very popular, chicken sashimi is only served to a select few regular customers. This time, I was fortunate enough to be seated with them and had the opportunity to try it. The chicken sashimi includes: - Liver - Heart - Breast - Gizzard - Gizzard Skin There are some restaurants that serve chicken sashimi, but it's rare to find one that offers such a wide variety of cuts all at once. Perhaps due to the freshness, none of the cuts had any off-putting odor, which is something I've never experienced before. The breast and heart were particularly tender, and the liver had a strong sweetness. Personally, the gizzard skin was a hit. Its crunchy texture was addictive. This rare menu for regular customers is worth coming back for. As it is raw, please enjoy it at your own risk, and refrain from eating it if you are feeling unwell. **Photos 2-5:** "Sabiyaki" "Gizzard" "Kata" "Onion" The sabi-yaki is seared with a slightly rare interior, similar to tataki, and the wasabi is quite pungent, offering a subtle sweetness. The gizzard is well-seasoned with salt and has a satisfyingly crunchy texture. The kata, a muscle-rich cut that is often used for movement, is firm and has a good balance of lean meat and fat. The onion is cooked through and very sweet, pairing perfectly with the saltiness. The fact that it's not overcooked and retains a good texture is a testament to the chef's skill. **Photos 6-9:** "Kashiwa" "Ginkgo Nut" "Liver" "Shiitake Mushroom" The kashiwa is the thigh meat, a classic yakitori cut loved by many. It's cooked to a fluffy texture, allowing you to enjoy its soft, airy feel. The ginkgo nut has a strong sweetness and a slight bitterness, and I found it to be less pungent than those served at other restaurants. The liver is cooked to a rare finish, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth texture. It's also sweet and absolutely delicious. The shiitake mushroom is cooked thoroughly and has a wonderful aroma. **Photos 10-13:** "Eggplant" "Tsukune" "Chicken Wing" "Quail Egg" Eggplant is a prime example of a vegetable that becomes sweeter when grilled. The eggplant, soaked in soy sauce, creates a perfect harmony of its natural sweetness and the savory aroma of soy sauce. The tsukune is not the trendy style with egg yolk, but rather a classic salt-grilled version. This style allows you to truly appreciate the natural flavor of the chicken and the texture of the cartilage, making it a return to the essence of tsukune. The chicken wing is quite large, especially the bone area, which is packed with collagen and very tender. It was juicy and satisfying. The quail egg is cooked through in a traditional style, ensuring a fully cooked yolk. It's well-seasoned with salt and might appeal more to those who enjoy alcohol. **Photos 14-18:** "Pickles" "Salad" "Small Dish" "Palate Cleanser" "Chicken Broth Soup" The appetizers include pickles and salad. The salad, in particular, features chicken breast and is very flavorful and delicious. The small dish is a Western-style appetizer of chicken and avocado. It makes sense that they have a wide selection of wines. The palate cleanser is simply a very sweet tomato. They source it from a farmer who only ships tomatoes with a sugar content comparable to melons, making it truly fruit-like in its sweetness. **Summary:** Tori-ki is located near the North Exit of Kinshicho Station, close to Kinshicho Elementary School. Opened in 2001, this restaurant was established by a chef who honed his skills for 12 years at a renowned yakitori restaurant in Sendagi before striking out on his own. His expertise is undeniable. His skills became widely known in 2010 when he earned a Michelin star in the world-renowned Michelin Guide. He continued to receive a star every year until 2019, solidifying his reputation as a skilled yakitori chef. Even today, it's difficult to make reservations for good timeslots. This visit was on a weekday at 9:30 PM, a rather late time. The restaurant was filled with local regulars and a fair number of overseas tourists. It's no surprise, as they also have a branch in Shanghai, making them known throughout Asia. The key difference between Tori-ki and other yakitori restaurants is its homey and comfortable atmosphere and the deliciousness of its vegetable skewers. The portions are also quite large, making the ¥6,050 price tag for this volume a steal. In terms of value for money, I believe it's one of the best restaurants in Tokyo.

•Omakase Course ¥6,050 (with a ¥660 cover charge) •Assortment of Pickles (cover charge) •Salad •Sabiyaki (Chicken Skewer) •Sunagimo (Chicken Gizzard) •Daikon Radish Grated (cover charge) •Small Onion •Kashiwa (Chicken Thigh) •Hatu (Chicken Heart) •Ginnan (Ginkgo Nut) •Avocado and Chicken Wasabi Salad (cover charge) •Shiitake Mushroom •Chigimo (Chicken Liver) •Small Eggplant •Tsukune (Chicken Meatball) •Tebayaki (Chicken Wing) •白玉 (Glutinous Rice Dumpling) •Chicken Soup (cover charge) Craving yakitori? I went to Tori-ki, located near Kinshicho Station. I enjoyed a fantastic yakitori course featuring Satsuma Red Chicken. The restaurant has a calm atmosphere. I sat at a prime seat facing the grill. Knowing I would definitely be drinking a lot, I ordered a bottle of wine for the occasion and we toasted. The yakitori course began! The course included 12 skewers in total: 8 meat skewers and 4 vegetable skewers. There were also salad and small dishes served as cover charges, but you have to order separately for things like rice. The sight of the chef meticulously grilling the skewers with a fan in hand was impressive. And the yakitori he grilled was delicious! Everything was cooked to perfection. The meat was juicy and plump! The fat was perfectly rendered, leaving just the right amount of flavor in the meat, but still cooked through. The skewers were served at their peak deliciousness, making me smile every time. Not only were the yakitori skewers amazing, but the vegetable skewers were also fantastic! The skewers were served on alternating plates, with the yakitori and vegetable skewers coming out at the same time. After enjoying the juicy meat, the vegetable skewers provided a refreshing palate cleanser. The yakitori wasn't just served with tare (sauce) or salt, but the chef used different sauces and salts for each skewer, which was a nice touch. Every skewer was delicious, but my personal favorite was the chicken wing skewer. I was amazed at how easily the bone came off the meat. The juicy and plump meat was incredible! The sweet treat served after the meal was a nice touch for the ladies. I made a reservation for 5:30 PM, but by 6:00 PM, the restaurant was full with reservations. I'm so happy to have found this amazing restaurant. Thank you for the delicious meal.

The course itself is excellent, with the option to add additional items. The meal began with a detailed explanation of the dishes, setting the stage for a wonderful experience. The level of doneness, flavor, and the flow of the course were all superb. I requested sake pairings with the dishes, and those were also excellent. I definitely plan to return.