As a Hakata native, I was really craving for some "kawa-yaki," a hidden soul food, so I decided to go and have some. I was surprised to find out that this shop, with its main branch in Fukuoka, also has a branch in Tokyo. The famous "kawa-yaki" was absolutely delicious, I couldn't resist and ate 5 pieces all by myself! The nostalgic "shigi-yaki" was also amazing, cooked to perfection and so fluffy and moist. I also tried the chicken skin dumplings, mentaiko, pork belly, cartilage, skewers, and grilled ramen, all of which were delicious. I forgot to take photos, but the finishing soup was also incredibly tasty. I made a reservation for 6 pm on a Saturday and the place was quickly packed, always busy!

I had heard that Guruguru was in Fukuoka from the news. I had heard it was in Tokyo a few years ago. Finally, I came here. There are various other stores as well. The prices here are reasonable. First, I had 10 skewers and some individual ones. I tried the sesame mackerel and chicken sashimi before heading back home before the train delays caused by the typhoon.

■Access: 2 minutes walk from Ueno Hirokoji Station■Overview: A chain store famous for its grilled chicken skin from Fukuoka. There is also a store in Oimachi, Tokyo.■Menu:・Chicken Skin (10 pieces)Chicken skin marinated in a sweet and savory sauce, grilled to perfection to remove excess fat. The outside is crispy, the inside is juicy, and the rich flavor makes it hard to stop eating.・Grilled Chicken Breast with Wasabi Soy SauceA dish of tender chicken breast with a moist texture, served with wasabi soy sauce for a spicy kick.・Hakata-style GyozaBite-sized gyoza filled with juicy meat, perfect when dipped in yuzu pepper. They are so delicious that I ended up ordering two more plates.・TamagoyakiSweet and fluffy rolled omelette with a strong dashi flavor. Delicious and satisfying.■Impression: I love the Hakata-style chicken skin here, which is unique and not easily found elsewhere. As a fan of chicken skin, I always enjoy indulging in it here. Unfortunately, they were sold out of sesame mackerel today, but I will definitely try it next time. Thank you for the meal. #Ueno #UenoGourmet #Yakitori #Kawaya

I wanted to eat "torikawa" that I had during sightseeing in Hakata in Tokyo, so I visited this restaurant for the first time on a Saturday night. It is located on a relatively quiet street towards Yushima from Ueno. It seems there are 1st and 2nd floors, but we were seated on the 1st floor so I didn't check the upper floor. The restaurant was quite spacious and about 80% full. First, we ordered 10 pieces of torikawa for 1680 yen. It arrived in about 20 minutes. I have had torikawa in various places in Hakata, but this one was just as delicious! Kawaya, the main store in Hakata, is also a popular restaurant. They slowly grill the rolled chicken skin over 6 days to remove the fat, resulting in a light and flavorful skewer that you can eat as many as you want. They also had "shigi-yaki," a Hakata specialty of grilled chicken skewers with wasabi soy sauce, which was delightful! The sesame mackerel was also neatly presented, without any fishy smell and very delicious. They also had chicken sashimi with breast meat and sand liver. Both are cooked at low temperatures, and I ordered the breast meat, which was served with a sweet soy sauce from Kyushu. There were various dishes that reminded me of Hakata and I enjoyed it.

Today I visited Hakata Kawaya in Ueno Hirokoji. The entrance is on the first floor, but once you enter the shop, there is a staircase leading to seating on the second floor and in the basement. I sat at the counter seat in the basement. I started with a drink called Hoppy. They had a drink called Sharikin Chuhai, so I ordered that with my Hoppy. For food, I had vinegar miso tripe, grilled green peppers, and grilled skin skewers, among other dishes. The grilled skin was juicy and delicious. The basement location made the air a bit stuffy, but that's common in izakayas. Thank you for the meal. I will visit again if I have the chance.

I was taken to Hakata Kawaya in Ueno Hirokoji by a colleague. I am from Fukuoka, so I was grateful! We were served a variety of dishes. ★ Chicken skin ★ Edamame ★ Spicy cod roe potato salad ★ Sesame mackerel ★ Sandfish with ponzu sauce ★ Grilled oysters ★ Garlic tomato ★ Moon-viewing meatballs ★ One-bite dumplings ★ Kimchi ★ Pork belly ★ Grilled ramen for the finale! The Hakata dishes and appetizers that kept coming out were incredibly delicious. The spacious interior of the restaurant seems suitable for large groups, so I highly recommend it!

It is located near Ueno-hirokoji Station, in a neighborhood with a different atmosphere from the hustle and bustle of Okachimachi. It seems to be a popular spot with quite a lively atmosphere. It might be a good idea to make a reservation for group use. Hakata specialties such as grilled dumplings and grilled ramen are popular menu items here. The grilled dumplings are exquisite. They are delicious with the sauce soaked in. It's so delicious that you can eat it quickly. It's addictive. The grilled ramen has a spicy kick and is also delicious.

Located in Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo. This yakitori restaurant specializes in Hakata specialties such as kawa-yaki and shigi-yaki. It is operated by the Nagoya-based company Kawaya International. As of May 2022, they have 16 franchise stores mainly in Nagoya, Tokyo, and Osaka. The nearest station to the Ueno Hirokoji store is Yushima Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Ueno Hirokoji Station on the Ginza Line, Ueno Okachimachi Station on the Toei Oedo Line, and Okachimachi Station on the Keihin-Tohoku Line and Yamanote Line. It was a fun meetup♪︎ It was our first meetup in 4 months. With no restrictions on activities for the first time in 3 years during Golden Week, the Ueno-Okachimachi area was bustling. We had a great time having zero drinks at a standing bar, and all the shops were packed♪︎ This time we made a reservation at Hakata Kawaya, arranged by Dandy A.W. It was my first time trying kawa-yaki (*´ω｀*) ◆Today's orders◆ Kawa-yaki 10 pieces 1650 yen Kawa-yaki 187 yen x 20 Shigi-yaki 198 yen x 13 Yakitori 5-piece assortment 858 yen x 2 Chicken skin with ponzu sauce 539 yen x 2 Mentaiko potato salad 429 yen x 2 Appetizer 440 yen per person Free soup Highball 528 yen x 16 Hoppy set (white/black) 528 yen x 7 Medium hoppy 242 yen x 14 Sharikin lemon sour 605 yen x 2 Bottled beer 715 yen Draft beer 594 yen Non-alcoholic beer 495 yen x 2 Highball with oolong tea 495 yen x 2 Calpis 385 yen Cola 385 yen About 4000 yen per person for about 2 and a half hours. The kawa-yaki, meticulously grilled, was delicious and you could eat as many as you wanted (´ρ`) The shigi-yaki, chicken tenderloin with wasabi soy sauce, was also delicious♪︎ We had a lively time♪︎ The 2 and a half hours passed in no time (ﾉ≧∀≦)ﾉ Thank you all for letting me join you (*^-゜)v Thanks! #Sekiwake #Meetup #Kawa-yaki #Shigi-yaki #Hakata specialty #Yakitori #Chicken dish #Grilled skewers #Delicious soup to finish #Izakaya #Smoking allowed #President Zekkouchou #A more relaxed atmosphere compared to the Ueno-Okachimachi area.

I felt that the popular shop in Fukuoka Yakuin was not up to par. The grilled dishes were lacking. The sesame mackerel was watery and thinly sliced. The pork belly was small. The skewers were smaller. The quality was so low that it seemed like a misunderstanding of Fukuoka's taste. It was very disappointing, especially since the expectations were high.

Today I started at 5 o'clock, so I looked for a vacant restaurant and entered. First, I ordered chicken skin. After a while, it arrived. The crispy grilled chicken skin is a specialty of Hakata and I quickly finished it. I recommend trying it with the vinegar and ichimi togarashi (Japanese chili pepper) provided in the restaurant. Next, I had grilled chicken wings. The grilled chicken wings with wasabi soy sauce were a perfect match. The pork belly was average, but the dumplings were delicious when eaten with vinegar and yuzu pepper. For the finale, chicken white broth soup was served. It was rich and incredibly delicious. By the way, the draft beer comes with a SNOOPY illustration. If you're nearby, be sure to visit.

Yes. I visited this restaurant again. Relaxed atmosphere for social distancing. The ginger pork set was sold out, so I went with the mixed fry set. Mostly chicken fry, but the batter was crispy and delicious. Surprisingly, there was one oyster fry. Fantastic. And, the favorite of middle-aged men, white fish fry. It was large and fluffy, very tasty. Ah, I'm so full. By the way, rice refills are free. Thank you for the meal! Video here: https://youtu.be/cUQ9ORz4Usc

Yes. I jumped into this shop with a bang. The smoking area is on the second floor. They have solid infection prevention measures in place. The ginger pork is rich in flavor and goes well with the rice, very satisfying. Items like pickled vegetables, potato salad, and chilled tofu add color. The cost performance is great! The miso soup is packed with vegetables, definitely zero calories. You can relax here and it's definitely worth a repeat visit. I wonder what I should eat next. Thank you for the meal!

Kodama Vices Sour and Hakata specialty "kawa-yaki" were so delicious that I couldn't stop laughing. Hakata specialties include "kawa-yaki," "shiji-yaki," chicken skin dumplings, ultimate liver steak, iwashi mentaiko, sasami tataki, and grilled ramen. The liver steak is highly recommended. The prices are on the higher side, and the service was not the best, but the Kodama Vices Sour and liver steak were delicious, so I would like to go back again.

I recently came across a shop that I think might be a franchise. Since I had some time, I decided to check it out. I ordered a highball drink with sansho pepper, which was spicy and delicious. When I ordered my drink, they also asked if I wanted some grilled skewers. I ordered five, but I didn't think they were anything special. I heard that it's a local custom to order a lot of food and eat a lot, but the taste wasn't that exceptional to me. Overall, it's cheap so it might be a good option for those looking to drink on a budget.

I am filled with so many emotions. In Tokyo, it might still be considered minor, but the chicken skin from Hakata is amazing! When I was in Fukuoka, I absolutely loved it. Well, I still love it now! I got married! Kawaya is famous for its chicken skin in Hakata, and I heard that they have recently opened branches or franchises outside of Fukuoka, so I was finally able to visit! I was a bit cautious because I read on Tabelog that some people said you have to eat it on-site to truly enjoy it, but it was totally fine! What, it's delicious! It's definitely delicious!! Seriously, it's so good, ridiculous! Don't joke around, it's really good, idiot! Stop criticizing, what will you do if you can't eat it in Tokyo anymore! Don't nitpick! When I was in Fukuoka, I secretly preferred Sui-Kyo-Ha over Kawaya, but it's fine, it's totally fine! It's not your typical chicken skin, it's seasoned and wrapped around a skewer, that chicken skin! The best! Everyone in Tokyo, let's eat chicken skin! It's delicious!! It's a bit more expensive than in Fukuoka. Well, that can't be helped, it's because of Tokyo. It's 170 yen per skewer or 1500 yen for a set of 10 skewers. Definitely get the 10 skewer set! I only came to confirm the quality of the chicken skin, so I only had edamame. But the edamame was delicious too... When I asked for the bill, they gave me a closing soup. The creamy chicken-flavored soup was also delicious. Nice! I thought it was going to be Enka music, but the background music was all Southern All Stars, which I love, so I couldn't tell if they were being particular or not, it was a mystery and funny. Isn't the background music important? Also, it might be in other restaurants as well, but I sat at the counter and it was facing away from the entrance and the rest of the customers, which made me a bit nervous. Well, I may sound like a snob, but the chicken skin was delicious and that put me at ease. The location is quite bold, but I will definitely go back.

There are many reviews, so my personal opinion is that the restaurant is located about 150m to the left after crossing the signal towards Hirokoji from Ueno, under the PARCO store contact passage. The large sign with a circle is a landmark. Now, about the taste... They grill chicken skin on skewers, wrapping it in a string-like manner around the skewer and cooking it repeatedly to make the skin crispy. The sauce is not the typical Kanto-style yakitori sauce made with soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar, but instead has a unique flavor with a slightly salty and smooth soy sauce taste. It's easy to eat and goes well with beer. It's an interesting way of eating, but at 170 yen per skewer or 1500 yen for 10 skewers, it's quite expensive for yakitori. Being in Ueno, you would expect to find cheaper and delicious options. However, the fact that they are charging this price in the heart of Ueno shows their confidence in the taste of their Hakata-style yakitori. For me, it's a bit on the expensive side... I would rate it as average. If you are near Ueno Station or Okachimachi Station, give it a try as a conversation starter.

The appetizer is cabbage with sesame seeds, meant to be eaten with someone. The yakisoba is smaller than expected, lacking in sauce flavor. The grilled chicken is slightly undercooked with a hint of wasabi flavor, delicious when eaten with sauce. Other skewers like pork are small in size and taste average. The dry curry was tasty with various toppings.

I forgot to take a photo of the grilled skin dish. When I ordered a drink, they asked me how many pieces of grilled skin I wanted, and I was confused at first but then understood after hearing the explanation. The menu said it takes 6 days from preparation to serving the grilled skin dish, which was amazing! Thank you for the meal.

I went to see a movie for the first time in a long time, I can't remember how many years it's been! The visuals were so beautiful that I wanted to go location hunting! After watching the movie, I went for a drink with my friends, and we ended up at a place that was often featured in the media. We had butter soy sauce popcorn and beer at the movie theater, so we toasted with a highball. We started with some cabbage as an appetizer, and then we ordered: 20 skewers of kawa-yaki, sesame mackerel, chicken liver, quail skewers, pork belly, shiitake mushrooms, onions, and white kimchi. We shared it among three of us. The kawa-yaki was delicious, crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It's marinated for 6 days before grilling. I wish I had gone there on an emptier stomach, I could have eaten more. I would love to visit again if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal!

On the way back from work, we decided to eat somewhere along the way and chose a random restaurant. I've seen on a TV show that people in Fukuoka tend to order a lot of chicken skin when eating yakitori, and this place felt similar. The flavor makes you want to keep eating more. The other yakitori was just average. The service was good, with a young staff member trying their best to serve us. They even offered us soup at the end, which I didn't know about and almost missed. I thought I would come back just to eat the chicken skin.

"I was intrigued by the sign that said 'Just yakitori, but...' and the menu at this restaurant. I started with the Fukuoka specialty, grilled chicken skin and tsukune-like skewers. It wasn't as cheap as in Fukuoka, but it was satisfying to eat after a long time. I ate a lot, drank four or five cups, and it cost me 5000 yen for one person, which was reasonable."