飛んだ決まった
In January 2020, I visited a building in Minami Sato 7-chome in Shiroishi Ward. In the basement, there was a snack bar I used to frequent, and on the ground floor, there was a pub called "Mamaya" that I often visit, and at the back of that was the restaurant I will introduce today, "Kushikurabu TAKE・TAKE". I had heard of this place before but the exterior seemed a bit intimidating for first-time visitors, so I had always passed by. However, after seeing a good review from a friend, I decided to give it a try. I arrived right at the opening time of 6 pm. The interior had a counter with about 6 seats and a raised area with two small tables for 4 people each. It seemed like a lot for the owner to handle alone. The menu mainly focused on skewers, but there were also other options. I was a bit worried if the owner could handle it all by himself. Since I was planning to go to "Mamaya" afterwards, I ordered some light dishes: Hokkaido pork skewer (160 yen), gizzard (130 yen), chicken cartilage (130 yen), quail bacon (180 yen), and 2 red sausages (320 yen), all seasoned with salt. I also had shochu on the rocks: Isami (600 yen) and Mura (800 yen). While sipping on Isami, I snacked on the curry-flavored potato salad appetizer (200 yen) and saw a familiar face on the TV, the owner of a nearby diner. The yakitori soon arrived - the Hokkaido pork skewer was decent for its price, juicy and slightly salty. The gizzard was also a good size for the price, and the cartilage was from chicken. The quail bacon was nothing special, similar to what you would find elsewhere. The red sausages were different from what I expected but still had a rich flavor, especially when dipped in mayo. The shochu selection included Mura and Maou, but I chose Mura at 800 yen, as Maou was 900 yen. It's hard to find Moriizou at a reasonable price, as it usually costs over 1,000 yen. I have managed to get 8 bottles through a phone lottery in the past, but for now, I prefer Maou in the 3M selection. Overall, it was a pleasant experience with the friendly owner, so I would definitely consider revisiting in the future!