I arrived around 6:30 and waited for about 10 minutes before being seated. The yakitori was all delicious. The restaurant is close to Nishiki Market and Kawaramachi, and there were many international customers as well as people getting takeout. There are 8 counter seats and tables for 4, so I recommend making a reservation. The staff were friendly and it was a great experience. I would love to visit again.

After being overwhelmed by the purple smoke at "Nichian", I couldn't bear it and left the restaurant after only about 40 minutes. I headed to "Kanazawa", a charcoal-grilled chicken restaurant near my hotel where I had been allowed to enter right before closing two days ago. The owner was very kind and even though the restaurant was full, they told me to wait at the hotel and they would contact me when a seat was available. So, I went back to the hotel and watched the Gion Festival broadcast on TV while waiting. After about 20 minutes, I received a call on my phone saying it was time to come back to the restaurant. I was seated at the center of the counter after two other customers left, and I restarted with a Heartland draft beer. I enjoyed various items from the menu including Kyoto Akadori chicken (salted neck, liver, gizzard, heart, tsukune, Kyoto pork, and Kyoto Shiga black beef) along with two Heartland draft beers, Yuzu sour, and Yamazaki highball. The yakitori, carefully grilled one skewer at a time using Bincho charcoal, had a unique and delicious taste. I also enjoyed using the shichimi togarashi and sansho pepper from "Nanamikya" for seasoning. Since the restaurant was non-smoking, I didn't have to worry about the purple smoke from the previous restaurant and was able to purely enjoy the taste of the grilled skewers.

I started off at "Tako Nyudo" to prepare myself lightly, then headed to "Kanazawa" on Rokkaku Street in Sanjo, Kyoto. The specialty here is charcoal-grilled chicken using fresh "Kyoto Akadori" chicken that is tightly grilled with domestic "Bincho-tan" charcoal. "Kyoto Akadori" chicken is known for its low fat content, rich flavor, fine texture, and good chewiness. The restaurant is small, with a counter seating for eight and one table, accommodating about 10 people. I ordered the "Chef's choice yakitori skewers (5 pieces)" for 1,300 yen, which included various parts like "seseri," "zuri," "tsukune," "hatsu," and "kimo" seasoned with salt. The yakitori was grilled on a triangular iron mesh over Bincho-tan charcoal, providing a satisfying eating experience. Despite a slight discrepancy in the bill, the smoke-free and comfortable environment, along with the friendly service from the young owner, made the dining experience enjoyable. Although I had to leave shortly after arriving, I promised to revisit this place for a longer stay.

Wednesday 18:30 Yakitori Kanazawa Rokkaku store I've always wanted to come here, but it's crowded and hard to enter alone... I found a place with no previous customers and took the chance to enter. In the kitchen, there was a man in charge of grilling and two young men. When the skewers lined up on the grill, charcoal dust danced in the air. Draft beer 600 yen, Oboro Kyoto tofu 500 yen, Assorted 5 skewers 1,300 yen. The beer arrived quickly. At 18:36, the Kyoto tofu arrived. The tofu was delicious with a soft texture (I usually eat cheap tofu from the supermarket, so this was a treat). Later, two women and a couple entered. There were only about 4 groups, including 3 at the counter and 1 at a table, so the atmosphere was already nice. At 18:39, the chicken neck arrived. I like the unique chewy texture of the neck meat. The saltiness goes well with the beer. Each skewer comes on a plate. At 18:43, the chicken thigh arrived. It was glazed and looked appetizing. The soy sauce flavor was good. The taste was rich. Fifteen minutes after I entered, another group came in and sat at a partitioned table. At 18:48, the heart arrived. It had a distinctive shape. I like this too. I prefer salt when it comes to yakitori, so this was a hit for me. (I forgot to take a picture). Everyone around me was ordering recommended items. It's a great way to start. At 18:52, the leek-wrapped chicken arrived. All the classic items kept coming, so I could eat with confidence. Then, two more people came in and the place was full. (I started feeling sorry for being alone). At 18:56, the chicken breast with plum arrived. It alternated between salt and sauce, so the last one was light and refreshing. I had finished the tofu in between, so after the 5th skewer, I decided to leave early. The bill was tax-inclusive, so it was a round number. When I said "thank you for the meal," they responded cheerfully. I would like to visit again when I'm in the mood for yakitori. Thank you for the meal.

I had to go to a yakitori restaurant on short notice and wanted to find a smoke-free place. So, I ended up going back to Sanjo instead of Kyoto Station. Luckily, I got a table, but I was surprised to see how popular it was! They also offer takeout! They mainly focus on salt-grilled yakitori rather than sauce-grilled, and they were grilling them one after another! I think they use good quality chicken. As someone who got food poisoning elsewhere before, I was relieved that they cooked the chicken thoroughly, but my companion thought it was overcooked... I guess preferences vary, huh? I was impressed by their limited edition kiwi chu-hai! I hope to visit again casually. Thank you for the meal!

I made a reservation at Yakitori Kanazawa-san near Yamashina Station, but it was fully booked. So, I found out that they opened a new branch in Kyoto City and made a reservation there instead. It's a very small restaurant with only one table and about 8 counter seats. They mentioned that they would need the table back in about 90 minutes if it gets busy. When I arrived early, there were only a few customers, but by the time I left, it was full and getting crowded. We ordered dishes like Negi Shio-dare Cabbage (450 yen), Parent Chicken (Salt) (280 yen), Ume Shiso-yaki (Seseri) (250 yen), Black Wagyu Beef (Salt) (380 yen), Tsukune (Tare) (250 yen), Asparagus Bacon (280 yen), and Camembert Cheese Bacon (380 yen). They grilled each dish carefully and served them in order. The Black Wagyu Beef had a bit too much tough fat which made it hard to eat. The Tsukune was incredibly delicious as always, very soft inside! The Camembert Cheese Bacon was also very tasty. Although the prices were a bit high, the staff was very friendly and welcoming. It was a bit disappointing that there were very few menu options other than yakitori. There weren't many side dishes or desserts available. If they had the same menu as the main branch, it would be much more convenient to visit as it's in a great location. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience.

The exact date of the visit is not certain, but it was around late June. I visited with a friend after confirming over the phone that there were only two seats available. When we arrived, we were lucky to get the two seats at the counter we had reserved. However, apart from us, everyone else in the restaurant was foreign, mostly white. It seems like the place is popular on social media. We had a few beers and highballs, along with about 10 skewers. The food tasted better than at other affiliated restaurants, and I could tell that there was skill in the way it was grilled. Among casual yakitori places, this one is my number one choice.

A great location, and most importantly, the yakitori in Kyoto is a must-try. The omakase course is recommended!

During Golden Week, I visited Kyoto with a friend and we decided to try this popular restaurant recommended by my friend. The interior of the restaurant was quite small and there weren't many seats, but we had made a reservation so we were able to enter smoothly. This time, my friend chose the skewers for us. Each skewer was juicy and delicious! They were cooked thoroughly with a nice char on the outside and served hot. Unlike some places where the skewers are not cooked all the way through and end up cold when served, this restaurant didn't have that issue. However, the skewers were quite expensive. Since we were hopping from one place to another, we didn't order too many skewers, but if you want to eat a lot from the first restaurant, it could get pricey. It's recommended to make a reservation in advance due to its popularity.

Today I had the limited grilled chicken rice bowl for lunch ☺ It came out with a delicious aroma of charcoal grilling right in front of me. The chicken soup that came with it was exceptional as well. The croquette made with Omi beef had chunks of meat in it, allowing me to enjoy the flavor in my mouth. I'm happy that I can enjoy it by myself.

I visited this place as my fourth stop of the day. It seemed to be popular among foreigners, with about 10 of them gathered outside the shop. I was worried about getting a seat, but when I peeked inside, there were a few empty seats available. It turned out that the people outside were there for the croquettes to go. Luckily, I was seated promptly. I enjoyed some shochu and sake while having about six skewers. Unfortunately, my favorite bonjiri was sold out, but everything I tried here was delicious. The master skillfully tended to the charcoal grill, never taking his eyes off it, while still managing to entertain the foreigners. There are many yakitori shops in Kyoto, but this place is always on my list of favorites.

I visited this place with my regular drinking buddies as our first stop of the night. It was actually my third visit here. We ordered some beer and a few skewers. It was nice to see the owner grilling the skewers right in front of us. The yakitori was all made with big, delicious pieces of meat. The seasoning was just right, and for the price, it felt like a great deal even though it's a casual place. We also had highballs and sake, and the total bill came to a little over 3,000 yen per person. We left in good spirits, heading to our next destination.