hitougourmet
Exploring Tokyo's gourmet scene! Asakusa Hanayashiki Street edition featuring Kagawa's local specialty! Bone-in chicken, parent bird grilled! Young chicken grilled! First visit to popular restaurant "Kotsukitori Ichinokame"! On a cold, sunny winter day, with my partner's day off, we decided to visit a restaurant we had been wanting to go to for a while. We wanted to eat something satisfying and delicious, so we headed to Asakusa Hanayashiki for lunch! We pondered over what B-class gourmet dish to eat, and after checking our list, we headed to a restaurant we had been eyeing. About 10 minutes from Asakusa Kaminarimon towards Hanayashiki Street, we turned towards Kokusai Street and soon found a cozy, modern Japanese-style restaurant with a wooden facade. Established in 2016, this restaurant is the birthplace of Kagawa's bone-in chicken, which has been around for over 70 years. The head chef, who trained at the original restaurant, brought Kagawa's specialty to Asakusa, offering crispy and flavorful parent bird with a satisfying bite, as well as tender and juicy young chicken. The restaurant had been closed for two and a half years but reopened in September, and we decided to visit for the first time. Without hesitation, we ordered the parent bird for ¥1300 and the young chicken for ¥1150. We also added chicken rice with meatball soup for ¥720. Feeling thirsty, we ordered bottled beer to quench our thirst while we waited. After about 15 minutes, the parent bird and young chicken arrived on stainless steel plates, perfectly grilled to a crispy and flavorful finish. The aroma was delightful, and the meaty thighs of the birds were cooked to perfection. The chicken rice topped with shredded egg and fresh ginger arrived next, along with the piping hot meatball soup with green onions and pickles. We started with the parent bird, enjoying the crispy skin and the chewy, flavorful meat. The young chicken was tender and juicy, bursting with delicious flavors. The cabbage on the side, dipped in chicken oil, was also delicious. The chicken rice, infused with chicken broth and mixed with chicken meat and finely chopped shiitake mushrooms, had a delightful ginger flavor and a sweet and savory taste. The meatball soup, made with chicken broth, was flavorful and the meatballs were delicious. These dishes were the result of the restaurant's dedication to tradition and craftsmanship, offering unforgettable flavors that will make you want to come back for more. While I have visited the famous Kagawa restaurant "Ichikura" in Yokohama, there are only 2-3 Kagawa bone-in chicken restaurants in the Tokyo area. The traditional flavors of the original restaurant's dishes are truly exceptional. A revisit is definitely on the cards! Delicious and exquisite!