Strolling from Asakusa to Ueno. Open for takeout from 5 pm. Enjoyed a skewer outside the shop for a quick energy boost. The flavor was a bit strong.

It might be featured in guidebooks for foreign tourists. The taste is similar to supermarket yakitori. The service is more like sales than hospitality. If you are in the Ueno-Asakusa area, it would be better to enjoy a valuable meal somewhere else. It's not extremely unpleasant if you can't eat there, so some people may still like it.

I had one skewer for 120 yen. I couldn't resist and ended up eating it while they were grilling it outside the shop. The taste was amazing, possibly enhanced by the guilty pleasure of sneaking a bite before going out for a meal.

I went to Inaricho to buy motorcycle gloves from Akasaka Mitsuke. As I walked from the intersection in Inaricho, I passed by a group of children carrying a mikoshi. Oh, that's right, today is the festival in Asakusa. I headed towards Asakusa and saw a crowd of people and smoke rising. It was a yakitori stall. I handed over some change and received a liver skewer from the old man. It seemed like they had run out of green onions. When I placed my order, they reheated the almost cooked skewers over the fire. I ate while standing on the sidewalk. The skewers were slightly overcooked because they were grilled twice. I prefer them a bit rare, but considering it was a street stall, it was decent. There were only a few green onions between the liver pieces. The texture was good.

When walking from the intersection with the large chef statue at Kappabashi towards the Matsugukoku International Street, I came across a shop grilling yakitori. My mother can only eat yakitori with a thick texture, and I decided to buy some without telling my late-working son. I purchased 2 tsukune, 2 kawa, for a total of 540 yen. I briefly considered buying hina meat as well, but at 150 yen per skewer, I decided against it. I had initially thought the skewers would be around 100 yen each from a distance, but upon closer inspection, they were 150 yen each, which made me hesitate. There was a man eating yakitori standing next to me, who looked like a salaryman. The shop owner seemed reluctant to talk, but allowed me to take a photo. I then asked for directions to the bus stop for Ikebukuro East Exit, and the owner kindly guided me. It was just two stops from Asakusa Jumachi. On the way back, I enjoyed my dinner table with the addition of yakitori. The tsukune that cost 150 yen turned out to be a traditional tsukune without any cartilage, and the skin was just that - skin. I sprinkled some shichimi pepper that I got from the previous shop and enjoyed it. I thought maybe I should have gone for hina meat despite the higher price, but looking it up later, this shop had some good reviews. Maybe it would have been different if I ate inside the shop? Or maybe the man who was eating outside was just enjoying it more than I did...

I intended to go to a soba noodle restaurant, but I got lost and couldn't find it. I quickly switched my mood (or rather, gave up) and happened to pass by a place with a very delicious smell of grilled chicken skewers. Enticed by the aroma, I saw a sign offering a grilled chicken rice bowl for 600 yen. Since I felt like I had already made a mistake, I decided to go in. Inside, the owner was grilling chicken, which I learned was Hinata Jidori chicken. I patiently waited and then it arrived - I thought it would be freshly grilled chicken, but it was actually cold. And half of it was taken up by fried chicken pieces. It was quite different from the sample I saw. The grilled chicken was very tasty, but being cold, its deliciousness was reduced by half. There was a decent amount of rice, but the sauce didn't soak into it, which was also disappointing. The grilled chicken is delicious because it's made with local chicken, so I wish they had served the freshly grilled one I saw being made. I think people would enter the restaurant with that expectation. It's okay if it was just a one-time thing. Thank you for the meal.

This is a 60-year-old yakitori restaurant located near the Asakusa Street at the corner of Sus 4-chome intersection. In the evening, they sell take-out yakitori on the side of the shop, and the air is filled with a savory aroma as you pass by. You can only dine in the restaurant during weekday lunch hours, as the shop's curtains are not hung on weekends and evenings. When passing by the shop at 12:40 on a weekday, the curtains were hung and a sign saying "Yakitori Donburi 600 yen" was displayed. Inside the shop, there is a small counter with about 10 seats, a 4-person table, and a 2-person table. There were two customers sitting at the counter. An elderly couple seems to run the place, with a grumpy-looking old man grilling the yakitori and the lady of the house handling the customers. The atmosphere is like a traditional downtown shop, and although the shop is not immaculate, it is not unpleasant either. The menu is simple, with options like "Yakitori Donburi" for 600 yen, "Premium Yakitori Donburi" for 800 yen, "Gyoza" for 300 yen, "Rice" for 200 yen, "Pickles" for 100 yen, "Miso Soup" for 100 yen, and "Canned Beer" for 350 yen. It was noted that they use Miyazaki Prefecture's Hinata Jidori chicken. I ordered the "Yakitori Donburi" for 600 yen and waited for my meal. After a few minutes, the dish was served, consisting of a bowl of rice topped with various yakitori, miso soup, pickles, and a bowl of pickled ginger. The yakitori was not neatly arranged on skewers but rather placed haphazardly on the rice, with some pieces having a slightly burnt appearance. Despite the less-than-perfect presentation, the yakitori was flavorful and delicious. The chicken thighs and liver were crispy on the outside but tender and lean on the inside, with a well-balanced sauce. The tsukune (chicken meatballs) were juicy and flavorful as well. The miso soup was light and the pickles were a refreshing accompaniment to the yakitori bowl. --- On another evening, as I passed by the shop, I couldn't resist the tempting smell of grilling yakitori and ended up buying some to take home. The menu offered items like "Motsu" for 120 yen, "Liver" for 120 yen, "Tsukune" for 120 yen, "Hinaniku" for 150 yen, and "Grilled Chicken Wings" for 250 yen. I purchased one of each and found that they were grilled to order after being pre-cooked. The "Hinaniku" was tender and flavorful, with skin and green onions skewered together. The "Liver" was large, soft, and sandwiched between green onions. The "Motsu" was a mix of gizzard, liver, and green onions, with the gizzard being particularly tasty. The "Tsukune" was similar to the one in the yakitori bowl, with a delicious flavor. Although they were generously coated in a sweet and savory sauce, I realized that I should have ordered them without sauce, as it was not to my taste. I rated the "Yakitori Donburi" that I ate in the restaurant.

This is a chicken restaurant located a 2-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Ginza Line "Tawaramachi" Station, along Asakusa Street (locally known as Butsudan Street). When you enter the restaurant, you will find about 10 counter seats and 3 tables for four people. The menu seems to mainly consist of "Yakitori Don" and other items like Gyoza, Rice, Oshinko, Miso Soup, and Beer. The chicken used here is Miyazaki Hinata Jidori from Kyushu. I initially ordered the Upper Yakitori Don for 800 yen, but ended up getting the regular Yakitori Don for 600 yen, which was still delicious. The chicken was tender and flavorful, served with rice, chicken meat, meatballs, green onions, and shredded seaweed in the bowl. The sauce perfectly balanced with the rice. The meatballs were of a good quality and tasted great, especially when paired with pickled ginger. Despite underestimating it at first due to the price, I was pleasantly surprised by the taste. They also offer takeout at night, so I would like to try that next time.

This time, I tried takeout at night. I ordered two types of skewers, tsukune and negima with young chicken. I had never done takeout before, mainly because it's not easy to buy, but the idea of enjoying delicious skewers at home made me choose this place. When I placed my order, the owner started singing while reheating the skewers, which was entertaining. He seemed scary at first, but maybe he's a nice person. The taste was really delicious. The tsukune had a soft texture with a mix of cartilage and meat, packed with flavor despite not being large. The negima had a slightly overcooked green onion taste, which might be a matter of personal preference. I like soft green onions, so it was okay for me. The meat had a good chewy texture, not too tough, and was really tasty with a strong chicken flavor. Next time, I might try the chicken wings.

In Tawaramachi, there was a restaurant that caught my eye with its somewhat unique aura as I stood at the intersection and looked around. Despite hesitating for a moment while looking at the dull storefront, I was drawn to the "Yakitori Don" made with Hinata Jidori for 600 yen, so I decided to enter the restaurant. However, upon opening the sliding door, I was greeted by a lackluster atmosphere inside, and even the man grilling the chicken behind the counter seemed to be in a tired mood. Furthermore, all the chairs lined up at the counter had cracks on the seats, which quickly diminished the little hope I had. I ordered the "Yakitori Don" for 600 yen, which seemed to be the main dish for lunch. There was also a higher-priced option for 800 yen, if I remember correctly. Additionally, there was somehow grilled gyoza available. As I read the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper placed on the counter, I suddenly felt a presence in front of me. Before I knew it, the ordered dish was placed on a tray in front of me. The bowl had chicken pieces with noticeable burnt spots, thin and unimpressive tsukune, and scallions that also seemed lifeless and burnt. Hmm, visually, it was quite off-putting and reduced my appetite. I reluctantly took a bite of the slightly chipped edge of the bowl, but the chicken was a bit tough and overall mediocre. I couldn't really appreciate the taste of Hinata Jidori. The rice was also subpar, and even at 600 yen, it was disappointing. Along with the bowl, there was miso soup with fried tofu, pickled cucumbers, and pickled ginger in a small container. While taking a break from the bowl towards the end, I casually reached for the pickles. As I took a bite, it had a strong and unique taste. It was like a fermented "nukazuke." I wondered what kind of fermentation process was used for this pickle bed? In order to cleanse my palate from the intense aftertaste, I quickly finished the bowl and asked for the check. I left the restaurant promptly. However, I couldn't help but wonder about that pickled vegetable. In a way, it left a strong impression as a unique establishment.

Lunch is served in the restaurant, and takeout is available from the evening. I came here because I really wanted to try their tsukune. Unlike traditional round tsukune, this one was flat and had a lot of bite to it when grilled on a skewer. I also tried a few other skewers for takeout and they were all delicious. Thank you for the meal.

This time, I stayed at a hotel near Tawaramachi in Edo and found three very local and cool-looking shops next to the hotel, so I decided to visit one of them. The place turned out to be a takeout-only yakitori shop with a rustic storefront that looked like it belonged in a local shopping street. The friendly elderly couple running the place welcomed me warmly. I got two skewers each of tsukune (chicken meatballs) and liver from their menu. The pre-cooked skewers were heated up on the grill right in front of the shop. Back at the hotel, I enjoyed them with a canned lemon highball. The flavors were both sweet and savory, with a soy sauce-based sauce that was not too heavy. Adding a little packet of shichimi pepper provided a nice kick. There are many cool shops like this in Asakusa, so I'd like to explore more and share my experiences. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

APA Hotel is located along the main street, and there's a shop that I always end up buying from on a whim. I always struggle in front of the shop, but here, the classic chicken with green onion is recommended. The local image is that it's popular from the evening, but it's also popular for lunch and snacks. For takeout, tsukune and hinadori chicken seem to be popular. Recently, due to the time of COVID-19, they also offer takeout during lunch. On the contrary, it's helpful for lunch only, isn't it?

On the way back from a walk, I planned to buy croquettes at Sato Butcher Shop, but they were sold out, so I gave up and on the way home, I found an interesting shop. It seems to be open for takeout only from the evening, and there is a delicious smell of yakitori in front of Tahara-machi Station. It's a very nostalgic yakitori shop run by an elderly couple. I bought liver, motsu, and tsukune for takeout and enjoyed them at home. It's a classic yakitori that goes well as a snack with alcohol. The sweet and savory sauce was just right. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Takeout-only yakitori restaurant "Toritaka" offers reheated items for customers. It's good to inform the staff as some items are warm while others are not. Recommended items include chicken wings, liver, and negima skewers.

I happened to come across it and decided to buy it because I wanted to eat yakitori, so it was perfect (laughs). The shop is run by an elderly couple. I wonder if it's only for a limited time? It's takeout only from 17:00 to 19:30. The tsukune was flat and had a rare shape. The taste is simple and light, I think? The liver and motsu were delicious. The liver was soft and melted in the mouth. It was a Showa-era style shop.

On the way from Kappabashi Kitchen Town to Tawaramachi Station, I caught a whiff of something delicious. I peeked into a shop and saw that it had been in business for 70 years. I couldn't resist and bought one skewer each of chicken, tsukune (chicken meatballs), and chicken wings to go. The chicken and tsukune had a great texture, and the sauce had a slightly strong flavor, but it was delicious. The chicken wings were nicely seasoned with salt and tasted great. The shop owner and his wife were focused on grilling without unnecessary chatter. If I have the chance to visit Tawaramachi again, I would like to try different types of yakitori next time. Thank you for the meal!