When we finished work earlier than expected and went out for drinks with 3-4 colleagues, we ended up at Kyusuke's. The yakitori served by Kyusuke was incredibly delicious, with a perfect amount of fat that made it irresistible. The atmosphere was lively, the variety of drinks was great, and the staff were friendly. Each skewer was grilled to perfection and brought to us with care. I got a bit tipsy since it had been a while since I last drank, but I definitely want to go back to Kyusuke's again.

This is the 7th place I've visited on my drinking tour in Kitasenju... I should make this the last stop. I wish I had come here earlier! The smell is delicious and the staff are friendly. I finally got to try the Matsumae pickles that I wanted since yesterday! Unfortunately, they didn't have the salmon roe in a lump... I guess I'll have to go to Hokkaido for that. But the grilled Atka mackerel was delicious as well.

"Kyusuke" stands near the entrance of the drinking street, just around the corner from the west exit of Kitasenju. This bar has been loved in Kitasenju for 25 years. First, let's talk about the appearance. Various brands of sake are displayed at the entrance, and the red signboard stands out. The interior of the restaurant is also based on wood, with counter seats, table seats, and even a tatami room, making it suitable for large groups. I visited at 4:30 pm, about 30 minutes after opening, and the place was already bustling. I sat at a table seat and ordered two glasses of draft beer as it was happy hour until 7 pm. Cheers! I quickly finished the first glass and while sipping on the second one, I looked at the menu. The menu mainly consists of grilled skewers and a variety of izakaya dishes, including seasonal limited-time items. I ordered the "Beef Motsu Stew" and the restaurant's specialty "Muroran Yakitori". Muroran Yakitori is a skewered dish made with pork and onions from Muroran City, Hokkaido, not the typical chicken or motsu (offal) version. I tried them, and the pork was thick and satisfying, with the sauce coating it well and the onion adding a nice touch! Also, if you add mustard, it's even more enjoyable! The beef motsu stew was cooked in a miso base and was tender. As I finished my second glass and ordered a third one, I couldn't resist trying the "Deep-Fried Grated Yam". When it arrived, it looked adorable! When I took a bite of the hot yam, it was fluffy and chewy, incredibly delicious! The seaweed added a fantastic touch. Overall, it was a bar with a nice atmosphere and easy-to-eat dishes. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [Menu] - Muroran Yakitori (1 piece): 200 yen - Beef Motsu Stew: 520 yen - Deep-Fried Grated Yam: 560 yen - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After getting off at Dandadan and visiting, I realized that this place is actually close to the station but I hadn't uploaded it. I had visited before, of course. So I visited during happy hour. It was still before the rush hour so the store was quiet. Draft beer went from 450 yen to 290 yen. At this price, even though the glass was slim, the mug was surprisingly solid. I tried Matsue pickles for the first time in 2022 (sweat). This is a local dish from Matsumae Town in southern Hokkaido. I'm sure it goes well with beer or sake. The Muroran yakitori was 200 yen (1 skewer). Other skewers are usually ordered in pairs. When I ordered just one, I was told it would be two. Seriously... So I ordered two of those, as well as green onions for 160 yen and shiitake mushrooms for 160 yen. Since meat skewers come in pairs, I avoided them. It's tough when you're dining alone and they come in pairs. Vegetables can be ordered individually, so I went with that. The grilled green onions had a nice sweetness from being cooked, and the evenly applied salt was effective. The shiitake mushrooms would have been good with soy sauce drizzled on top. I ended up eating them as is. The Muroran yakitori had a satisfying chewiness. The onion sandwiched in between was not garlic, but onion, and the meat was pork, not chicken. Is that what makes it Muroran? Since the menu advertises them as single skewers, I wish they would accept orders for just one. Despite my complaints, the total bill was just under 1,500 yen. The fact that prices are tax-inclusive is a big plus. It's so agonizing that it's enough to make you faint. With that said, thank you. It was a delicious meal.

Within a 3-minute walk from Kita-Senju Station. I was lured by the sign advertising draft beer for 290 yen (until 7 pm) and casually strolled in. It's a relatively large establishment for Senju. Senju tends to have many narrow shops, so it's rare to find one with a capacity of over 100 people. This makes it suitable for solo diners, groups, and sudden gatherings. When dining alone, I am often seated at the large table in the back (shared seating) or a table for 4 people, but personally, I find the back table the most relaxing. This place slightly leans towards Hokkaido, with Sapporo beer for 290 yen. They also offer Haskap berry sours and Haskap berry highballs. Although the sign mentions "yakitori," their specialty is the "Muroran yakitori" made with pork. It may be more expensive than regular yakitori, but the volume and taste are superior. I recommend trying this over regular yakitori. The "nukazuke herring" and "sliced herring" are my go-to dishes. The fermented herring has a unique flavor that becomes addicting. This place offers cheap beer and highballs, but their most extensive selection is of sake. If only I could try it, but unfortunately, my doctor advised against it. I will definitely revisit for the Ruby sake. Bon appétit!

I recently visited a restaurant that caught my attention. Upon entering the store, there were tables to the left, and it seemed quite spacious with a good number of seats towards the back. The recommended dish of the day was whale sashimi, which had a tender texture and was full of flavor. I was also tempted by the aroma of the grilled chicken skewers and decided to order them. The skewers were perfectly cooked with a nice balance of sweetness from the sauce and soy sauce. It was truly delicious, one of the best I've had. There were many customers who seemed like regulars, and I will definitely visit again in the future!

I stopped by after work and was happy to finally get a seat, as it's always full when I pass by. I ordered a drink and some whale sashimi, which was excellent. The assorted delicacies were all to my liking, and I was pleased. The yakitori was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of salt. This place seems perfect for both a first stop or a second stop on a night out. Thank you for the delicious meal!

This is a yakitori izakaya. I had some business in Kitasenju, so after finishing up, I decided to go for a drink and came across a yakitori izakaya near the station. They had a special offer until 7 pm where draft beer was only 290 yen, so I ordered a draft beer. The menu had a tempting option of "Rare Delicacies Assortment" for 620 yen, so I ordered that along with the house specialty, Muroran yakitori for 200 yen. The assortment included firefly squid, salted squid roe, whelk changja, and sliced herring. Just this alone was satisfying for a drinker. I ordered another draft beer. The Muroran yakitori was made with thick pork and onions. The pork had a good texture and the sauce was delicious. Mustard was provided for flavor variation. The onions were subtly skewered. It was a casual and enjoyable place to eat.

Tonight, work ended in Kitasenju as usual. I'm in my usual wandering mode lately... First, I tried a shop I had in mind, but unfortunately it was full. So I wandered around and ended up at this shop. I checked for available seats and found one at the back. I ordered a draft beer first, and it was so refreshing after work. I finished the beer while waiting, and then ordered a highball since they didn't have Hoppy. Here is what I ordered today: - Potato salad: Smooth and salty, good as a drinking snack with a huge portion. - Assorted skewers (salt): Chicken thigh, meatball, gizzard, chicken wing, green onion, chicken thigh again... Pretty tasty, especially the seasoning and grilling. - Meatball: Strong umami, but a bit artificial. - Gizzard: Crunchy texture, a nostalgic taste. - Chicken wing: A bit disappointing, small and not very flavorful. - Green onion: Safe and tasty, better grilled slowly. - Hokkaido haskap highball: Sweet haskap flavor, not something you'd drink many of. - Bali King highball: Is it a highball? Is it a chu-hi? Unclear, but I tried it. Rich in plant extracts, but not very impressive. Despite the late hour, couples and groups of women kept coming in, and the place was mostly occupied by women. The atmosphere was definitely more suited for older men, but Kitasenju is a down-to-earth neighborhood. My stomach was satisfied, and I was feeling nicely buzzed, so it was time to pay. It was surprisingly affordable for the amount I drank. Thank you for the meal, I'll be back again!

Weekend in Kitasenju, second bar. Estimated time, 7:30 pm. Number of people, 4. Can't get in (laughs). Places like "Senju no Nagami" were all saying "Sorry..." in a row. Feeling lost, one person found a restaurant that said "OK!" - "Kyusuke". I wrote "Let's go to Kyusuke" but it was a random find. Sorry (^_^;) First, we felt relieved and toasted. I had a draft beer. Ordered bean sprout namul and kimchi tofu. Looking back at the menu later, they had a wide variety of skewers, fried foods, sashimi, etc., seemed like a great place for food. But at that time, since it was the second bar, we were more focused on drinking and chatting. I heard they ordered "horse sashimi yukhoe". I don't remember at all. Despite it being a great restaurant, we were in this kind of mood, so the report ends (^_^;) 11 pm. We had a really enjoyable time drinking. Thank you very much. I would love to visit again.

After the first party ended, I was looking for a restaurant near Nishi-guchi Station and came across this place. Even though it was late, it was crowded with people. It seemed like a place with good cost performance, similar to Ueno or Akabane. I thought that Kita-Senju would suit a casual izakaya. Since I was already full, I only ordered drinks. It's convenient to have a quick drink near the station.

I arrived at a traditional pub close to 11 pm after work, and most of the shops were closing. Luckily, this place was open until midnight. It was my first time visiting. The entrance was narrow, but the interior was surprisingly spacious. The staff were all good-looking, which caught me off guard. The main drink served was Ebisu beer, which was great. They had both the gold and black versions, and although I was confused at first, I realized it was just the regular Ebisu beer. I ordered a second drink, a half-and-half. The food was average. I was seated at a table-like counter in the center back of the restaurant, which turned out to be a good spot. Thanks to a pillar, I didn't have to make eye contact with the person across from me, and I wasn't bothered by the other groups around me. It was a great place for business travelers or solo drinkers like me. It may not be my top choice, but I was glad it was open.

Great deal! Highball for only 290 yen during early hours.

Everything was delicious, but I will definitely order the deep-fried grated yam with seaweed again next time I go.

I have been using restaurants in Kita-Senju for many years, but I always avoided places that are near the station and have a cluttered feel. One day, I was craving yakitori and decided to try a place I had never been to before. I knew from the start that it was the opposite of stylish, but I thought, "It's okay even if it's a miss." The place had a lot of male customers. The food was easy to choose, with many menu items that everyone would like. The shiitake mushroom tempura was crispy with a light batter and delicious. The potato salad looked like it was made in the shop, with cucumbers and all, and it tasted really good. The portions were generous, and the yakitori was reasonably priced with good value for money. I could tell that there were a lot of male customers. I would like to visit again.

The price is very reasonable at 250 yen for a draft beer until 7:00 PM, but the glasses are small! I think they hold less than 300ml. Despite that, all the prices are fair and the food is pretty good. The scallop sashimi and eggplant were especially delicious!

The group of five people couldn't decide on a place for their New Year's party, but stumbled upon a nice restaurant called Kyusuke in Kita-Senju. They were drawn in by the delicious smell of yakitori and sat at a table in the back. They ordered beer and were overwhelmed by the extensive menu. They ended up ordering a variety of dishes without much thought, and later regretted it. But since it was a New Year's party, they shrugged it off and continued to drink. No one tried to stop them. Eventually, they left Kyusuke without going to another place, making sure to catch the last train. They reminded themselves to drink in moderation next time.