Kushiwakamaru

This is the kind of restaurant I feel makes Tokyo special. It’s packed full of young locals in a tight space, and you can get a full sense of what life here is like. All the sights, smells, and sounds. But most importantly, the food is phenomenal! Every dish is perfectly crafted, succulent, and beautifully presented. Def coming here more often!

I loved this place. It's got a warm and very welcoming feel. The food is outstanding. It's an ordinary Yakitori restaurant that shows that skill and technique are primary. There's plenty of places in Tokyo with creative and innovative ingredients and combinations. This place is not that. It's classic and by the book, but perfectly prepared. We ordered the sampler with 8 different skewers. The menu says the sampler will show you what the restaurant is all about. It did. The restaurant is about the essence of Yakitori, the Platonic form. This is a place that exposes the soul and spirit of Yakitori. And it's not just about the food. The atmosphere, the reverie, the sounds, the smells: they get it all right. Among the eight sample skewers, a few stand out. The chicken meatballs were so juicy with an unexpectedly robust flavor. The breast had a sweet and savory, fruity and citrusy sauce--I think it was yuzu. It was juicy and perfectly cooked, so still moist and soft. Exactly what white meat skewers should be. The wings had crispy skin and deep umami. The Yakitori butterfly wing cut finally makes sense to me: it's not just about faster cooking it also increases the magic of the skin to muscle, fat to flesh flavor ratio. The scallops were perfectly cooked, with deep seafood flavor and that tender mouthfeel was juxtaposed with the crunch of the shishito peppers. Scallop lovers will be in heaven. Honorable mention for the prosciutto wrapped asparagus, nothing special about it, but I wouldn't have ordered it myself and it went really well with others. I said "wow" so many times while eating here. I learned that not every yakitori restaurant is the same. Not even close. This place proves that technique alone can elevate the classics.

Everything was perfect / juiciness of the meats was done perfectly well. Service is very friendly; drinks were great and love the traditional Yakitori izakaya vibe!

The chicken wings are juicy and well seasoned. The ginko nut, mochi wrapped in seaweed and beacon, and the green pepper stuffed with cheese are my favorites😋 Overall cozy and great atmosphere 👍 If you want to make a reservation, you need to do it ”in person” ….. or go at 5pm to avoid waiting for a table.

Arrived at 5:30 PM on Sunday. And wait about 40 minutes. But it is worth it. The meals are good, and the price can be acceptable. I came here for the first time with my friends, so maybe ordered too many. The waitress suggested us which meals can just order one, makes me feel friendly.

We enjoyed our dinner here. The food was good and the atmosphere is right!

Delicious yakitori made of high -quality meat. We had a selection of the chicken ones which were definitely worth the slightly high price. I recommend the chicken cartilage and the chicken yakitori with green pepper. The venue was busy (it was a Friday night) and felt quite packed as the tables are close to each other. It was also a bit smokey from the food. The service was polite without being too friendly. Again, it was pretty busy, so they had a lot to do.

We went around 6 and waited about 30 minutes for a table. It was well worth the wait with a great vibe and delicious yakitori. Perfect with a cool glass of beer!

My friend recommended this place and finally we came here. She tried, tried, tried, tried, and tried to call for reservation but couldn't make it. No answer. Then we decided to go and wait before their open time. (15 min ahead) We saw couple employees were eating their meals before they open, and my friend tried to call again. They didn't answer the phone, so we figured out "can't make a reservation by phone" lol! We went weekday and just before the restaurant opened about ten people were standing in line behind us. So, if you'd like to go this place, I recommend to go weekday and wait before they open (about 15-10 min). There are counter and table seats inside and cozy restaurant. They have regular and seasonal menu and everything good price. We ordered yakitori course(eight kinds of yakitori) first and then ordered additional. Everything was fresh, good sir, and dooo delicious!!!! They have many variety of sake, wine, shochu, and cocktails. (Of course, they have non alcohol drinks too) We were both very satisfied and full. Highly recommend if you'd like to eat yakitori. Authentic and casual but so yummy!!!! Anyway, when we got inside the restaurant we saw some "reserved" sign on the counter and tables. A guy came himself and seemed like returning guest, he told the staff when he wants to make a reservation. Ahh, I think when you come and then can make a reservation to the next.

This Izakaya is worth a visit. It's a popular choice among locals and tourists. I recommend making a reservation- just do it. The main attraction is definitely their Yakitori, which originally applies to skewered chicken. But that's not the only thing they serve here. The menu is extensive. I think all other non-poultry meats/fish that are skewered and grilled over charcoal are referred to as Kushiyaki. Everything we ate was good and the atmosphere is awesome. It was probably the liveliest place we dined at. Upon being seated you are given an appetizer. We received edamame. However, I noticed two Japanese diners next to me were given a different appetizer- Daikon oroshi (grated daikon radish) with tiny boiled and dried white fish called Shirasu. Looks like they have an app for tourists and one for locals- not cool! I ordered the Daikon to try it. It's definitely a strange dish in terms of texture. It's also not super flavorful. Daikon is watery but when grated it is touted to have lots of health benefits and digestive enzymes. The Shirasu fish also have lots of health benefits. You season the dish with soy sauce and chili powder. We ordered quite a bit of food for two: other apps: - Cucumber with ume, so good! hasami, gizzard, one of the classic Yakitori items to order. Surprisingly tender. sasami, breast meat, super tender! negima, chicken with leeks Meatball rolled in perilla (aka, shiso) leaf. One of our favorites! Super flavorful. If you like Shiso, you'll love this dish! Octopus and green pepper Cuttlefish Smoked duck breast- highly recommended by our server. It was worth trying. Mushroom stuffed with minced meat Order beer and sake and your meal is complete! Other things to know in advance: -Smoking is allowed, don't be offended. It's still common in Japan. -Sit at the bar if you can. It's fun to watch all the action on the grill -It's busy and the servers move quick. Don't be offended by this either. We were overwhelmed when they asked us to order basically right as we were seated. But we asked (using out translator) if we could order a few things at a time and it was a-ok! -Seriously, make a reservation

Generally speaking, Yakitori is hard to fail unless you burn the shit out of it. So I haven't really been to any Yakitori joints that was too awful to taste. But man... I never knew that Yakitori can be sooooo good! Is the meat fresh or they have their own farm and feeding chicken something special to make the meat taste so good? It was feckin' orgasmic! This place always queue up and tough to make a reservation because it's so popular. So, I recommend to plan in advance.

After going through many, I've landed here as the best yakitori I've had. This place is fantastic. So many different options from pork, to chicken, beef, seafood, veggies. And everything is good. I can't wait to come back here again. There is always a wait here. Best to come early (5-6pm) , or late (11-12pm). Otherwise, you're waiting a while. 100% worth it, regardless.

If you are ever in Tokyo, you MUST COME HERE. Best yakitori I have EVER had! If you're not a local at least. But seriously, this place is pretty damn good. For those traveling yelpers that aren't Japan locals, this ones for you guys. This place is pretty poppin' I came on a Sunday night with my friends for our last night in Japan and it was packed! Luckily we were the only ones in line, but when we left there was a new line. I would suggest going on a weekday to avoid madness. Some non-food related points: -smoking is allowed inside (not that uncommon in Japan) -it's a small place so if it's packed, it does get a bit hectic and loud if you're looking for a peaceful dinner, probably not the right place -they have coat racks! Pretty awesome and definitely needed with the cold weather outside but the compact space and massive amounts of body warmth inside. Food!!! -smoked duck breast 5/5: this was my first order and I have never been more in love with a piece of meat. Super tender and huge pieces of meat compared to most yakitori places. Around $3-4 a skewer (forgot the exact price) but it's SO good. I got it twice, I had to resist a third round for the sake of my wallet. -beef 4/5: once again, the sizes of meat here is great. You feel like you're actually getting your money's worth. Grilled perfectly but beef was a little tougher than duck, and I like tender meats. But for those who are big fans of beef, definitely worth trying. -Chicken gizzard 4/5: the texture was great, chewy and grilled well. It wasn't burnt and crisp like most places. But unfortunately it was too salty! I hope it was just a fluke though, I think it was because nothing else was overly salted at all. I hesitated from saying anything because I don't speak the language...:( -Chicken heart 5/5: yum. I love the texture of chicken heart, it's really tender and chewy. A bit softer than gizzard. -chicken 5/5: very tender! I'm always impressed when people grill chicken correctly and are able to retain the moisture and tenderness! Large pieces of course. -appetizer: upon sitting they give you this bowl of daikon and shirasu (small white fish very common in Japan) and my friends and I were so confused! I knew it was edible so we tried it and it didn't have any flavor. I ended up eating it in between bites of my gizzard to balance the saltiness. Later on a waitress told us to use some soy sauce and chili powder and mix it! Surprisingly good. It was nice and refreshing. Honestly I don't know if everyone gets this dish or if we were asked and we accidentally said yes......but it was worth an experience! There's a lot of different foods to choose from here that I could go on for days, but this place is really great. Service was good, they're constantly walking around to see if people need refills or want to order more. I could see why locals enjoy it too, it seems like the perfect late night spot after a long day at work. Enjoy some skewers and some beers, it sounds like an ideal night!

This is my "Go To" restaurant in Tokyo! A small restaurant off the beaten path that is simply outstanding! I was first brought here by a Japanese consultant and friend 7 years ago and I try to go there every time I visit Japan. It never fails to deliver on outstanding taste! In fact, a new Japanese colleague posted on FB that his new American partner just introduced him to an incredible Yakatori restaurant in Tokyo! Every thing is very good but my favorites include the chicken wings, chicken breast, steak, duck, cheese-stuffed green peppers and the special potatoes that I am not sure to treat as a vegetable or dessert they are so good! Get there early (reservations very difficult) or expect to wait outside and sign your name on the list hanging outside the door - classic! The good news is that you can order cold beer while you wait! Can't wait to go back!

Absolutely loved this place! Think we got so lucky, only a few hours in Japan and we picked this little jem for our first meal of the holidays. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, it was packed with what felt like a local crowd. The staff were very friendly and they have an English menu, so all good. So this is a yakitori restaurant, pretty much everything is impaled on a stick and barbecued. It's best to do a couple of rounds of orders and share what you get, figure out what you like the first round and go from there. There are a lot of chicken options (gizzards, giblets and cartilage included), as well as a few beef and duck options. I thought the cartilage was tasty but the texture might put some people off. The duck and beef are great. The stuffed peppers and mushrooms were great too, would recommend. Each yakitori cost between ¥180 and ¥360. A big feed and two large beers a head came to ¥3,600 each, which I thought was great value for what we got (€25 each) . This place does seem highly rated locally, we got talking to locals on the street later that night and they were very impressed we had been here :-D Ps. The yakitori sticks go in the cool mug.

This place was SO good. I loved it. The food was incredible and the atmosphere was really great -busy and cozy, and it looked very "japanesey" which is fun as a tourist. Since is yakitori everything is grilled on little skewers and is very small (and cheap) so you order a lot of items. Our favorites were the chicken thighs with leeks, the beef, and the garlic. But really everything was great! There wasn't a single item I didn't thoroughly enjoy.

Always my first meal in Tokyo. Absolutely delicious, everything on the menu. Be prepared for a little wait to get seated. Menu is also in English, so don't let that hold you back. My favs? Ginkgo nuts Chicken meatball Cheese filled pepper Potato Quail egg And of course, paired with a few ume-shu sodas!

We love yakitori and I think we have found the best ones in this restaurant. The venue is located on a back street but this should not make you think that this is an unknown and mysterious place. In fact, on a Saturday evening we had to wait almost one hour and a half in line to finally enter in the restaurant. The place is small, they have few tables and you can also sit at the counter. I would suggest picking one of the counter seats, if available, as the yakitori masters will give the skewers to you as soon as they are ready off the grill. They have English menu and a large selection of yakitori. Chicken, meat, vegetables, seafood. Yakitoris as single skewers and they are priced at around 250 yen each. They are big, with a lot of meat. Sure, you can find places that sell cheaper yakitori but they will be at least half of the ones that you get here. And these are gooooooooooooood! I forgot the one hour and a half life after I gave the first bite! In conclusion, great food, lively ambient, English menu, but long line. Highly recommended. Just bring some manga with you while you wait in line :-)

My boyfriend and I came here after walking along the Meguro River during cherry blossom season. We made sure to come right when it opened since it gets really packed. Even then, we had to wait about 30 minutes before being seated. There's a good mixture of locals and expats here, since they also have an English menu available. Everyone starts off with a nice bowl of minced daikon with baby anchovies. Then comes the yakitori. The yakitori, while good, wasn't anything extraordinary. What I really enjoyed here was the liveliness of the place. Everyone's laughing, drinking their beers, and enjoying each other's company after a long day of work (or sightseeing if you're a tourist). The indoor smoking though, I can live without.

Very good yakitori place. I had Green pepper (pimiento de padron-ish) with chicken breast, duck breast, pork cheek, chicken meat ball wrapped in leaf (don't remember the name), bacon wrapped asparagus and Hokkaido potatoes. Also tried some eel, beef, ginkgo beans and eggplant. If I had to choose 4, I would go for duck breast, pork cheek, bacon asparagus and potatoes. Write your name and the number of people in your party on the list outside and don't forget to be there when they call your name. ;)

Wow. I mean seriously wow. Old school yakitori charm with fantastic service and absolutely delicious morsels of things on sticks- I mean seriously I love this place. You start off with a big bowl of little and daikon - a bit scary if you ask me- and it really had no taste. I will try and skip this next time if I can. Onto the main event: yakitori! Chicken meatballs, ginkgo, chicken filet with leeks, Bacon wrapped Mochi, pepper stuffed with cheese and bacon, egg...... Oh man it's so delicious that I'm drooling over the keyboard right now. Only thing I was a bit disappointed in was the duck- a bit dry and over cooked but overall it's amazing food. Highly highly recommended. After the gluttony I suggest you walk over to the meguro riverside for a nice after dinner stroll. Simply delicious here.

Best yakitori I've found in Tokyo (after 15 years, that's saying something!) though not nearly as good as Torishin in Matsumoto. highlights were: sasami ume shiso maki (chicken tender meat topped with salted plum and shiso) tebasaki (wings) cheesu-P (capsicum stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon and grilled to gooey goodness) buta saikyo kushi yaki (pork cheek skewered and marinated in Kyoto-style miso) honorable mention goes to: tsukune (chicken meatballs) tomato maki (tomato wedges wrapped in bacon and grilled) hotate salsa (scallop skewers topped with sweet-ish salsa)

This was such a great place to eat at! We had just arrived to Tokyo and this was our first meal, it did not disappoint!!!! There was an English menu and all you to do do was order how many and point to the list. Food was amazing, the beer was refreshing, and the atmosphere was very chill. We had to return twice since it was the best Yakitori we've had and will probably return once more before we leave. We tried another place in Shibuya but it tasted like crap compared to here. You gotta stick to the smaller neighborhoods for the better foods. The only downside to some people is that it is a smoking restaurant and you might not like to eat and have someone blow smoke at the next table. But honestly worth overseeing that and eating here!

The yakitori is fantastic, but, like a lot of places in Japan, you could be sitting next to someone who incessantly smokes. If you would prefer a separate non-smoking section or a restaurant that doesn't allow smoking, this is not the place for you. I was able to enjoy my food despite the smoke, but my wife thought the experience was ruined.

Great hospitality and English menus. Some reasonable options for veg folks. The preparation was authentic. The restaurant is very popular and the wait time can be long. But worth the wait.

DELICIOUS. What else can I say. Loved it. All of the yakitori as well as the sesame tofu dessert was amazing. I would recommend this to any tourist who is looking for authentic japanese yakitori.

Amazing place to eat kushiyaki ! Typical, very good food, I recommend the tanukiyaki and the tsukune with chiso!