mafu
Opened on February 18, 2023, Yaki Tori Matsoka in Tanimachi Kyuchome. I had been wondering what kind of shop it would be every time I passed by, and confirmed on SNS that it is a yakitori restaurant, so I made a reservation before the opening and visited. You can make a reservation through Instagram for table checks. There are 8 counter seats, but it seems that they will operate with a maximum of 6 people, and you can also use it for private parties starting from 6 people, so it seems like it will be useful for exclusive entertaining. The location is within walking distance from Tanimachi Kyuchome, Uehommachi, and Rokuchome. This area is generally known for having high-quality restaurants, but surprisingly, there are no high-end yakitori restaurants categorized in this area. In that sense, as someone who frequents the restaurants in this area, it feels quite innovative. Of course, the owner seems to have been well aware of this before opening the shop. The owner, Mr. Matsuoka, is a mid-30s baseball player with a strong physique and handsome looks. Originally from Himeji, he has gained experience in various restaurants both domestically and internationally. He is also proficient in English and seems to have ambitious plans for business overseas in the future. Additionally, the beautiful female owner who manages the shop is also eye-catching. The dishes are an 8800 yen course including tax. They use black Satsuma chicken. They have a lot of dealings with producers in Kagoshima, not only for ingredients but also out of respect for the local producers. The interior features a high-quality L-shaped counter seat. Since there is some distance to the grill, it's not just about looking at the food in front of you, but your entire movements can be seen, so if your performance is not good, it might be exposed, haha. The distance itself does not seem to be a disadvantage in terms of service, but since the food is grilled by moving it left and right on the grill, I got the impression that there may be differences in how the fat comes out and how the heat is applied depending on the part. However, overall, the quality of the ingredients, the way they are used, and the creativity and combinations were all very good, and it was much tastier than I had imagined. In the future, will they specialize in the quality of chicken and other ingredients and grilling techniques as a high-end yakitori restaurant, or will they focus more broadly on being a charcoal-grilled restaurant like now, or will they go in other directions? There seem to be many possibilities. The liver stew could become a specialty in terms of taste. The consideration for side dishes and soup was also very well thought out, and although I initially thought they might just rely on the ingredients, that was not the case. The sake that was delivered that day, Tadagin, was said to be best enjoyed freshly opened, so I tried it, and it was really good. The original brand is also good, but they also have a solid route for sourcing sake. At this point, the biggest advantage is that you can enjoy your meal while talking leisurely with the owner and the female owner, but either way, I think it will definitely become a restaurant loved by the locals. Even though the two of them are young, they are very friendly, so I think it's easy to enter. It was delicious. I highly recommend it♪ Just for your reference~!