It's been a while since I visited Torimatsu. Probably the first time since the pandemic. As expected, everything was delicious, I have to come back again. The master was back, I wonder how long it had been. I couldn't help but hug him. #Kitakyushu Yakitori #Kitakyushu Gourmet #Kitakyushu Izakaya #Kokura Kita-ku Yakitori #Kokura Kita-ku Gourmet #Kokura Kita-ku Izakaya #Kokura Yakitori #Kokura Gourmet #Kokura Izakaya #Delicious Yakitori Restaurant #Yakitori #Assorted Sashimi #Liver Pate #Beer Girls #Torimatsu #InstaGourmetAward2023 #Sukiccha Kitakyushu #Kitakyushu Gourmet Encyclopedia

We used this restaurant for a welcome party. Since it was full of office workers at the time, the restaurant was packed. We were seated in a semi-private room, which was quite small and a bit cramped. The food was decently tasty, and most importantly, the cost performance was great, making it a good choice for when you want to drink a lot without spending too much. Some of the staff members seemed a bit rough when taking orders and serving drinks, but I understand that it can be hectic given how busy they were. It was a bit strange that the salad came out towards the end. There are few places where you can enjoy all-you-can-drink for 4,000 yen, so I will use this restaurant again for a casual drinking party with friends!

The nearest station is Heiwa-dori on the monorail, just a 1-minute walk away. This restaurant has a mix of counter and table seating, with a stylish yet down-to-earth atmosphere. Here's what we tried: 1) Caesar Salad: The freshness of the vegetables in this Kyushu Caesar salad really stood out. It's a simple salad but tastes surprisingly delicious. There's definitely room for improvement in making it even tastier. 2) White Liver Mousse: As the restaurant's name suggests, we had high expectations for this dish. However, it tasted like a typical liver paste. There's potential to make it more flavorful. 3) Yakitori Trio: From left to right, we had pork belly with spicy miso, chicken liver, and beef skirt. This place seems to specialize in all kinds of skewered meats, reminiscent of Kyushu cuisine. Each skewer had onions in between, a Kyushu touch. Everything was delicious, and the addition of sausages was a surprising twist. 4) Garlic Grilled Seseri: This was the daily recommendation, featuring charcoal-grilled Oita-brand chicken neck meat. It took quite a while to be served, but the dish didn't particularly stand out. The seseri itself wasn't exceptional, and the sinking ground in Kokura was a noticeable experience. Even the yakitori wasn't particularly tasty. There's room for improvement in making these dishes more flavorful.

If you occasionally go, a recommended restaurant in Kokura is the yakitori restaurant "Torimatsu Main Store". I visited the main store of "Torimatsu" when I went to Kokura the other day! On this day, I decided to try the course menu with all-you-can-drink option! First, I enjoyed a refreshing lemon sour to quench my thirst! The fresh cabbage appetizer was served first, followed by a platter of ikura with a popping texture and rich umami, crunchy sazae, and fresh white fish! Then came the oily and flavorful pork belly skewers, followed by the rich and delicious chicken liver skewers. The pork belly skewers were particularly impressive in terms of taste, texture, and portion! Next up were the firm heart skewers, the tender and flavorful tsukune skewers, and the refreshing negima skewers with the perfect balance of meat umami and the moisture from the leeks. To finish off the meal, I enjoyed a comforting ochazuke with the umami of chicken, the richness of egg, and the right amount of saltiness, followed by a soft and sweet almond tofu dessert. It was a satisfying meal! If I have the chance, I would like to try other gourmet options in Kokura that I haven't experienced yet!

Tonight I had dinner alone, and I was in the mood for yakitori. So I decided to try out "Torimotomeshoten," a place I've been curious about for a while. The restaurant is quite spacious, with a large counter, table seating, and even rooms in the back. The cooking area behind the counter is also quite spacious. Compared to my favorite place, "Totoya" in Okazaki City, it's about 4-5 times larger. First, after finishing work: - The highball was delicious! - The appetizer (aradaki) was quite sweet. - The negima and pork belly skewers were good. The pork was tender with a nice amount of salt, and the crunchiness of the green onions was enjoyable. - The chicken skin and onion skewers were a bit disappointing. Some parts were too soft, the sauce was too sweet, and the crispy texture didn't last long. - I really liked the onions. They had a good balance with a hint of pepper, and there was no overwhelming spiciness. - The watered-down whiskey was not cold enough due to the lack of ice. I only had a few dishes because I don't eat much. Overall, the food was delicious. That's all for now. Thank you for the meal.

Ogura. There are many bars in the area, so it's always hard to choose, but today I picked this place. ◆Atmosphere There are tables and a counter. The staff are friendly and provide good service. ◆Ordering process You receive an order sheet, then pay at the register. ◆Customer base, busyness The customers were diverse, mostly groups of two. ◆Stay time Entered at 18:20, left at 20:56. ◆Service The service is quick! ◆Menu They have a variety of dishes like yakitori, seasonal items, fried foods, and rice dishes. ◆Parking No parking available. ◆Food It's a fun place to drink with a good variety of options. However, the cost performance is not the best and the food is not amazing, just okay.

I visited the main store of Torimatsu in Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City. The restaurant is located along Heiwa Street, less than a 5-minute walk from Kokura Station Kokurajo-guchi. It is right in front of Heiwa Station on the monorail. I have been to the Kokura Station store before, but this was my first visit to the main store. I went with a friend and we arrived around 7 pm without a reservation. The restaurant was almost full, but we only had to wait a little bit before being seated at a table. The restaurant is spacious, with counter seats, table seats, and tatami seats. The dishes we ordered: - Assorted appetizers (300 yen) including cabbage and mozuku seaweed vinegar - Grilled Pacific saury (680 yen) with a good amount of fat and delicious flavor - Sesame hirasu (780 yen) with sesame, green onions, seaweed, and shiso leaves for a crunchy texture and great balance of flavors - Pork belly skewers (170 yen per skewer) seasoned with salt, a classic yakitori dish in Fukuoka - Chinese jellyfish (380 yen) with a nice texture - Special tsukune (180 yen) with bone cartilage and a flavorful sauce - Saury marinated in sweet miso (680 yen) with a firm texture and rich umami flavor Drinks we had: - Draft beer (500 yen) - 4 glasses of Maker's Mark highball (480 yen each) Although it is a yakitori restaurant, we mainly ordered seafood dishes such as the tsukune. The chicken used in the yakitori is fresh, sourced directly from Miyazaki, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima. There were also many recommended dishes using saury and other seafood, but some were sold out on the day of our visit. The menu also includes various appetizers priced at 380 yen, such as fried bone cartilage, chicken skin senbei, and chilled tomatoes. I only had beer and highball this time, but there is a wide selection of drinks available. The staff were efficient and the service was good. Next time, I would like to focus on trying their yakitori dishes while enjoying drinks. Thank you for the meal.

Yakitori Torimatsu in Ogura. When you enter the restaurant, you are greeted by a lively staff and the pleasant aroma of charcoal and sauce. The yakitori, as well as the fish and drinks, were delicious. There were more small groups of customers rather than large parties, creating a cozy atmosphere. There are also table seats available, making it suitable for larger gatherings. I thought I would come back here when I crave yakitori again!

I often use this restaurant on my way home from work. This time, I sat at the counter and enjoyed watching the cooking process, which was lively and enjoyable. It was a shame that the chicken liver pate was sold out... But, as expected, yakitori with beer and sweet potato shochu is the best combination. In addition to yakitori, the menu is also extensive, so I think this is a reliable restaurant that I would recommend not only for regular visits but also for those visiting Kokura for business or sightseeing.

On Sundays, my favorite fish restaurant is closed, so I go to Torimatsu Honten. Their sashimi is delicious! This time, I had bamboo shoot and some kind of shellfish with miso and wild vegetables. The yakitori, sashimi, motsu-ni, liver pate, shrimp chili, and bone-in fried chicken were all delicious. They usually don't have grilled or simmered fish here, but I heard they will open a seafood shop nearby on April 8th. I just missed it by one day on April 7th! I'll have to try that place too. Thank you for the delicious meal!

The lifespan of birds varies greatly depending on the individual. However, it seems that there are quite a few birds that live for over 60 years! This time, I casually visited the "Torimatsu Main Store" with two adults. It was my first visit since they moved. Before the move, my former boss loved Torimatsu, so we used to go there many times. The new exterior and interior are a complete change from the old traditional Japanese style. The restaurant is conveniently located within walking distance from the station and has a stylish and open atmosphere. We ordered the following items: - Tuna and Negitoro Yukke (400 yen) - Sea Bream and Hirame with Tororo Mountain Topping (780 yen) - Skewers of chicken skin with sauce, gizzard, tail, neck, and plum and shiso wrapped in chicken breast (various prices) The dishes were served one by one, and the Seseri skewer was particularly delicious. Overall, it's a yakitori restaurant, easy to visit, and suitable for large groups. The service was a mix of good and not-so-good, but the straightforward attitude may be appealing. I'm interested in trying the ramen made with bird broth next time. Thank you for the meal!

This is my favorite yakitori restaurant. It's always full, and it's hard to find a seat at the counter. The recommended dishes here are of course yakitori, pork belly, liver, gizzard, all of them are delicious. Even though it's a yakitori restaurant, the sashimi is fresh and elegantly presented. The must-try is the bone-in fried chicken. It's so juicy! The owner himself goes into the kitchen to cook and give instructions. Maybe that's why there's such a lively atmosphere here?

On the first day of the Fukuoka food tour, we headed to Kokura in Kitakyushu. We started with two ramen shops recommended by B-cho, the wild man of Kokura, and a shop I enjoyed last year called Chinryuken. After a full day of ramen hopping, feeling full and tired from the early flight, I checked into the hotel early. The hotel staff kindly allowed me to check in before the official time. I took a short nap and then headed to the main event of the day - the Kokura off-meeting. We gathered in front of Torimatsu Honten for a night of food and drinks. The locals, B-cho, Seimitsu, and a gourmet warrior from the north, were waiting for my arrival. We started with beer and then moved on to shochu. We tried different types of shochu like "Aira" and "Kobiki Blue," both of which were delicious. We also enjoyed dishes like sesame sauce sashimi and grilled chicken. The night was filled with good food and great conversation. Thank you to the Kokura reviewers for a wonderful evening. Despite any protests, I will definitely be back next year for another food adventure in Kokura. Thank you, B-cho, for another great time!

There are many good yakitori restaurants in Kokura, and I think many people have their favorite spots. If someone asks for a recommendation or suggests going to eat yakitori, the first place that comes to mind for me is either here or "Kouki." I have visited this place four times. The first time was when a regular reviewer told me, "A new Torimatsu store has opened on Heiwa Street," so I went alone. However, the Goma Saba (sesame mackerel) was sold out at that time. I went back a second time to try it, but it was still unavailable. The third time was when a guest from Tokyo visited, and I wanted to take them to a place where they could experience something unique to Kokura, so I chose this place over "Robata no Kurobei." Again, the Goma Saba was sold out. The fourth time was during a "Tabelog offline meeting," and the host decided that this place was a suitable representation of Kokura for showing people from Tokyo around. The yakitori here is classic Kokura style, with a slightly sweet sauce that is characteristic of the area. While I also consider "Honjin," "Hacchan," "Yakyucho," and "Kurofune" to be representative spots in Kokura, the first three may be a bit too traditional, and "Kurofune" has a slight chain restaurant vibe. However, this place stands out for its clean establishment, good service, and most importantly, delicious food. So if you're ever unsure about where to go for yakitori in Kokura, I usually recommend this place.

Torimatsu Main Store. I used it for the first time after it moved. That day, a group of four men welcomed a customer from a distant place. They had only reserved seats. Thank you. The interior of the restaurant is brighter and has a tavern-like atmosphere compared to before. There is an area with a counter seat where yakitori is grilled in front of you, an area with table seats, and a tatami area. We chose a table seat. The seats themselves are not narrow, but the tables are close together. It's lively and bustling with many customers. Cheers with draft beer! Here's what we had: - Otoshi (300 yen) Mekabu. This seems to be a Torimatsu specialty. - Gomahirasu (780 yen) Hirasu without mackerel. Rich sesame sauce. I wish there was a bit more. - Skewers (100-290 yen) Of course, when you think of Torimatsu, you think of yakitori. Instead of having one per person, we decided to take the meat off the skewers and share a variety of them. We were shown the skill of separating the meat from the skewers by the master. The four men shared the delicious and well-seasoned skewers. - Torimatsu Chanko Nabe (2000 yen) Miso-based hot pot. We imitated sukiyaki and tried the soup first. It had a miso soup-like taste. Despite being called chanko, there were no seafood ingredients, and the most delicious part was the chicken meatballs with cartilage. I wanted to add more of just the meatballs. It's a good value for the price and recommended for those with room in their stomachs. We also had various other dishes. We ordered the sweet potato shochu "Air" and "Kiwami" in bottles, conscious of Kyushu, and enjoyed drinking them. The common point among the four men who gathered on this day is that they all enjoy drinking. As we got tipsy, we relaxed. Interesting and silly conversations became more enjoyable, and we laughed heartily. Thank you for the meal.

The newly opened Torimatsu store in Kokura Kita Ward... It used to have an old feel but now it's become stylish, right? I ordered a few skewers, sashimi, and some other dishes. I wonder if I preferred the old Torimatsu better... The service was just okay! There were a lot of young staff members. I didn't take many photos.

The interior of the restaurant is clean and the counter area is cozy! The food is delicious and reasonably priced, in other words, it's perfect!

The female waitress was unfriendly. Even when she brought the order to the table, she didn't explain anything. It felt like she was saying, "Just wash the dishes quietly, don't bother with customer service." The male waiters, on the other hand, were very friendly. Also, the kitchen staff wearing chin masks was a turn-off. Despite the quiet atmosphere and other infection prevention measures being properly implemented, it was disappointing.