The sizzling fat dripping from the meat on the charcoal grill burns and creates a thick cloud of smoke. In "The Lonely Gourmet Season 3" Episode 6, Inogashira Goro couldn't stand the smoke and had to evacuate outside the restaurant. When I visited before, the smoke was so intense that the opposite wall became invisible. However, this time, there was no smoke. They had installed a super powerful exhaust system that sucks the smoke directly from above the charcoal grill. It's a bit sad in a way because the smoke was part of the unique experience of dining at this restaurant. But the deliciousness of the large and fluffy hormone meat remains unchanged. The key is to grill the skin thoroughly first, then quickly sear the fat side. Grilling with an 80% skin and 20% fat ratio makes the meat melt in your mouth. The difference between this hormone meat and the smaller, tougher ones from other restaurants is remarkable. This restaurant is located in Itabashi, along the former Akabane Line which used to connect Ikebukuro and Akabane with only 2 stations in between. It now forms part of the Saikyo Line, but this section still retains the unique atmosphere of the Akabane Line. Just a 5-minute walk from Itabashi Station on the "Akabane Line" from Ikebukuro, you'll find yourself in a nostalgic diner that feels like a time warp. When you open the creaky wooden door, you're greeted by a dirt floor, thin pipe tables, and chairs. The dimly lit interior remains almost unchanged. However, there seems to be more young female staff now. I ordered the hormone (salt) and the cheek meat. The cheek meat was exceptionally delicious. Grilling a large cube quickly and savoring the firm texture and juiciness made me wonder why this meat wasn't considered regular meat. It's definitely a must-try dish. Each part is grilled with either salt or sauce, and the staff mostly decides which method to use for each cut. Grilling the hormone with salt and eating it with yuzu pepper is recommended, and it truly enhances the flavor. The heart, lamb, liver, and fatty pork belly were all fresh and tasty. Grilling them slightly rare to bring out their freshness would provide a unique dining experience. After eating and drinking quite a bit, including rice porridge and fried noodles for around 5,000 yen per person, it was still quite affordable. And delicious. While there are many hormone grill restaurants, once you try the hormone here, it's hard to go anywhere else. Start with the hormone (salt) and you won't be disappointed. Highly recommended.

I finally got to visit a restaurant that was featured in "The Lonely Gourmet" that I had been wanting to go to for a while! The atmosphere is like an old-fashioned horumon (offal) shop, which I really like! The service staff, who seemed to be college students working part-time, provided average service. I ordered the popular horumon with sauce and salt. I also tried the harami, kalbi, and nankotsu. The horumon was really delicious! It was at a level that was truly impressive! Overall, I found a horumon shop that I want to visit again! Thank you for the meal.

I first heard about Yamagen from #solitarygourmet and wasn't surprised that it was hard to get a reservation even on weekdays! The charcoal grill was very hot (32°C!) and the place was a bit stuffy, but the food was amazing. They had a variety of offal options to try, such as uterus, pig testicles, liver, and other offals. The staff were attentive and helped us when we were unsure how to grill the offals ourselves. The restaurant is located 3 minutes from Itabashi Station and costs around ¥3000 per person. #foodfillingtokyo #grilledmeat #yakiniku #offalbalance #offalgrill #beef tongue #yakiniku #grilledmeatlunch #yakinikurestaurant

No matter how many times I go, the high-quality hormone and liver with a firm texture are highly recommended. They go perfectly with beer and the cost performance is excellent! The staff are always kind. It's always difficult to make a reservation at this restaurant, but I want to go again. Thank you for the meal!

I had a delicious and fresh serving of large-sized hormone! After watching "The Solitary Gourmet," I wanted to visit this restaurant. The size of each piece of hormone is about 1.5 times larger than the ones I usually have at yakiniku restaurants. Despite its size, the recommended way of grilling with the skin side down resulted in a tender and delicious texture! I definitely want to go back for more!

Since moving to Itabashi, I had been curious about Yagoto-san and had tried to make a reservation several times. This place is quite popular in Itabashi, even appearing in "The Solitary Gourmet". According to the staff, reservations are usually required two weeks in advance, but I was lucky to get one when I called at 3 p.m. today. This time, I had the Wagyu zabuton, the famous horumon (salt/sauce), kalbi (salt/sauce), harami, along with kimchi, garlic, and more. The horumon really did melt in my mouth and was delicious as rumored. Unfortunately, they ran out of rice for fried rice, but that just gives me something to look forward to next time. We also had bottled beer, 3 lemon sours, and 3 oolong highballs, and the total bill came to 11,000 yen, which was very reasonable. Thank you for the meal.

After watching "The Lonely Gourmet" and talking about it with friends, we finally made it happen. We dressed in clothes that could get sauce and smell on them and boldly entered the restaurant. We had made a reservation so there was no need to wait in line. First, we ordered a large bottle of beer to cleanse our throats. And guess what, it was Akahoshi beer! Feeling more motivated, we decided to go all out. For the horumon, we left it up to the chef to bring us a variety. The sweetness of the horumon fat was irresistible. We had things like komemimi, hatsu, lamb, and kalbi in sauce. Halfway through, we switched to lemon sour and continued eating. As our stomachs filled up, we asked for the finishing dish. We shared the yakimeshi. Despite everyone saying they were full, we ended up fighting over the deliciousness of the yakimeshi. Sumiyoshi Horumon in Sumiyoshi is good, but maybe the portions are bigger here?

This time, I visited the yakiniku restaurant "Sangen" in Shin-Itabashi. This place is famous for its motsu-yaki, which has appeared in "The Lonely Gourmet" season 3. --Meal we had-- - Hormone (salt) x 2 - Hormone (sauce) x 2 - Japanese-style kimchi x 1 - Morokyu (cucumber with miso paste) x 1 - Pork belly x 1 - Comekami (beef cheek) x 2 - Heart x 1 - Harami (skirt steak) x 1 - Large rice x 1 --Drinks-- - Beer x 1 - Oolong highball x 1 - Oolong tea x 1 Total cost: around 8000 yen Per person: around 4000 yen --Other information-- Visit date/time: Weekday 20:30 Seating: Almost full Waiting: None Wait time: None * Hormone orders are limited to 1-2 servings per person * Reservation is recommended * We walked in without a reservation and the restaurant was full * They were kind enough to let us use the table since we wouldn't be staying long * Probably usually fully booked with reservations * Easily walkable from JR Itabashi Station I was prepared with the "Bring on the smoke!" T-shirt from "The Lonely Gourmet," but surprisingly, they had renovated the ventilation system, so there was no smoke. (Ended up feeling cold on the way back in just a T-shirt, haha) The hormone dishes were delicious, especially the salt flavor. I also tried the sauce, but I personally preferred the salt. The pork belly was of high quality and very tasty. I will definitely come back for more delicious hormone dishes. Thank you for the meal!

I had to go to Ikebukuro, so I made a reservation a few days ago because it was required. I called during limited hours and was told they could accommodate me if I sat at the counter. The restaurant I visited was called Goro, located in Itabashi. It seems like the only reason to get off there is for this restaurant. Their specialty is horumon (offal)! It's a must-try. The white jewels with fat clinging to them don't look like horumon at first glance, but the fat is delicious. They recommend grilling it with a ratio of 7 parts skin to 3 parts fat (was it 8:2?). It's best to have plenty of salt and pepper seasoning as the fat tends to flow away when grilled. Apart from horumon, they also offer reasonably priced items like kalbi and harami for only 600 yen. The freshness of items like heart and liver was impressive. The yakimeshi (fried rice) was simple but tasty, with just green onions and egg. We ordered 3 servings of horumon, kashira, heart, liver, pork belly, lamb, harami, and two orders of yakimeshi, totaling just over 8,000 yen for two people. I think it's a very reasonable yakiniku restaurant. While the quality of items other than horumon may not be outstanding, considering the price, it's more than enough.

Located about a 3-minute walk from Itabashi Station is "Sangen." I visited on a weekday and just managed to secure a reservation the day before. When I arrived around 7 pm, the place was already full with reservations. I started with a refreshing glass of draft beer to cheers. The edamame appetizer was seasoned just right, and they also provided wasabi and yuzu pepper for seasoning, as well as water bottles for fire prevention. Next, I enjoyed some kimchi with my beer. It had a slightly sweet flavor and was perfect for sipping beer. For the main course, I ordered Hormone Shio (salt) and Hormone Tare (sauce), as well as Comkami (head meat). The hormone was rich in fat and melted in the mouth, especially when paired with wasabi. The Comkami was juicy and flavorful, a new experience for me. The Hormone Tare had a light and versatile flavor that complemented the meat well. I then ordered a highball for a refreshing drink. Following that, I tried the lamb, which was surprisingly mild in flavor and tender. The homemade gochujang sauce added depth to the taste. To finish off, I had the heart meat (Hatsu), which was thickly sliced and had a glossy appearance. It was tender and juicy, perfect with wasabi. Lastly, I tried the tofu soup, which was filled with various ingredients like tofu, mushrooms, and onions. It had a gentle and comforting flavor, a nice end to the meal after indulging in the rich meats.

Finally, at Yageng in Itabashi. Salt hormone, comekami, harami, lamb. And from the more unique cuts, oppai, hoden, haha. They were all delicious, but the salt hormone with a little yuzu pepper was the best. It was fluffy, not too greasy, yet juicy. It was the best hormone I've ever had in my life. I was prepared for the place to be filled with smoke to the point where I couldn't see the other side of the wall, but it seems like the ventilation system has been improved. Kind of disappointing in a way. #Itabashi #Yageng #Hormone #Rule of 8 skin 2 meat #The Lonely Gourmet #sauna #Sauna #Sauna activity #Uncle activity #Tent sauna #Solo drinking #Camp #Outdoor #Solo camping #Sauna #Sauna meal #Gourmet #Beer

Hormone barbecue restaurant in Itabashi. The restaurant is always packed, with everyone enjoying barbecue freely. While feeling the heat of the charcoal prepared on the table, we wait for the dishes. We ordered "salted hormone, heart, cartilage, and cheek meat". For first-timers, the staff will teach you how to grill the hormone. Looking at the hormone on the grill, it naturally brings a smile to your face. Unable to wait, we check the doneness of the meat and bring the hot, melting hormone to our mouths. The more you chew, the more amazing the fatty hormone is. Next, we try it with yuzu pepper. This fat is truly amazing the more you chew! Definitely worth a try.

Ikebukuro, The Solitary Gourmet, Season 3 Episode 6: In Itabashi, Itabashi Ward, there is a mysterious town where you can enjoy grilled hormone just 2 stations and 8 minutes away from Shinjuku. The combination of well-grilled hormone and kimchi is a delicious technique. The liver is thick and offers an unprecedented meaty experience! Thank you for the meal.

This is a super popular yakiniku restaurant in Itabashi. It was featured on "The Lonely Gourmet" a few years ago, and reservations are a must as it's difficult to walk in on the day. The most famous dish is definitely the hormone. It's so popular that you can only order 1 or 2 servings per person. There are two types of sauce, salt and tare, both delicious. Cook it with the skin side down. The juicy meat juice and sweet fat mix together, making it very juicy but not overwhelming. You won't get tired of eating it! It's easy to taste the deliciousness of the meat, so I recommend the salt sauce. Each piece is large, and the flavor spreads in your mouth surprisingly. Even for those who have had mediocre hormone at other restaurants, try the hormone at Yamagen thinking you've been fooled! The other cuts were also fresh and very tasty. Itabashi is surprisingly easy to access by train or car, and this restaurant is definitely worth a visit!

The hormone dish can only be ordered with sauce and salt, and for a certain number of people. It's all delicious! Even the lamb, which usually has a strong smell, is tender with little aftertaste. I was so impressed. You can choose to eat it with yuzu pepper or wasabi. I was able to make a reservation even at the last minute, maybe because I booked early. If you follow the smell of smoke, you will find the restaurant easily.

I visited a restaurant I had always wanted to go to, which is famous from the show "The Solitary Gourmet". I was surprised that it was not crowded as I had expected. I ordered the most popular hormone salt and sauce to grill on the charcoal grill. I grilled the meat starting with the skin side, and when the fat puffed up, it was ready to eat. The meat was juicy and delicious, and both the salt and sauce were tasty. The thickness of the meat like beef cheek and heart was satisfying and delicious. It was my first time at this restaurant, and the meal was delicious.

Facing the street in front of Itabashi Station is a hormone restaurant that has been around for 40 years. The exterior is made of smoked glass, making it difficult to see inside, so I always thought of it as a mysterious Lv99 shop. In Itabashi, there is also another seemingly mysterious shop called Shinkirou, which is a super popular shop loved by locals. It was also visited by Goro in "The Lonely Gourmet". The interior is filled with autographs of celebrities. It is often crowded, so it is better to make a reservation. (If you go to Oyama in Itabashi, there is also a shop run by Koizumi John who trained at the famous Kameido Hormone shop.) Hormone is 580 yen, Tan (tongue) is 450 yen, and Oppai (breast) Harami is available. When you sit down at the table, a charcoal grill is provided. The charcoal can be smoky and sometimes flares up, but the end result is delicious! And the hormone! The price is cheap, but the freshness is outstanding! It has a really beautiful color. The signboard hormone includes beef intestines (small and large intestines), and you can choose between salt and sauce. Flip it over properly, sear the outside, and grill it. Wasabi is provided on the table, and when you dip it in, it goes really well with the sweet taste of high-quality fat and the refreshing wasabi! Other hormone dishes like Harami are also delicious. The popular menu item, grilled rice, was sold out, but we enjoyed a delicious ending with the flow tofu soup. Thank you for the meal.

Located near Itabashi Station, this hormone restaurant called Yamagen is always fully booked even on weekdays. It is a favorite spot for regular customers as well as solo diners seeking the ultimate gourmet experience. The restaurant is loved by company gatherings, families, and individuals alike. When you open the door, you are greeted by the enticing aroma of hormone in the cozy space with only 20 seats. However, there is no thick smoke as seen in dramas, as the facilities have been recently improved. The hormone here is served with a unique combination of wasabi and yuzu pepper, rather than the typical sauce or lemon. This unconventional approach adds to the charm of the restaurant. The hormone melts in your mouth with a luxurious simplicity, making you inevitably order a bowl of white rice. The fine texture of the meat with a hint of sweetness in the fat is a standout feature. The liver is mild without any strong flavors, while the tongue is crispy and juicy without being greasy. The spicy green onions complement the dish perfectly. Cooking the hormone requires skill and precision, but the staff is always there to guide you through it. After trying the classic dishes, we ordered some unique items like Horden and Kobukuro, which were delightful surprises. Horden had a crunchy texture and was a perfect palate cleanser. And the classic side dish, "yakimeshi," was a moist fried rice with a fragrant sesame oil flavor. Despite having finished a bowl of rice earlier, I couldn't resist the delicious fried rice. I wonder when I'll be able to visit again... I'd love to bring my friends who I can have a good chat with next time.

I made a reservation for 5:45 pm in late September and visited the restaurant. It is located 2-3 minutes walk from Itabashi Station, on a street with a coop. The signboard prominently displays the name "Sangen," giving the place a nostalgic feel. The table was already set with plates, sauce, wasabi, yuzu pepper tube, edamame appetizer, and water for extinguishing fire. The interior was adorned with many signs and photos of celebrities, indicating it is a popular spot. Unfortunately, they did not serve alcohol, so I ordered a ginger ale and ordered hormone (salt), temple meat, liver, and cabbage. The hormone and temple meat arrived promptly after ordering. The staff explained the grilling process while grilling each piece carefully. The hormone comes in a serving of 4 slices. The recommended grilling method is to grill the skin side 80% and the opposite side 20%. As the fat melts, the flames rise, so water is poured to extinguish them while grilling. The hormone is best enjoyed with yuzu pepper. The liver was particularly delicious and fresh, with the staff suggesting it could even be eaten raw. Those who prefer soft liver can lightly grill the surface while keeping the center semi-raw. I ordered sauce this time, but it is recommended to order salt and enjoy with sesame oil. The meal ended with grilled rice, which was incredibly delicious, even better than regular Chinese fried rice. It goes well with additional hormone sauce. Every part of the meal was delicious, and the staff was attentive, making me want to visit again.

I made a reservation by phone and visited the restaurant. At the prepared table, there were edamame, wasabi, and yuzu pepper tube for extinguishing the fire, and a pet bottle of water. The salted hormone was delicious, especially the first crispy one cooked by the staff. If the fat catches fire, you can use the water in the pet bottle to put it out. The hormone is fresh and tasty. I enjoyed it with wasabi or yuzu pepper. I'm not sure what the sauce was, but both the salt and sauce were delicious. The beef intestine (kogan) was not cooked well enough, so it had a raw smell and was tough to chew. The lamb and harami were delicious. The liver and comekami were also tasty. The fried rice took a bit of time, but it was like lettuce fried rice and delicious. The kimchi was similar to store-bought pickled vegetables and seemed not homemade. The cabbage had a salty flavor, probably from salt or MSG. As for the alcohol, the draft beer was good, but the sour cocktails and tea cocktails were very weak. It was a long time since I had delicious hormone, thank you for the meal.

Great atmosphere! Delicious food! The hormone here is so good that you can't stop eating. The specialty hormone comes with salt and sauce, and it's so popular that you can only order two plates per person. The super sweet fat goes perfectly with rice. Personally, I recommend the salt version! The wasabi and yuzu pepper provided for seasoning are in convenient tubes. This is definitely a restaurant that will be featured in "The Lonely Gourmet"! Established in 1987, it's a place that holds a lot of memories for me as a classmate!