The yakitori was delicious, and the renkon (lotus root) was impressively large and tasty like daikon (radish). My friend arrived a little late, but there was no issue with that, and the service from the staff was good too (although I felt the last order was taken a bit early).

【Ikebukuro Exploration Adventure Part 94】(Drinking plans for this week. 1/2) Today, as usual, I set off on an adventure in Ikebukuro with my acquaintance and senior. We have visited quite a few places with good hoppy scores, so this time we decided to consider a delicious restaurant we want to revisit. The name that came to mind was "Yakiton Hinata"! Upon searching on Tabelog, I found out there is a Nishiguchi branch. Let's visit this branch. We arrived at 17:10, a bit away from the station, but you can easily reach it through the underground passage from Ikebukuro Station. The restaurant was about 20% full at the time of our visit, and gradually more customers arrived. We looked at the menu and ordered the following: 【Menu】 - Asahi Super Dry (medium) 582 yen - Hoppy Set 437 yen x 2 - Hoppy (medium) 255 yen x 4 - Liver with Green Onion Sauce 582 yen - Stewed Offal 455 yen - Teppo (grilled chicken cartilage) 164 yen x 2 - Homemade Tsukune (chicken meatballs) 255 yen - One Cucumber Pickle 255 yen Cheers to another hot day!! My acquaintance ordered a bottled beer, while I started with a sip of beer and then moved on to the hoppy set. 【Liver with Green Onion Sauce】 A delicious dish with liver cooked at low temperature! The tender liver is more boiled than grilled, with finely chopped green onions and leeks, and a sesame oil-flavored green onion salt sauce. The amount of liver for this price is amazing! 【Stewed Offal】 The stewed offal at a good yakitori restaurant is delicious! It includes various parts such as chicken cartilage, white meat, and liver. The sauce made with soy sauce and miso is very tasty. The tofu served with it is a nice palate cleanser. 【Grilled Chicken Cartilage】 My acquaintance loves teppo! This thick chicken cartilage skewer is grilled perfectly, tender and flavorful. The sweet miso sauce with a hint of char adds a nice touch. 【Homemade Tsukune】 Soft and delicious! It has a light saltiness and a subtle amount of cartilage. It tastes like high-quality ground sausage. 【One Cucumber Pickle】 A light pickle! The slices are thin and easy to eat. It has the familiar taste I often encounter. It was a bit salty today, which is perfect for this hot season. 【Recommended Dish】 Teppo! The miso-grilled skewer is a must-try. Teppo and miso go so well together! 【Afterthoughts】 - Tabelog score at the time of visit: 3.32 - Paid with a credit card this time. - It seems that even at a delicious restaurant, the second floor might struggle with customer numbers. - A little favorite place of mine. - The bill came to exactly 5,000 yen! (laughs) 【Rating】 Overall: 3.7 Taste: 4.5 Service: 3.5 Atmosphere: 3.5 Cost Performance: 3.5 Drinks: 3.5 【Personal Evaluation Outside of Tabelog Criteria】 Likelihood to revisit: 5 Accessibility: 3.5 Companion's evaluation: 4 Thank you for the delicious food. Itadakimasu! Next time, I really want to try the pork sashimi. I'll be back.

It's been a while since I visited Hinata. It's the first time since the pandemic. There are more foreign staff working now, but they still serve delicious skewers. Ordering is done through a QR code, and alcohol prices have gone up, but in the end, it's all about whether the food is tasty. In that sense, it's still a good place to go. For those who like to drink, the all-you-can-drink option might be a good choice! However, there seems to be too much ice in the drinks...

"I visited the Ikebukuro Nishiguchi branch of Yakiton Hinata for the first time. Everything I ate was delicious! I might be a PSB fan now. The food was even more delicious when served cold. Thank you for the delicious meal! #yakiton #yakitonhinata #Ikebukuro #Ikebukurogourmet #izakaya #draftbeer"

Today's dinner was at Ikebukuro Nishiguchi "Yakiton Hinata Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Store." It's the 29th, which is known as "Meat Day." I saw a steak restaurant being featured on the news since the outside temperature was over 29℃, and they offered a 30% discount on steaks. What a deal! As a beef lover, I couldn't resist. I received a message from a restaurant I had visited before, "Yakiton Hinata Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Store." They were offering a special deal today – a yakiton assortment of 5 skewers for half price at 420 yen. That's only 84 yen per skewer! The skewers were delicious – starting with the heart, then tongue and belly, all cooked to perfection. The tongue had just the right amount of salt, and the belly had a sweet and savory miso sauce. The head was crispy on the outside and tender inside, while the liver was slightly undercooked and juicy. The last two skewers were coated with fragrant Sansho pepper, which left a tingling sensation in the mouth. The yakiton skewers were a bit small in size, but the cooking was excellent. They all arrived on one plate, which was convenient, but I wish they had spaced them out a bit more. Overall, I enjoyed "Meat Day" with a set of 5 skewers and 4 glasses of Hoppy for a total of 1,820 yen (plus an 80 yen seating fee). I took advantage of the PayPay payment option and received a 5% coupon back for spending over 1,500 yen, making it even more affordable.

This was my first visit. I chose Hinata-san because I had become hooked on Shari-kin Budowari at the last place I visited, Kaede-san, and I was looking for a place in Ikebukuro where I could drink Shari-kin Budowari. When I confirmed the reservation, I was told, "We're not serving Shari-kin right now!" But I still wanted to visit, so it was my first time here! The staff was very friendly. The yakitori was delicious. I was hoping for sashimi at the Nishiguchi location, but they didn't have it this time. Too bad. The Negi-dare liver was really tasty. The cost performance was good and I would like to visit again. Thank you for the meal.

Yakiton Hinata is open from 4 pm on weekends, and from 5 pm on weekdays. During Happy Hour, all drinks are only 330 yen. The yakiton skewers are delicious without any off-putting smell. It's best to leave the seasoning choice to the restaurant. While the portion size of the speed appetizers is a bit small, they are affordable. The place is always bustling, which is understandable.

This kind of restaurant is reassuring and calming. When I arrived in Ikebukuro and felt hungry, I searched and made a reservation right away. It seems like there are many restaurants with the keyword "yakiton" in Ikebukuro, especially on the west side of the station. I will definitely visit again! Thank you for the meal!

It has been a while since I visited the Nishiguchi branch. Hinata uses a variety of ingredients including vegetables, beef, pork, chicken, fish, and Japanese sake, so by spending money at Hinata, it supports not only farmers but also livestock farmers, fishermen, and sake breweries. The group has grown larger, creating more job opportunities and supporting employees (local residents). The restaurant is located just a 30-second walk from the C3 exit of the station. Hinata offers takeout, delivery through Demae-can, and Uber Eats. The menu is diverse. Hinata Ikebukuro Nishiguchi branch is a recommended spot to enjoy yakitori. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the staff are friendly. The food is delicious, especially the grilled skewers. The menu includes dishes like mushroom with grated radish and yuzu, marinated mackerel, and camembert cheese skewers with cherry tomatoes. Overall, Hinata is a great place to dine in Ikebukuro.

On July 8, 2022 (Friday), we decided to have a few more drinks and moved to a different restaurant. It was already past 9:30 pm and the restaurant we were planning to go to was already closed. Feeling like we were becoming refugees, we ended up at Hinata. It was almost 10 pm and we found out that Hinata had stopped serving food. Since we were already full, we just ordered drinks and stayed for about an hour before heading to karaoke. It was a dangerous turn of events...

Ikebukuro Station's west exit. Walk straight down the street towards Rikkyo University for about 3 minutes, then turn left into a small alley. The restaurant is on the first floor, so I mistakenly thought it was on the first floor and wandered around a bit before finding it on the second floor. This popular restaurant offers delicious yakitori that can be enjoyed casually. This was my first time at the west exit location. I didn't make a reservation, but managed to get a seat. I was seated at a table near the entrance, and the restaurant was quite crowded. I started with a glass of draft beer and made a toast. While sipping on the cold beer, I browsed the menu. I decided on the assorted yakitori platter with 5 different types. I was happy to see they had garlic shrimp (ahijo) on the menu. I also ordered the bacon-wrapped tomato and avocado. The garlic shrimp was served first. The combination of shrimp and broccoli in garlic sauce was delicious on its own or with bread. It paired well with the beer, so I ended up getting more bread even though there were other dishes coming. The yakitori was, of course, delicious! Among the many popular yakitori places, I think this one is top-notch in terms of taste. The texture and tenderness of the meat, along with the flavor of the sauce, were excellent. This made the beer go down smoothly. And then there was my favorite, the bacon-wrapped tomato. The warm tomato was sweet and tasty on its own, but when combined with pork belly, it was even more delicious. Every dish was tasty. I switched from beer to lemon sour and enjoyed the delicious food and drinks to the fullest. I had a great time enjoying the food and drinks at a reasonable price. This restaurant is definitely great!

Today, I went to Tobu Department Store for the "Showa Retro" event, which was quite enjoyable. Unfortunately, I couldn't try the soft noodle school lunch by a narrow margin! After the event, I went to eat yakitori. I wanted to eat delicious yakitori, so I came to "Yakitori Hinata." I have been here several times, so I know the yakitori is reliable! It's convenient that you can order one skewer at a time. I was really thirsty, so I decided to have bottled beer instead of draft beer recently. I think I prefer bottled beer ★ Chicken heart sashimi ★ Cucumber pickled in one skewer ★ Tongue ★ Tomato roll ★ Chicken head ★ Liver ★ White meat Yakitori is delicious no matter which one you eat, but I think I like white meat the best. It's really delicious. And I always order liver. It's best to cook the liver until it's half-cooked! If you overcook the liver, it becomes chewy. It's cheap and delicious, so it's the best! I'll come back again!!

It's been a while since I visited Yaki Ton Hinata. The restaurant is spacious with plenty of seats, making it convenient. We started with a toast with lemon sour, then ordered the popular simmered dish, tomato skewers, liver and tongue skewers, cheese ham cutlet, and more. The skewers were all large and of high quality, satisfying our taste buds. The variety of dishes and delicious drinks made the experience even better. Despite drinking quite a bit, the bill came to around 7800 yen for two people, which felt very reasonable considering the quality of the food. It's a great place to bring friends and I plan to visit again.

Is it the trend now? It seems like there are a lot of yakitori places popping up, especially from Nakano to Ikebukuro. On this day, we had motsu nabe, tofu tsukune, kashira with miso sauce, harami, pork liver, anchovy potato, along with Kirin Heartland draft beer and lemon sour. The kashira with miso sauce is a must-try, always delicious. I didn't know about the tsukune during the days of the Oyama branch, but I got hooked on it at the Nishiguchi branch. The fluffy and tender tsukune is addictive. As a big fan of potato fries, the anchovy potato is a hit for me. The rare grilled pork liver with leek sauce is also a hit. And the motsu nabe tofu. Hinata-san's motsu nabe is just right in flavor, loved by people of all ages and genders. It's a shame that there are no Italian dishes like at the Oyama branch, but that's just being too luxurious. I will visit again! Thank you for the meal. *Although we ordered a lot, we forgot to take photos...

I went to this restaurant to meet with my senior, as I heard it was cheap and delicious. Despite concerns about COVID, the restaurant was almost full. There were no temperature checks, just alcohol disinfection, so there was no sense of security. The specialty motsu-ni (tripe stew) was average, not particularly delicious. I wish the eggs had more flavor. The skewers were all delicious. The negi-leber (green onion liver) was tastier than regular liver, with a good salty flavor. My senior loved the smoked cheese. I recommend the tongue. Everything was rich in fat, so the umami flavor was strong. Ordering was contactless, which was convenient. It would be even easier if we could pay together. I would like to visit again when I want to drink cheaply in Ikebukuro.

It had been a long time since I visited Hinata Nishi Ikebukuro, a part of the Hinata series. I made a reservation since it's not a street-side store. When I arrived around 7 pm on a weekday, the place was almost full. It's true that good restaurants always attract customers. The ordering system was self-service, which I found a bit lacking in such a lively atmosphere. I ended up ordering too much food and enjoyed it all in one go. The liver mousse was as delicious as ever, with the yakitori and bar elements adding a nice touch.

This place is recommended for small groups or for a drink on the way home, as the seats are not very spacious. The grilled dishes are cooked just right. They are usually eaten with salt, which is also just right, and goes well with highballs. Even if you eat and drink quite a bit, the cost per person is very reasonable, so it's recommended for a quick drink even before payday.

I had some errands to run in the west area, so I decided to try out this highly recommended restaurant. First, I ordered their specialty lemon sour (440 yen), which had a refreshing taste. The simmered pork with egg (530 yen) was as described, with a rich flavor and large pieces of tofu. Although many of the yakitori items were sold out, I ordered the heart, liver, and tongue skewers. Each skewer had a satisfying taste, and at 140 yen each, they were quite cost-effective. The shirasu salad (420 yen) was a light and refreshing dish, perfect for a palate cleanser. The steamed shumai (470 yen) was generously sized and had a good texture. After that, I enjoyed some unique drinks like the Dassai highball (640 yen) and tomato cocktail, and ended up happily tipsy when the bill came. It was only 4,880 yen for two people! Very affordable! I noticed a seating charge of 110 yen on the receipt, which I found to be quite reasonable for an izakaya. The restaurant was convenient, delicious, and had good value, so I plan to visit again in the future. [Rating] ★★★★★★★★ 8/10 [Certified Excellent Restaurant!!!]

After the Lions game, I wanted to have a light drink in Ikebukuro, so I searched for "senbero" and found a popular shop online, so I visited for the first time. They have a 2-hour time limit due to COVID prevention measures. The chairs weren't very comfortable for lingering, so I decided to drink quickly. I tried to order using the QR code system, but it didn't work well, so the staff took my order manually. I ordered "motsu-ni" (tripe stew), "meat-wrapped asparagus", "meat-wrapped ginger", "kashira" (miso pork cheek), and "yagen nankotsu karaage" (deep-fried cartilage). I paired them with a highball and a lemon sour. The service was quick, but the motsu-ni was lukewarm from the start and had a bad smell. It was a shame because the taste wasn't bad. If there's another occasion nearby, I might visit again for a pre-drink. Thank you for the meal.

Having two glasses of oolong tea, one draft beer, ham cutlet, 10 skewers of grilled pork, tsukune (chicken meatball), avocado skewer, coriander and chicken salad, and two servings of pickled yamaimo, the total cost for one person is around 2500 yen. The cost performance is good, but I think the taste of the grilled pork skewers is better at Mokumoku-ya.