mapiko47
I love chicken more than beef or pork. Among them, yakitori is one of my favorite dishes. Many yakitori restaurants only open at night, and as a non-drinker, I feel awkward going to such places. However, I came across this place in a review on MyRebi, which offers a lunch menu with a "yakitori bento". This way, I can enjoy yakitori without feeling self-conscious about not drinking alcohol. The restaurant is located near Ningyocho Station, but I used Suitengumae Station, which is a 5-minute walk from my house. It is situated in a quiet alley off the main street, with a historic and charming exterior. Reservations are not accepted, and there is always a line, so I arrived just after opening time, aiming for 1 pm, which turned out to be a good choice as there was only one person waiting. After they were seated, I was allowed to enter and was told to wait outside as the restaurant was full. The interior, with over 80 years of history, has a counter with 6 seats on the first floor along the kitchen, and a second floor with 12 table seats. I sat at the counter. The lunch menu consists of a "yakitori bento" for 1200 yen, with free extra rice and an option to add more meat for an additional 200 yen. I ordered both extras, known as "double". The chef and staff, who seemed like a family, worked seamlessly in their respective roles. It took about 15 minutes, but watching them cook was enjoyable. The yakitori bento was beautifully presented with rice topped with shredded seaweed, freshly grilled chicken with a generous amount of secret sauce, and a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. The aroma was mouthwatering, and the taste was beyond words. The rice was delicious, the seaweed added a nice flavor, and the chicken was perfectly grilled with a great texture and aroma. The sauce, with a light thickness and a perfect balance of sweet and savory, was shiny and appetizing. The pickled cabbage and cucumber were lightly seasoned and refreshing, and the chicken soup was elegant and tasty. There were also condiments on the table such as black shichimi, regular shichimi, and sansho pepper, which I enjoyed adding to my meal for extra flavor. I love oden, yakitori, and izakaya dishes, but as someone who only goes out during the day, the night-only restaurants and the awkwardness of not ordering alcohol made it difficult for me. However, this lunch service was perfect.