SHIBUYA: Toritake REVISITED! Chunky Yakitori with a local crowd... friendly friendly.

Can't believe its been nearly 3.5yrs since my last visit to Toritake... but after a long day at the Cinco De Mayo festival in Yoyogi-Koen we headed down to Shibuya for some Yakitori.

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/2009/12/toritake-tori-ta-keh-in-shibuya.html

The automatic Otoshi appetizer... seasoned veggies.

1st floor had a combination of counter seating and seats but all full so headed up to the 2nd floor.

The yakitori was soooo chunky and flavorful.  Good stuff.

Of course Sake~

2nd Floor very busy busy... and I guess there is a bit of counter seating for 4.

Going from the 2nd floor to 1st...

1st Floor diners.

And looks like there's standing area outside with yellow beer bottle cases.  You'll have a great view of the Yakitori chefs from this spot too but it can get very smokey as its near the vents.

Overall its just a great place to enjoy Yakitori in a very Japanese environment... nice mix of people from all age groups and just a few minutes walk from Shibuya Station.  Was great to be back again.

Restaurant: ToriTake

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130301/13001702/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区道玄坂1-6-1

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Dogenzaka 1-6-1
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KICHIJOJI: Te-chan Yakitori in the alleys of Kichijoji... poor service average food.

Te-chan seems to be one of the more popular Yakitori spots in the side alleys along the main shopping mall "shotengai."  Lots of couples on this chilly Sunday evening.

Sticks started at 100yen and went up a bit from there...

Tebasaki (chicken wings).

Always a favorite Motsu-Nikomi (stewed intestines with tofu)... very very tender and a hit.  We had to order another tiny bowl.

If you sit near the Yakitori Chef its a really smokey mess with the occasional white charcoal flakes floating around and landing on ya... kinda like a light charcoal snow storm.

After an hour my butt hurt... rotation rotation.

Lots of fresh ingredients in the glass fridge.

With each order they will add a chip to your tiny silver bowl.  At the end of the meal the waiter will count and let you know the total price but you won't get any receipt... and had a strange feeling that they over charged us for the very little we had to eat.  Our main waiter behind the counter was a Chinese guy that spoke in broken Japanese and a very unfriendly aura with unusually rude customer service... perhaps its a cultural thing.  I probably won't return as there are a great selection of Yakitori spots in this town. 

The owner of this shop and over 10 others that employ many foreigners... perhaps he doesn't train them well thus the poor service this night.  Its all about the training managers and owners... realize I can't really fault the foreign employees.

Shop: Te-chan

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1320/A132001/13024975/

Address J: 東京都武蔵野市吉祥寺本町1-1-2 ハモニカ横町

Address E: Tokyo, Musashino-shi, Kichijoji, Honcho 1-1-2, Harmonica Yokocho
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EBISU: Aburidori Baricho... aka pleasantly smokey Yakitori!

Back in the day I lived in Ebisu for about 4 years and enjoyed searching for new reasonable spots and years later I was pleasantly surprised to see Aburidori Baricho still open with a solid 3.53pt foodie ranking.

Menu's in English!

Order's are taken on this little piece of paper of items written in Japanese... but it will test your J --> E Skillz.

All you can eat cabbage Otoshi arrived... this is great.  Normally otoshi consists of something so insanely boring like seasoned bean sprouts or a bit of potato salad.

Portions were a bit larger than my last visit to Gonpachi Shibuya. 

Liver...

Of course... my favorite Bonjiri (Chicken Butt)... big pieces.

I'm not a fan of Nankotsu (fairly hard cartilage) but this was a bit more soft and there was so much meat on it... If you are not a fan you gotta try it here.

Closed with a stick of mochi.

Shop was a really really smokey mess... they closed the front door due to the cold evening and well we all smelled like Yakitori by evenings end.  I guess that might be part of the attraction here... Full house and a small mix of foreigners too.

Free Popsicle of choice for dessert.

Oh, there are baskets to store and hide your jackets away from the smokey smoke.  

I'll definitely be back again but highly suggest their 5-7pm Happy Hour too... can't recall what the drink deals were but hey, we all love HH.  Oh, staff was friendly and beers came out quickly.

Shop: Aburidori Baricho Ebisu

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1303/A130302/13016621/

Shop Website: http://www.commercial-art.net/shop/tokyo/baricho-ebisu/baricho-ebisu.html

Address J: 東京都渋谷区恵比寿南1-1-4

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Ebisu Minami 1-1-4
MAP:

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