KICHIJOJI: Iseya Yakitori... is this place on fire!? SMOKEY MESS!!

It seems Iseya Yakitori has been a fixture for the money strapped salarymen from years gone by and this day a friend of mine suggested we give it a go.  His father who is nearly 70 frequented this spot in his youth...

If ever a choice between bottled and draft remember to always go for the bottle! The guys working for Suntory, Asahi or Sapporo will do the same... Bottled or Draft go for 500yen.

Though very limited the Yakitori sticks are all 80yen!  Its a really really reasonable price point~.

Ordered 9 sticks of Yakitori~.

As we were sitting at our seats an immense fog hit us! It was sooo thick... the Yakitori smoke is insane here! There is absolutely no ventilation system and all our eyeballs were in pain!

Chilled cubes of Tuna (Maguro Butsugiri) for 380yen.

There are 3 seating types... tables but you will 100% have to share with other diners... counter seating with a great view of the Yakitori chefs but the smoke will hit you in full force.  And outside standing area that is probably the BEST spot to avoid the smoke.

Our Yakitori arrives!  White meat, chicken skin, liver and one other thing.

80yen each but these sticks just kinda sucked... liver was dry, white meat was dry... honestly I don't think I'd eat very much even if it was free.  Seems the best bet is to get the Home Made Shumai or the Wakadori Momo Yaki (chicken wings).

Atsukan (hot) sake 300yen was a very sweet mellow flavor... a must.

Photo of the owner.

Ultimately would I go back here for Yakitori... umm... no way Jose!  The yakitori was just so bad... I'd much rather buy the cheap stuff at a local supermarket than eat this again.  But if you really want to mingle with Japanese folks this might be a nice spot.  Be warned you will smell of SMOKE!

Restaurant: Iseya 

Shop Website: http://www.iseya-kichijoji.jp/

Tabelog Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1320/A132001/13005894/

Address J: 東京都武蔵野市御殿山1-2-1 いせや吉祥寺ビル

Address E: Tokyo, Musashino-shi, Gotenyama 1-2-1
MAP:

View Larger Map   
 いせや, 焼き鳥, 立ち飲み, 吉祥寺, いせや総本店, Kichijoji, Tokyo, Japan, yakitori, izakaya, foodie, japanese, blog, standing bar, sake, beer, cheap, skewer, inokashirakoen, chuo line, tokyobelly, 

NARITA: NRT --> HNL Delta Airlines 618 Business Elite... a rainbow of flavors~

I sat down and immediately this potent mai tai appeared... had a punch.

So much food... wow.

The Settling in Appetizer and an ice cold Asahi.

Very nice selection of wines.

I went with the Japanese course menu.  So many tiny items and each with a very unique flavor.  So flavorful it was almost overwhelming... a bit of French in the mix?

Almost caviar?

Scallop, duck, veggies with sweet spicy mustard...

Complementary Godiva Chocolate gift card... I'll be there.

Wide range of free beverages... should have tried the Guava Nectar.

The main meal... white fish so tender.

Ice cold vanilla ice cream with your choice of toppings... Fudge and peanuts for me.

Arrival Breakfast...

...with a choice of this or cereal.

My flight left at 8pm... 7 hours... landed at 8am... the worst thing about Business Class?  Food just keeps coming out, the flight is just to short to justify sleeping because of all the great movies/comforts and you arrive in Honolulu with zero sleep.  It was a lucky upgrade for me but I think I would have been much more rested and hungry for a Hawaiian breakfast if I stuck to economy. 

Oh, the service was very friendly and the stewardess Jerome who handled my row was to cool.

View Larger Map

SHIODOME: Drunk Bears Pub... a watering hole for CLSA equity research and sales~

CLSA has Drunk Bears, JPMorgan has PCM, Deutsche Bank PCA, Mizuho/UBS Drunk Bears in Otemachi and I'm too out of the loop to name the rest... but bankers usually start drinking very near the office before heading out. 

Avocado Nachos... always a favorite.

Fish and chips

Duvel...

This place serves some monster Hoegaarden glasses... This spot is in the same building as the Conrad Hotel and Softbank Headquarters so if you are staying at the Park Hotel Shiodome its just a block away.  Great spot for a few beers in a very quiet office district on the Oedo Line.

Restaurant: Drunk Bears Pub

Pub Website: http://www.dreamcorp.co.jp/db/newpage1-index5.html

Foodie Tabelog Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1301/A130103/13042425/

Address J: 東京都港区東新橋1-9-1 ペディ汐留 2F

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Shimbashi 1-9-1, Pedi Shiodome 2F
MAP:

View Larger Map
ペディ汐留店, ドランクベアーズ, 汐留, ビアバー, ビアホール, ビアレストラン, 立ち飲み居酒屋, バー, pub, british, irish, happy hour, on tap, izakaya, foodie, tokyobelly, blog, bar,