"Yakitori Toge" is located just a 7-minute walk from Ushigome-kagurazaka Station on the Toei Oedo Line. It stands unassumingly on a plot of land in a quiet residential area. The owner-chef, Hiroki Kurita has under his belt 10 years experience working as a sake dealer, and 5 years training at "Yakitori Tokoshima" in Sangenjaya. In 2018, he was finally able to turn his dream into reality when he opened his own restaurant.
"Precisely because yakitori is such a simple kind of food, there is no room for compromise," explains Chef Kurita, "that is why I am particular about everything, down to the last grain of salt." The chicken he uses comes from French pedigree chickens reared on a farm in Ibaraki. These chickens bear the "Label Rouge" mark, an official French mark denoting superior quality, and their meat is characteristically succulent with a rich flavor. Chef Kurita, who is fully qualified in preparing poultry, prepares fresh chicken every morning, putting it on skewers before grilling it over high-grade charcoal from Kishu. Yakitori Toge doesn't only serve yakitori, there are also plenty of a la carte dishes. One particularly popular item on the menu is the smoked chicken breast. This exquisitely flavored delicacy that can only be tried at "Yakitori Toge" is made by hanging the chicken above the charcoal grill to smoke the surface, before smoking it over cherry wood chips.
For the Japanese sake served with the yakitori, Chef Kurita has utilized his years of experience and knowledge from working as a sake dealer to assemble a selection of over 20 fine sake to suit any taste. Chef Kurita has also been astute in selecting mainly French and Italian wine that goes well with the chicken; the whites have a delicate minerality, whereas the reds are mainly from the Burgundy and Rhone regions to match his seasonings without being overpowering.
Talking about the design of the restaurant, Chef Kurita says he wanted to create a lively atmosphere in which you can see the yakitori being grilled before your very eyes, so he installed just one large, U-shaped counter around the cooking area, capable of seating up to 15 people. The counter is created from natural pine, giving it a sense of warmth, and the spacious seating arrangement, aisles, and large windows lend a sense of openness that makes it the perfect setting in which to enjoy yakitori at your leisure. Whether dining alone, on a date, or on a girls' night out, why not spend an agreeable time enjoying some yakitori and fine sake in this stylish space.
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*The availability of this webpage does not guarantee that the restaurant presented provides services in English unless otherwise stated. Please be aware that English services may also depend on staff availability at the restaurant.
【Access】
A 3-minute walk from Ushigome Kagurazaka Station, Exit A1(Toei Oedo Line)
