Yakitori in Nakano City! 11 popular spots you should visit at least once

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Hakata Standard Nakano is an izakaya where you can enjoy authentic Hakata gourmet food, a 5-minute walk from Nakano Station. Their yakitori made with Hakata jidori (Hakata free-range chicken), a branded chicken from Hakata, is popular.

It has an open counter, so you can watch the impressive grill area up close. The inside has a bright and comfortable atmosphere.

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The eye-catching "Meibutsu Kuro Tsukune (house black chicken meatball)" stands out for its jet-black look. The color comes from bamboo charcoal powder, and when you take a bite, you can taste the toasty aroma of the charcoal.

It is said to have a soft, fluffy texture, with juicy, savory meat flavor.

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Their Hakata motsu-nabe (Hakata offal Hot Pot), made in the authentic local style, is especially popular. The soup is made with broth from Hokkaido kombu kelp and has a light soy sauce base. Some people say they ended up drinking every last drop.

The motsu has a plump, springy texture and is said to have no off notes at all, making it very tasty. Another nice point is that you can order it from just one serving.

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Izakaya Manki, about a 4-minute walk from the north exit of Nakano Station, is an izakaya where you can enjoy yoga yakitori (lava-grilled chicken skewers) cooked on a grill embedded with lava stone from Mount Aso. They also offer a wide variety of a la carte dishes and drinks.

The interior has a warm feel centered around wood, and it is said to have an atmosphere where even solo diners can drop in with ease.

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For the kawa (chicken skin), they first deep-fry the chicken skin and then grill it over charcoal. This extra step is said to make it surprisingly delicious.

It gets high marks for its crunchy texture and concentrated flavor. Some reviews also said it is perfect as a snack to go with drinks.

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The popular item here is “Torokeru Shirokoro,” made with fresh Horumon processed that morning. True to its name, it is said to be so tender that it melts in your mouth.

It has an addictive kind of good flavor, and it seems to have many repeat customers.

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"Taishu Sakaba NONDAKURE George" is a Teppan-yaki and yakitori (grilled chicken skewer) restaurant, a 5-minute walk from the North Exit of Nakano Station and close to Nakano Broadway. They also offer a selection of rare drinks.

The inside has a lively, modern feel with red walls, and it is said to be an easy place to visit without feeling out of place.

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All yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) is made with Kenmidori chicken from Yamanashi Prefecture. It is known for its lack of off notes and its concentrated umami.

The pieces are large, so you can really enjoy the rich flavor in every bite. They also serve rare cuts such as kokoro-nokori (a rare heart cut).

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The seafood dishes are popular for their standout freshness. The "Goma Kanpachi (amberjack with sesame sauce)" is said to pair well with drinks.

They offer a wide selection of drinks, including distinctive Japanese sake, which you can enjoy along with the good food.

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Torisei is a yakitori restaurant located a 5-minute walk from the north exit of Nakano Station. You can enjoy yakitori made with Aomori Shamrock (a branded jidori chicken served to the Imperial Household Agency) and Daisen-dori (Daisen chicken).

The small interior is said to be clean and comfortable.

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The yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) is thick and meaty, with a pleasantly springy bite. They carefully grill it over binchotan (high-grade charcoal), bringing out the rich flavor of the chicken.

Everything on the menu is said to be good, and many people seem to order the Omakase skewer selection.

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The "ultimate Omurice" made with Shamrock (Aomori jidori chicken) and Asunaro tamago (rich eggs) is well known. Asunaro tamago are rich eggs developed in Aomori Prefecture.

When you cut into the omelet with a knife, the soft runny egg spreads over the chicken rice and tastes absolutely amazing.

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Torihisa, Sumibiyaki Yakitori run by a butcher shop, is a charcoal grilled yakitori restaurant operated by a meat shop. It is popular for its tasty yakitori, grilled by the owner, who trained extensively at well-known chicken cuisine restaurants.

The softly lit interior has a calm atmosphere. It is located on the second floor of Okada Building, a 5-minute walk from the north exit of Nakano Station.

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The carefully grilled yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) clearly shows the chef's high level of grilling skill. The meat is said to be surprisingly tender.

The “Tsukimi Tsukune” is popular for its great balance of rich egg and a sauce that is not overly sweet.

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The oyako-don (chicken and egg Rice bowl) is popular. It comes with plenty of large cut pieces of chicken. The soft, creamy egg and gently sweet dashi soak into the rice and taste great.

It is quite filling, so sharing it is also recommended.

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Hakata Torikawa Nagamasa Nakano Ten is a yakitori (grilled chicken skewer) restaurant located a 5-minute walk from the north exit of Nakano Station. It is popular for serving carefully made yakitori prepared with a distinctive Hakata style method.

The compact interior has a bright atmosphere centered around wood accents. Counter and table seating are available.

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The torikawa (chicken skin) is grilled, dipped in sauce, and rested over and over, then finished over 5 days. The skewers, grilled slowly again and again, come out fragrant and juicy.

The crispy texture is said to make them exceptionally tasty.

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The photo shows the popular goma-saba (mackerel with sesame). The masaba (chub mackerel) shipped directly from Nagahama Fresh Fish Market in Fukuoka Prefecture is very fresh, with no off notes, and lets you really taste the good flavor of the mackerel.

It is seasoned with Jōkyū Shoyu (Jōkyū Soy Sauce) from Hakata. It is said to pair very well with alcohol.

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Yakisuto Ippuku Nakano Ten, about a 4-minute walk from Nakano Station, is a charcoal grilled yakitori restaurant where you can enjoy domestic chicken. They also offer a wide selection of Japanese sake, Special by the owner.

The interior has a calm atmosphere, and with attentive service as well, it is said to be a very comfortable place to spend time.

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The chicken, processed that morning, is fresh and lets you really taste the quality of the ingredients. They adjust the grilling for each cut, so you can enjoy every skewer at its best.

Among the most popular are the "negima (chicken and scallion skewer)" and "torimomo (chicken thigh)." For seasoning, they offer tare sauce, salt, and a spicy savory option as well. The addictive flavor keeps people coming back.

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They also have a full menu beyond yakitori (grilled chicken skewers). In particular, many people recommend the simmered dishes.

The photo shows the “beef tendon stew.” It is said to have a flavor like beef stew, with an amazingly good taste. It is also said to be a dish that goes great with rice.

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YAKITORI ASOBI-TEI Nakano Ten is a yakitori restaurant in a building about a 4-minute walk from the north exit of Nakano Station. You can enjoy charcoal grilled yakitori made with Domestic chicken.

It is certified as a "Kirin Ichiban Shibori Gokujo Nama Nintei Ten," so you can enjoy good beer along with your meal. The interior is bright and said to feel clean.

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The yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), slowly grilled over charcoal, is said to be fragrant and juicy. Each piece is cut to a solid size, so it is satisfying to eat.

The presentation also gets good reviews, with thoughtful touches like the "sasami (chicken tenderloin)" accented with plum and wasabi.

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The seafood is fresh and sourced from Toyosu Shijo (Toyosu Market). For the "sashimi assortment," you can choose from a 2-item assortment or a 3-item assortment. The slices are thick, making it feel nice and indulgent.

They also serve seasonal fish such as sanma (Pacific saury) and katsuo (bonito).

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Buncho, about a 4-minute walk from Shin-Nakano Station, is a yakitori restaurant where you can enjoy Oyama-dori (Daisen chicken) grilled over charcoal. They also serve dishes made with seasonal ingredients, with the selection changing daily.

The restaurant is said to have a homey and comfortable feel. The 1st floor has counter seats, and the 2nd floor has table seating.

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The "kushiyaki (grilled skewers)" made with Oyama-dori (Oyama chicken) are said to be large and very satisfying. The meat is tender and very juicy.

The "sasami (chicken tenderloin)" is also popular for being plump and tasty. You can choose from ume (pickled plum), wasabi, or cheese as a topping.

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The popular item here is the obanzai (Kyoto-style small side dishes), where you can choose and order 3 dishes from a wide variety of options. You can enjoy a range of seasonal dishes in small portions, including hotaruika okizuke (soy-marinated firefly squid).

The lineup is full of dishes that pair well with alcohol, and some reviews said they could not help ordering another drink.

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Torimichi Sakaba Nakano Gochome Ten is an izakaya in a great location just a 3-minute walk from Nakano Station, where you can enjoy jidori (local chicken) dishes such as Kyobeni Jidori and Daisen Dori. The kushiyaki (grilled skewers), slowly grilled over binchotan (high-grade charcoal), are also popular.

The spacious interior is said to have a clean and bright atmosphere.

Photograph:ひろゆき 東京グルメ

The kushiyaki (grilled skewers) are carefully grilled with the right level of heat for each skewer, and they are said to have an excellent texture. The seasoning is just right, so you can really taste the flavor of the meat.

No matter what you order, the quality is said to be consistently good, and many people seem to order the "Kushi Omakase 5-skewer assortment."

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Their house-made "Jiman no Tori Gyoza (proud chicken gyoza)" is especially popular. When you bite into the crisply pan-fried wrapper, juicy meat juices spill out, making it irresistibly tasty. Since it uses chicken, it is said to be light and easy to eat.

It also pairs perfectly with beer.

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Yakitori Toratada is a yakitori restaurant just a 2-minute walk from the south exit of Nakano Station. They skewer fresh chicken slaughtered that morning in-house.

The interior has a chic and calm atmosphere. It is said to feel clean and comfortable. There are counter and table seats, so you can use it for a variety of occasions.

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The yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) are grilled over Kishu Bincho-tan (Kishu white charcoal). They are said to have a fragrant aroma and great flavor. The careful grilling really comes through in the finished result.

The pieces are fairly large, so they are satisfying to eat. The negima (chicken and scallion skewer) is known for its plump texture.

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They offer a wide selection of Japanese sake from Niigata Prefecture, the owner's hometown. They also have many kinds of one-cup sake, and some say it is fun to share them and try different ones.

Along with yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), they serve plenty of snacks that go perfectly with drinks, so both the food and the drinks go down easy.