Kushiyaki/Sumiyaki/Yakitori

Kushiwakamaru

at Naka-Meguro - gaijin-friendly yakitori joint with English menus. Raved about here and in Vaou

Phone: 03 3715 9292

Directions: Exit Naka Meguro station, cross the road directly in front of you and turn left. Take the second right and the first left. Kushiwakamaru is halfway up the block on your left.

Kushiya Monogatari
A chain offering yakitori and other grilled stuff. Also has tabehodai (all-you-can-eat) menu for ¥2500. Get the coupon for ¥500 off.



Fuku
Another well-lauded yakitori joint, at Yoyogi-Uehara. Using very fresh free-range chicken and time-honored charcoal grilling techniques. Prices very reasonable (150-250 yen per grilled item). English menu very detailed too!

Gonpachi
Soba with kushiyaki (skewered grill selection) in an unusual old Japanese warehouse setting. Apparently Clinton dined at the Nishi Azabu place with Koizumi. Branches also at Odaiba, Shibuya, Ginza and Tenjin. Ah just checked, they no longer serve lunch at all outlets!

Frommer says: It offers a wide variety of dishes, including yakitori (like skewered albacore with Gorgonzola tartar sauce), fish (like miso-glazed black cod), sushi (on the third floor), noodles, and more. From the outside, you'd expect this place to be much more exclusive than it is -- and you probably will be excluded if you fail to make reservations for dinner.