For the finest in head-to-tail chicken eating, Toritama Kagurazaka is one of the best. The Shinjuku branch is an outpost of their original Shirokane restaurant. It’s almost as good, and as a bonus, is way more English-friendly.
Toritama Kagurazaka - image © Florentyna Leow
Yakitori restaurants can be a bit of a culinary adventure for most Western tourists. We’re willing to bet that heart, gizzard, and cartilage are still new experiences for many first-timers to Japan! Still, there are times when only grilled chicken skewers will do, and trying new cuts of bird is all part of the fun. For true cockscomb-to-tail yakitori, Toritama Kagurazaka is one of the best in Tokyo by a huge margin.
Toritama Kagurazaka - image © Florentyna Leow
What sets them apart from most yakitori restaurants is the sheer number of chicken parts they offer on the menu. You can literally choose from over 30 different parts, and that’s not even counting the secret menu. If you want to try it fresh and raw, you can (and Japan might be the only place we’d even suggest doing that.)
It’s not just quantity, of course. Grilled over charcoal and brushed with either their house sauce or simply dusted with salt, these skewers will make you realise just how good chicken can taste. There’s no shortage of side dishes and appetisers to nibble on between all the meat either. If you’re feeling adventurous, we suggest letting them surprise you with a dozen skewers.
Toritama Kagurazaka - image © Florentyna Leow
The original Shirokane location is difficult to book, which makes the Kagurazaka location a godsend for visitors to Japan. Toritama Kagurazaka is relatively English-friendly and seats there are much easier to reserve. You might not have quite the atmosphere of the original, but it’ll still be some of the best yakitori you’ll have in your life.
For more Tokyo yakitori choices, see our Best Yakitori in Tokyo page.
English name:
Toritama Kagurazaka
Japanese name:
酉玉 神楽坂店
English address:
B1 Yamamasu House, 5-7 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0825
Japanese address:
〒162-0825 東京都新宿区神楽坂5-7 山枡ハウスB1
Opening hours:
Tuesday-Friday: 5pm-11:30pm
Saturday, Sunday and national holidays: 4pm-11pm
Closed Monday
Price:
Non-smoking section:
Completely Non-Smoking
Reservations:
Possible
Nearest Transport:
Subway: 3-minute walk from exit A3 of Ushigome-kagurazaka Station on the Toei Oedo line.
Train: 8-minute walk from the west exit of Iidabashi Station on the JR Chuo-Sobu line.
Telephone:
+81-3-6457-5131
Website:
Official website (Japanese)
Customer Reviews:
Read customer reviews of Toritama Kagurazaka on TripAdvisor.
Near To Here:
Toritama Kagurazaka is located in Tokyo's Shinjuku district. See our complete list of things to do in Shinjuku, including places to eat, nightlife and places to stay.
More Tokyo Restaurant Recommendations:
See all yakitori restaurants we recommend on our Best Yakitori in Tokyo page and get the complete list for all cuisines on our Best Tokyo Restaurants page.
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