The 10 Best Yakitori Restaurants You Must Eat in Shinjyuku, Japan

It may be an unexpected fact to you, but Shinjuku is referred to as a highly competitive area ofskewered-chicken shops. The skewered chicken shops within 1km from the Shinjuku station numberabout 400. So, in Shinjuku, the individual skewered-chicken shops from the authentic ones to thefashionable ones which make you wonder whether if it is really a skewered-chicken shop, are dottedaround almost side by side. I’m introducing the recommended skewered-chicken shops in Shinjuku.

1. Reservation is required! The popular skewered-chicken shop which is open until 3 o’clock in the morning inShinjuku [Shinjuku Tori Tamura Honten]

This skewered-chicken shop is always popular. The widely liked friendly shop has the counter-seats, 2 table-seats and 2 tatami-matted rooms which are quite small. As the way of grilling is skillful and the members of staff are very good at customer service, they have many repeat customers.

Of course, they are friendly to first visitors as well. Please try this shop when you visit Shinjuku on your holiday or for shopping.

2. Experience the deep world of Shinjuku The skewered-chicken shop in Kabukicho [Banban]

The [Banban] is on the basement of the multipurpose building in Kabukicho which is a 5-minute-walk from the Shinjuku station. At this popular shop in the deep place in Kabukicho, you can enjoy a lively and nostalgic atmosphere of the Showa-era. There are many female customers as well. They only have the counter-seats, but the price, ¥100 for 1 skewer is very reasonable! They have a variety of alcoholic drinks. Even if you have some sake drinks, the total price is usually less than ¥3,000.

Although it is a very popular shop, you can get in immediately after they open the shop. The especially, recommended menu is the [Chicken-tataki] (raw meat), but it is not a skewered-chicken though. Please pop in at this shop just once.

3. The high-class skewered-chicken, using the Hinaijidori from the Akita prefecture [Shinjuku Imaiya Honten]

The [Shinjuku Imaiya Honten] is a specialist of the Hinaijidori skewered-chicken and is only a 2-minute-walk from the Shinjuku 3-chome station. The shop is chic and has a classy atmosphere with the counter-seats, table-seats and private-rooms. They have a course menu, so even if you are not decisive, you’ll be fine.

Their skewered-chicken, using the Hinaijidori which are directly delivered from the rearing placeare one and a half times the usual size. For this reason, the price is a little high for a skewered-chicken, but you can taste the [Kiritanpo] which is the famous product from the Akita prefecture. The [white liver] and the [Oyako-donburi] (chicken & egg rice bowl) are especially popular. Please sample them when you visit Shinjuku.

4. The unique structure is interesting!The skewered-chicken shop in Shinjuku[Michishirube]

The [Michishirube] is an ultra-popular shop on the back street of the [Omoide-no-nukemichi] in Kabukicho which is a 10-minute-walk from the Shinjuku station. They open the shop at 20:00hrs, but the customers line up in a queue from around 19:00hrs. The good olden time laid-back atmosphere is rather nice. The counter-seats are on the 1st floor and the tatami-matted rooms are on the 2nd. You can reserve the seats only on the 2nd floor.

As there is no member of staff on the 2nd floor, your order will be received through the “pipe-type telephone”. The dishes are delivered by the manual elevator, so you need to fetch them by yourself. You can enjoy not only superb skewered-chicken but also have fun. This is a popular shop in Shinjuku!

5. You can drink the owner’s particular Japanese sake, but it is a reservation only establishment. [Torimitsu]

The [Torimitsu] is located at the back of the TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku which is a 7-minute-walk from the east-exit of the Shinjuku station. The shop has an “at home” atmosphere with only 10 seats. However, the taste is superb! For this reason, reservation is required. It is so popular that sometimes you can’t get a reservation. It has been run by a married couple and they treat their customers very nicely.

If you order the [Omakase] (chef’s choice), they may serve you the precious part of a chicken which is not on the menu. The owner’s particular Japanese sake drinks have variety, so if you are not familiar about them, it would be better to order the [Omakase] as well. It is a recommended skewered-chicken shop which offers a superb taste and value for money.

6. Leave everything to the owner! The excellent skewered-chicken shop in Shinjuku [Torihana]

This is a small shop with counter-seats only and is a 1-minute-walk from the Shinjuku 30-chome station. The taste of their skewered-chicken is exquisite, so there is no wonder that the repeat customers are endless. Although it is a popular shop, they don’t have reservations. You may not be able to get in the shop, depending on the timing.

The secret of its popularity is not only because of the taste but also because of the owner’s personality. The owner who creates an atmosphere of the Showa-era in a good sense offers the ordered skewered-chicken adjusting to the customers’ speed of eating. The recommended menu is the [Omakase] (chef’s choice). When you want to sample some skewered-chicken at a conventional shop, please visit this one.

7. It is open until 5 o’clock in the morning! The skewered-chicken shop where the asajimedori (chicken which was wrung in the morning) is grilled slowly on the Bichotan (high-grade charcoal produced from ubame oak) charcoal fire [Hajimeya]

Many foreigners visit the [Hajimeya] near the Seibu-shinjuku station which is a 5-minute-walk from the east-exit of the Shinjuku station. Even though it is in Kabukicho, it is not far down there. So, quite a few individual female customers visit there. They have the table and the counter-seats. The fresh chicken delivered every morning is grilled slowly on the Bichotan charcoal fire to enrich its flavour.

Their single dish has the same good valuation as the skewered-chicken. People are happy with its opening time until morning. They are offering the precious parts of a chicken, but it will be sold out very quickly. If you want to eat these parts, an early arrival is recommended!

8. They start grilling after they receive the order! The types of skewered-chicken are more than 30 in total [Takumi]

Even though it is a skewered-chicken shop, it’s easy for female customers to enter the shop. It is a 1-minute-walk from the Shinjuku 3-chome station. You can choose your favourite seat among the table one, the counter one and the half private-room. It doesn’t have a high-class atmosphere, but the relaxing space is spread out.

They grill the fresh Daisen-chicken produced in the Tottori prefecture on the Kishu Bichotan charcoal fine. They start grilling after they receive an order. Nevertheless, they are quite quick to serve them. It is recommended that you should make a reservation at weekends or on a national holiday.

9. The skewered-chicken shop in Shiinjuku which received the Bib Gourmand Award [Jidori Yakitoriya Shinjuku Sohonten]

The popular [Jidori Yakitoriya Shinjuku Sohonten] is a 10-minute-walk from the south-exit of the Shinjuku station. This is the specialist of skewered-chicken, using the Hinaijidori (local chicken) produced in the Akita prefecture and grilling them on the charcoal fire. The interior is fashionable with the warmth of wood and the jazz music is played as the BGM (back ground music). You can’t believe that you are in Shinjuku because it is so relaxing.

This restaurant received the Bib Gourmand Award in the Michelin Guide Tokyo 2015. They offer their skewered-chicken adjusting the best timing and the best grilling time to each customer. It’s really impressive. Please visit this shop just once.

10. Not only skewered-chicken but also chicken-sashimi [Tosaka Shinjuku Honten]

The [Tosaka Shinjuku Honten] which is a 5-minute-walk from the Shinjuku station has a good reputation for delicious and value for money skewered-chicken. It is a hidden shop on the 2nd floor of the multi-purpose building. But if you go without a reservation, you may be refused, as it is so popular. On the previous day of the weekends, the time allocation is 2 hours per person. So, it is just the right shop when you want to have a quick meal.

This shop is a specialist for the Jidori-ryori (local chicken cuisine). Their other menus also have an established reputation. Especially, the [assorted sashimi] is extremely popular. They are using very fresh chicken, so they can offer the sashimi (raw meat). The [eating comparison between Daisen-chicken and the fighting cock] is popular. Please check which chicken you prefer.

Your favourite skewered-chicken shop in the highly competitive town, Shinjuku

What is your impression about this article? You understood that the single phrase [Skewered-chicken shop] covers various types of shops, didn’t you? You can choose your favourite shop among various ones such as the one in the deep Kabukicho world or the classy one in the fashionable office area, depending on your purpose. When you visit Shinjuku, please try to find your favourite skewered-chicken shop! I’m sure you’ll encounter a satisfactory dish!