Shinjuku City, Tokyo, Japan｜Torishizu

Slide the door of this minuscule venue open and you might be a little intimidated by the cramped space, but you will quickly be reassured by the prompt and warm 'Irashaimase!' coming from the sweet, benevolent old lady who holds the place. The owner seems to do everything herself; the food, the drinks, and the service, and she does it with an inviting smile the whole time. She also understands English very well so that's a plus for tourists. There seems to be a few tables in the back in a more spacious room if you are more than 2-3. My boyfriend who is 6'2 didn't have much room to keep his legs in but we managed. We had an authentic yakitori experience there. A local who spoke English joined a bit after us and we chatted the whole meal. The skewers are juicy and promptly made in front of you. We tried a little bit of everything. My favourites were the chicken skin skewers and the fried rice balls. I also really liked the negi. We devoured everything that was served to us as it was delicious. Not only that but we were surprised that despite ordering almost 20 skewers and some beer the bill was so low. So you're eating good, cheap, and in excellent company. I will never forget the lady's voice! Thank you for the great experience. We will miss you all the way from Canada!

My mother prepares and skewers the chicken herself, so she sells valuable parts that are not available at restaurants that buy chicken on skewers or at restaurants that buy chicken from butchers and skewer it. You can find chicken. The counter is so narrow that you can't stand up and you can't even go to the toilet without being able to sit down unless you both give way. The only background music is the sound of my mother grilling yakitori. You can naturally strike up a conversation with a stranger. The appetizer consists of 1/4 x 2 boiled eggs topped with sweet sauce.

If you muster up the courage to open the door, which seems a little difficult to enter, you will find a small counter where about 6 people can sit, and the soft-spoken proprietress will kindly welcome you. There is also a tatami room in the back. All of the essential yakitori is delicious, and you can feel the skill in the grilling method as well as the freshness. You can enjoy your meal slowly.