In August 2012, after my previous review visit, a friend who was a regular customer at our restaurant was transferred to work in the countryside due to a personnel change. As I generally don’t drink alcohol alone, I no longer visited our restaurant. However, during a regular gathering of four old men along the Westwood Line, we decided to use Kumasan, a onigiri specialty store nearby, as the venue for the first meeting. Thus, it was only after about 12 years that we used our restaurant as the venue for the second meeting.
On the day of the off-site gathering, after leaving Kuma at the first meeting, I entered our restaurant around 7 PM. First, we ordered drinks. Those who enjoy Japanese sake chose Tanjū (600 yen), Phoenix Meitoku (480 yen), and Kuroe-Engo (500 yen). As for food, after ordering Konnanyaku Taneko (400 yen per serving), Mushiru Cheese (400 yen per serving), we also ordered Tsutsumaki Chicken Tabi (890 yen per serving x 2) and Chicken Stalls Selection (1090 yen per serving x 2). The Kinnakan Shōyō was smooth and buttery in texture. Personally, I liked the Tōtorō Shiroreba the most. The grilled chicken chashu from the daily selection of chicken stalls was thick and satisfying to eat. The Mushiru Cheese had a refreshing taste. The Tsutsumaki Chicken Tabi had a chewy texture that stood out. Finally, we ordered Charcoal Grilled Shoulders (Large: 270 yen x 2) and Sesekiri (230 yen x 2). I enjoyed the Sesekiri very much; it had a firm texture and was truly delicious. Since everyone was full, we couldn’t order much. So, the total bill was around 2700 yen per person.
Later on, as a way to express my gratitude for the off-site gathering, I visited our restaurant again. During that event, I only had the chance to experience charcoal grilled dishes like “Karahei” (230 yen), “Kokkiri” (200 yen), “Bonchiri” (200 yen), “Hatsu” (250 yen), “Shiroreba” (230 yen), and “Momo” (large: 270 yen). I ordered all of these dishes with salt sauce. Each dish was delicious, but the ones that left a strong impression on me were “Bonchiri” and “Momo” (large). Especially “Momo,” which was a large portion. As a final dish, I ordered “Kokkutensudon” (490 yen). The smooth noodles with a creamy texture and the soup that concentrated the umami of the chicken really tasted great. Everyone at the restaurant, including the owner, was very friendly. If anyone is interested, I hope they will visit our restaurant again.
From the north entrance of Sagano-miya Station, it's just about a minute's walk to this recommended yakitori and izakaya located along the Moe-Sho River. It was around 1.5 years ago that this new restaurant opened in the same location where the former "Ichinoki Shio-no Sagano-miya Branch" was located. Personally, I really liked the menu at Ichinoki Shio-no, so at first, I felt quite disappointed when I tried the food here. But after eating here, those feelings disappeared completely. I've been here five times already, so it's time to write a review for this place.
Our restaurant’s highlight is, of course, the fresh and tender bird meat. Therefore, the bird meat skewers (2–3 servings: 980 yen) are highly recommended. The menu offers a combination of five types of sashimi: breast, wing, liver, pork belly, and salmon. You can choose from three types of sauce: sesame oil salt, ponzu, or soy sauce. My personal recommendation is the combination of breast and pork belly. The breast is firm and juicy, making it a great choice. The ponzu seems to match it perfectly. Pork belly has a smooth texture and a rich flavor. I prefer eating it with sesame oil salt.
The dishes I always order for stir-fries include white liver (190 yen), tofu (170 yen), sesekiri (190 yen), tsukune (250 yen), and skin (170 yen). Among these, white liver is definitely a must-order item. There are also rare varieties such as obaigan (190 yen), chotchin (190 yen), saezuri (190 yen), hatomoto (190 yen), and sori (290 yen).
As for the individual dishes, the special potato salad (380 yen), 11-course vegetable platter (680 yen), bird skin ponzu (680 yen), bird skin ponzu with cheese (380 yen), fried chicken (480 yen), and chicken samban (580 yen) are highly recommended. The special potato salad contains smoked chicken and cheese, making it a unique product compared to other potato salads in the market. The 11-course vegetable platter is sourced from contract farmers in Hokkaido. It is served with salt, mayonnaise, and chicken paste, allowing you to enjoy the natural sweetness of the vegetables.
Even if friends bring sake bottles, the total cost per person is only around 3,000 yen. Considering the quality of the food, it can be said that the cost-performance ratio is extremely high. The owner is a kind and pleasant person, making the place a great place to enjoy a good drink. If you live near the Nishi-Ubishi Shinjuku Line, I strongly recommend you to visit this place.
