TimeOut

Hope everyone had a good weekend, I wanted to share with you an amazing experience I've had recently, visiting the Hatanodai Suburb in the borough of Shinagawa Ward in Tokyo and getting to eat at Toriki Yakitori (yakitori is grilled chicken) made famous by Anthony Bourdain's visit in his show No Reservations, here is a clip of his visit:

Tokyo as you all are aware is such a mega metroplis (home to approx. 35 million people) that it would take a lifetime to discover it all, but of all the areas I did get the chance to visit the Hatanodai Suburb was my favorite. It felt real, it felt comfortable and felt as if I was home, a real grass roots look at what Tokyo is really like beyond the Glitz and Glamour of Ginza and I highly recommend visiting the area and just aimlessly walking its beautiful quiet streets.

Finding Toriki on the other hand is not so easy but thanks to the kindness of a gentleman who was already late getting home for dinner with his wife we were able to locate Toriki 2 which is run by Aihara San's eldest son, as soon as we entered and sat down my friend and fellow Purist Mr. 3.6 remarked how the place looked different from the Bourdain video and how Mr. Aihara San was no where to be seen.

But the menu had arrived and not knowing any better we ordered

First Up was Fermented Soybean (Natto) and Egg and you mix the egg with the soybean, interesting flavor, not for everyone, I recommend adding soy sauce if you decide to try it.

Next to arrive was the Chicken Sashimi and Toriki Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing, both dishes were just amazing, I really liked the Salad.

At this point Mr. 3.6 was growing impatient and told me something isn't right, the place was too quiet and had a feeling of a small neighborhood cafe and not the Toriki he expected. He proceeded to try to communicate with the staff and then they told us, there is another Toriki, Toriki HQ which was near by. Aihara San's son was very cool about it and we paid our bill for the food served and one of the waiters who spoke a little English escorted us to Toriki HQ which is across the train tracks first left

Finally We Found It!

As soon as we entered we received a fantastic welcome from Aihara San and the place was packed, maybe 6 or 7 tables but jam packed and 5 stools at the bar, where we sat opposite the Yakitori Master at work. A Whirlwind of Energy, Speed and Joy, you could see he loved his work.

First Dish Served as soon as we sat down was Chicken Skewers, instead of telling you each dish was, I'll let the pics do the talking and just say this, best chicken ever had period.

You know the Master is at work, you can see how different the Chicken Sashimi is compared to how the eldest son prepares it:

Next Dish Chicken Liver and Heart, just Sublime

Chicken Breast with Grated Radish

Chicken Skin, just so good

By this time a gentleman came and sat down next to me, he was very kind and helped me ask for water (Mizu), he was a Manchester Trained Economist and told me Toriki was his favorite restaurant and had been coming to it for 20 years, he used to live in Hatanodai but now travels 40 kilometers to be there after 7pm every Wednesday, he told me Aihara San has two sons, the Eldest we had met and his younger son also has a Yakitori restaurant but is much larger. It was great to hear him talk about how the clientele had changed ever since the Bourdain show and he was a really cool guy. Never got his name but if you ever visit Toriki, try for reservations on Wednesday after 7pm so you can meet this kind gentleman. 

Next Up Fried Chicken and Toriki Salad with Sesame Dressing

After our crazy amazing meal, the atmosphere was incredible, noisy, hot, tight, crowded and great friendly people, we said our Goodbyes and went for a nice walk to cool down, 

And as I was immersing myself in this beautiful neighborhood suddenly out of no where he shows up

It's Mario!

 

And he then zooms off waving goodbye, LooooL it was so random and it was Awesome!

I highly recommend visiting Hatanodai, its off the beaten track but so rewarding

Hope you enjoyed the report

S

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