Quite possibly the best hospitality I've experienced in Tokyo. The chef is a retired sekiwake ranked sumo wrestler. He takes great pride in preparing the meals himself. His wife was incredibly friendly and accomodating. She managed to fulfill all our requests and make us feel at ease despite her limited english. They served us an assortment of appetizers and a sashimi platter as starters. For our main course, we ordered chanko nabe. It was incredibly hearty and layered with umami, and had a great mix of vegetables and meats. Getting a reservation here as a foreigner is recommended. They have limited space, and they have many local customers who've been eating there for years. It almost feels like you're being invited into someone's house, as the atmosphere is very intimate and close knit. In order to preserve that feeling and to show respect to their community, make reservations in advance so they can prepare the adequate space for you. Highly recommended if you want a true Japanese experience in Tokyo. I was hesitant in reviewing them so as not to disturb the tight knit community in their restaurant, but they definitely deserve to be known.

Delicious !! The owner and his wife are so welcoming. Perfect

A chanko nabe restaurant in a dining district on a backstreet in Kagurazaka. I had been looking forward to it, as places serving chanko nabe are rare even in this area. When I entered, I was surprised by the lively conversations between the cheerful owner and the regulars sitting at the counter, but an experienced staff member guided me to the back. The menu had several izakaya-style à la carte dishes, and the usual approach seemed to be ordering soppu nabe as the chanko, 【soppu nabe】【ramen】【tebasaki karaage】＋drinks so that is what I ordered. After about 5 minutes, the dishes began arriving in sequence, starting with the otoshi. The fried chicken wings were crisp, stick-sized wings tossed in a sweet-savory sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds. The moist coating and the texture of the thigh meat were wonderful too. Combined with the sweet, rich, fragrant sauce, they made the beer go down easily. The soppu nabe had clear soy sauce broth topped with chicken, cabbage, garlic chives, enoki mushrooms, kitsune-age, and more. At first, the ingredients were piled high in the pot for an impressive sight, but they gradually cooked and sank as the pot heated. I have tried many different chanko nabe, but this broth was exquisite: primarily chicken-bone stock, incredibly clean and full of pure umami. I was surprised by a hot pot that let me taste the umami and the vegetables’ sweetness so purely. Of course, you can enjoy the ingredients’ textures and flavors, especially the chicken’s moistness, springiness, and umami, but the stock itself was delicious, making this a light yet satisfying hot pot. For the finish, there was a choice of ramen or chikara mochi. I chose ramen and enjoyed how well the medium-thin wavy noodles paired with this wonderful broth. Everyone at the restaurant, led by the owner, was cheerful and fun. The atmosphere made me want to become a regular, and it was wonderful. I would like to visit again during the cold season.

+2

The best chanko restaurant. It is delicious from the appetizer onward, and every dish is incredibly tasty. The chanko broth is amazing. The oyakata and his wife are both wonderful. Reservations are hard to get in winter, so spring and summer are your best bet. 【Marulog】 I post to recommend restaurants I personally feel I would like to visit again, using criteria that consider taste, the value of experiences unique to that place, and value for money, rather than mass-market popularity measures such as Michelin or Tabelog. (※This may not be useful for people who care about Michelin or Tabelog scores.) ★★★★★ Especially want to recommend! ★★★★☆ Want to visit again! ★★★☆☆ Not to my taste ・Taste: very, very delicious ・Experience: fun ・Price: appropriate

+3

There are few seats, so you cannot get in without a reservation. I ordered a course meal, and they checked how full I was while bringing out the next dishes. I appreciated that thoughtfulness too. The novel dishes were appealing as well. The dessert was delicious too. I want to go again.

+3