food and service here was really good, the chicken skewers were amazing but i wished they had more singular selection of skewers rather than an assortment.

A place I found while looking for an izakaya in Ikebukuro where I could drink at a relaxed pace. It's really close to the station so access is easy, and since it's on an upper floor of a building, it's a bit hard to find at first, but that gives it a little hideaway vibe that gets you hyped. The interior has a calm atmosphere overall, and since they have proper private rooms, being able to drink without worrying about others was really great. The food is, as you'd expect, mainly jidori-based, and the yakitori has a really solid charcoal-grilled aroma, honestly high level. Especially the skewers, every one was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, a finish that lets you taste the quality of the ingredients. The sauce wasn't too strong either, just right, and I felt like I could eat any number of them. The karaage and other à la carte dishes are consistent too, plenty satisfying for snacking while drinking. They also have stuff like 3-hour all-you-can-drink, so being able to take it easy without watching the clock is a really appreciated point. I thought it'd be easy to use for parties and such too. The service was polite overall and ordering was smooth. Even during what seemed like a busy time, they handled things properly and there was no stress. It's not super high-end, but I think this place's strength is its good balance: easy to drop by and genuinely satisfying. An all-rounder that works both when you want to drink hard and when you want to talk somewhat quietly, it's a spot I'd genuinely want to come back to.

Ordered à la carte. ◯Choregi salad with Sendai beef tongue The choregi salad, soaked through with the savory flavor of the beef tongue, was super delicious The thick-sliced Sendai beef tongue was tender with a bouncy texture, and the salad kept the savory aroma of being properly grilled◎ ◯Basashi Vivid red lean meat with almost no fat, yet tender with a melt-in-your-mouth texture! No gaminess at all! Sweetness and a light umami spread out ◯Bang bang chicken The chicken is super moist and juicy, zero dryness even though it's breast meat It's coated in a rich, slightly spicy sesame-based sauce that feels mild at first, but the heat that slowly builds afterward is the best ◯Shishamo The savory aroma of the crispy grilled skin is great! Thank you for the meal

We ended up drinking in Ikebukuro, so I tried Tori Hitosuji Ikebukuro, a jidori specialty restaurant where it looked like we could eat well with chicken dishes as the main focus! It's on the 7th floor of a building, but once you step inside, it's a calm space that feels a bit different from the bustle outside. The seating is mainly private rooms, and being able to spend time without worrying about others stood out. I feel places like this are easy to use when you want to drink while chatting leisurely. Things went smoothly after we were seated, and we started by ordering beer. It was well chilled, a reassuring quality for the first drink! For food, we ordered several items, mainly yakitori and jidori dishes. The yakitori had a solid charcoal-grilled aroma, simply delicious. The flavor of the meat comes through easily too, the kind where you keep reaching for more skewers. We also ordered jidori à la carte dishes, and overall they had no strong quirks and were easy to eat. They weren't too heavy, so they were just right to enjoy alongside drinks. We ordered several other dishes too, and all were consistent and never missed. Rather than any single dish making a big impact, I think it's a place with good overall balance. Drinks were served fairly smoothly too, with no strange waits, so there was little stress. Even when the place was crowded, it seemed to be running well. There were a lot of groups, so it gets somewhat lively, but since they're private rooms, it's an easy environment for conversation. It seemed easy to use for drinking parties and casual dinners too! Overall, my impression was of a well-balanced izakaya where you can fully enjoy jidori. I think it's an easy place to use when you want to drink calmly in Ikebukuro, or when you want to properly enjoy the food too.

An izakaya near Ikebukuro Station where you can enjoy yakitori and jidori dishes. The interior has a calm atmosphere with the warmth of wood, and it was easy to go with friends. The yakitori had a clear charcoal-grilled aroma, and the crispy texture of the skin especially stood out. The seared jidori was juicy too, the kind of flavor that keeps the drinks flowing. The fried rice was the moist type with gentle seasoning, just right to finish off. The salad and soup were carefully made as well, and overall I could enjoy a well-balanced meal. Prices are relatively reasonable too, and satisfaction is high. A place I'd like to come back to when drinking in Ikebukuro.