Takesan is a small one-chef yakitori in Ningyocho. It is a very interesting yakitori where to find many unusual parts cooked to perfection. Reservation is a must.
The visit
It attracted my attention as a nice mid-range yakitori and I made a booking through a concierge service. The 12 seats around the counter were all taken by the end of the evening. The chef does not speak English, but it was mostly fine since there was a course meal. He worked alone with a young assistant, taking care of all the customers. I read some reviews online saying that he is rude. That was not my impression. Certainly he did not make any conspicuous effort to communicate, but I found him perfectly professional. After all, he is under no obligation to speak in English!
The meal started with an appetizer, a sort of congee with a row egg yolk.
I was also provided with miso and some raw vegetables as side dishes.
I ordered the 10-skewer course meal and at the end I added a couple of skewers. Actually, on the menu there is much more. I saw other customers enjoy chicken sashimi, intestine, and oyakodon. I tried to order the chicken sashimi but I was told that it was finished!
The service was posed… nothing like the pace at Takechan, but it was ok. Each skewer was perfectly grilled and offered several delicious bites. Because of the lack of English, I am not sure about some of the skewers. The first one should have been neck.
The second skewer was harami, outside skirt.
Then it was a skewer of gizzard, very tender.
The next was small intestines. It was again very tender and flavorful. One of my favorites.
I am not sure about this one (kidney?).
Some bell peppers.
Not entirely sure!
A type of skin.
This was a type of skin (from around gizzard liver).
This looked like breast (sasami).
I decided to order an additional small intestine and a tsakune skewer (chicken meatloaf).
The check
Including the additional skewers, I ended up spending 5,280 yen (49 USD). Given the quality of the skewers, it was a very reasonable price. As a matter of fact, I would have ordered more if I had an English menu.
Where in Tokyo:
2-chome-25-11 Nihonbashiningyocho Chuo City.
〒103-0013 東京都中央区日本橋人形町2-25-11 三幸ビル1F.