01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Sitting at the counter with the aroma of charcoal rising from the grill makes the wait for freshly cooked skewers something to look forward to. Located a few minutes' walk from Senzoku-Ike Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line, Kushirou draws steady crowds for carefully grilled yakitori and an appealing lineup of dishes to accompany drinks.
The skewers, well-regarded for their precise grilling, are the natural place to start. Tender, rich white liver can be ordered with sesame oil, salt and wasabi, or sweet-savory tare sauce. Alongside snappy chicken hearts and everyday staples like negima (chicken and scallion) and thigh skewers, the kitchen offers prized cuts such as ginkawa (gizzard skin), esophagus, and sot-l'y-laisse. House-made tsukune meatballs can be tailored to your mood as well, whether served with raw egg yolk for dipping, grated daikon, or melted cheese.
A variety of small plates beyond the grill keeps table conversations lively. Popular regulars often pair their skewers with lightly seared Daisen chicken white liver sashimi or the house Kushirou salad, dressed in a homemade anchovy-and-apple dressing. The menu also features charcoal-grilled dried fish shipped directly from Ito—such as butterflied horse mackerel and sweet mirin-cured mackerel—alongside white liver pâté and dashi-infused rolled omelet.
The drinks list covers all the essentials, ranging from beer and highballs to wine and cocktails suited to the food. After working through a round of skewers, finishing the evening with a bowl of warming chicken soup, rich tori paitan ramen, or lighter tori gara ramen brings things to a satisfying close.
The space accommodates solo diners unwinding after work just as easily as small groups raising a glass, and takeout is available if you prefer to eat at home. Seats often fill up daily, so reserving in advance is the safest way to ensure a table.
