Iseya Koen — Restaurant in Tokyo

Iseya Koen-ten is just at the top of the stairs leading to Inokashira Park in Kichijoji. It is one of the oldest izakaya in town. There are 3 floors with crowded tables. Due to its popularity, you may have to share a table with strangers. There is usually a waiting line outside. It is a very inexpensive no-frills restaurant. The menu is small, and the food quality is not the highest. Yakitori may be their number one, but other items of pork and sashimi are available. The beers are the big bottles and cheap. The wait staff are not friendly and never smile, I guess due to being so busy and crowded. A few items I recommend are motsu (gut stew), white meat yakitori, maguro sashimi, and grilled corn on the cob. The place is a bit frenetic and noisy, but everyone is having a good time. I would say, give it a try....

An easy place to get takeout yakitori skewers near the park.

They give you the skewers in a sealed bag so it stays warm but be careful bc the skewers are sharp and punctured our bag, making the juices spill out!!

My favorites were the negiyaki (grilled scallions) and tsukune (chicken meatball).

When you order, go up to the takeout counter and let the chef know what you want. They’ll ask you what flavoring (shio/salt or something else I don’t remember), then you pay and step aside while you wait.

I wouldn’t say it’s the best quality skewers. Some things we ordered like the hanadori was tough and the meatballs weren’t the most flavorful, but it’s fun to eat at the park so 4...

One of Tokyo’s premier and historical Yakitori restaurants located in Kichijoji. The honten hugs the entrance to Inokashira Park making the location a great transit point to enjoying the day in town. While the exterior has been renovated to meet modern times, the interior still has the old school charm that’s made Iseya a local staple for decades. Yakitori ranges from hearts to liver as well as tendons and tsukune. Sides can include Maguro tuna butsu if you want to feel a little bit healthier. Drinks include beer, wine, highballs, spirits and nihonshu. Prices are cheap and definitely...