KUURAKU GINZA — Restaurant in Tokyo

Visiting Tokyo, we went here for dinner recently, maybe we don't know this type of style, but it was definitely not worth the price. We saw the menu outside but it didn't state (or we missed the Japanese )that you need to order one of the 3 courses, or else a la care would be a 600 Yen extra charge.

The 3 courses were 3500, 4500 or 5500. Which is pricey, for a non buffet. See photos. It said 10, 13 and 16 course meal. Sounded amazing but guess what, the portions ate TINY. Like unbelievably tiny. Japanese Izakaya aren't this small. And costs less.

Tiny salad, the sauce container for the small meatballs was so tiny, it seemed like it was a toy from a dollhouse. The chicken wing was 1 on a stick, the green pepper was 1 on a stick and one side was black/burnt, chicken thigh was 4 tiny pieces on a stick (even Family Mart had huge portions for 120 Yen), and it looked undercooked. Raw chicken is risky for food poisoning.

Then the chicken soup came, we thought okay, at least it's soup. it was in a cup smaller than a shot glass!! Really? It couldn't be normal sized like a Miso soup? I cannot imagine how a human sized person would be full from such miniature portions like this.

Green tea was 600 Yen which was expensive for something that should be free, we are in Japan right, and the glass cup was tiny too! They didn't refill it so we were afraid if we asked for more, it would be another charge.

The place was full, so maybe it was just us, expecting regularly sized foods? I can't imagine ordering more a la carte, to pay for like 1 chicken wing on a stick.

That was our experience, no sure how the other reviews are so high for the price you paid. Just be ready...

Although we did not have a reservation shortly after 6 on a Tuesday night, they were welcoming and seated us promptly at the counter. Customers are expected to order 5-, 7-, or 9-skewer omakase, although they kindly offered our children to order a la carte if desired. Nonetheless, all of us enjoyed the 5- (and 7- for me) skewer yakitori omakase, which included a trio of marinated or dressed vegetables, a salad, two pieces of rolled omelet (tamagoyaki), sous vide chicken liver with pickled onion, and the skewers (chicken thigh with green onion, chicken breast with wasabi, vegetable (sweet corn), chicken gizzard or heart, and meatball with egg yolk sauce for the 5-course, additional eggplant and wing skewers and also pickled seared mackerel for the 7-course), we also added two skirt and two tongue skewers), ending with a "shot" of incredibly rich chicken soup. These provided a great variety of flavors, with each charcoal-grilled skewer seasoned differently, and textures, from the creamy liver to the crunchy gizzards, and the portions added up to a very filling meal. The prices seemed quite reasonable for the level of food, restaurant atmosphere, and prompt and attentive service. We also appreciated the English menus and fluency among chefs/staff. Highly...

I had an absolutely fantastic time dining at Kuuraku Ginza. Despite not having a reservation, we were greeted warmly at the door and promptly seated — a refreshing start that set the tone for the rest of the evening.

The chicken yakitori was phenomenal — perfectly grilled, juicy, and packed with flavor. You can really tell the care and skill that goes into each skewer. The open kitchen adds a wonderful touch to the ambiance, allowing you to watch the chefs work with precision, all to the smooth backdrop of jazz music, which made for a relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere.

The staff were incredibly polite and kind throughout. A special mention goes to their impeccable service when I accidentally spilled my whisky highball — they handled it so attentively and swiftly, even replacing my drink almost immediately with genuine care and without any fuss.

Kuuraku Ginza truly exceeded expectations in both food and hospitality. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a warm, delicious, and memorable dining...