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Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori (中目黒いぐち)

October 26, 2016 by Jennifer Che 12 Comments

Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori

Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori counter

This is the twenty-ninth post in the Around the World Birthday Extravaganza Series. Please scroll to the bottom to see all the other posts in this series.

Locals tell me that a real, authentic yakitori experience involves a dark, smoky, and crowded space, loud chatter, and lots of drinking. Of course, the chicken is the star, and the restaurant will serve every part of the chicken, down to all the good offaly bits.

I am a bit embarrassed to say that I have never been immersed in that authentic yakitori experience. In fact, the one time I tried to go to yakitori (in Boston, when Yakitori Zai was still open), we were unable to find parking and never made it into the restaurant. Sadly, the highly-rated restaurant soon closed and we never got to go. In Tokyo, we’ve focused on sushi more (it’s Bryan’s favorite Japanese food), and thus haven’t made it to a yakitori yet.

Until this trip.Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
Our last night in Tokyo, we asked the concierge for a restaurant recommendation and she suggested Nakameguro Iguchi. Yes, it’s a yakitori, but it’s not your typical yakitori. The food is still excellent, but the environment is more modern, zen-like, and not at all loud.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
We met a Japanese food T.V. celebrity who was eating there. She expressed surprise that we (foreigners) knew about this restaurant. She told us that we should be pleased with our concierge, who did an excellent job recommending this place.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
The restaurant space is very, very dark and zen-like. Black walls, smooth surfaces, and a bonsai tree define the space. It is nothing like the loud, boisterous, smoky environment of a traditional yakitori. Our chef was a young Japanese man who was very focused, meticulous, and precise in every action he took.

We ordered the tasting menu, which was¥4,800 per person.
nakameguro-iguchi-23.jpg
We began with a deep fried croquette of foie gras served with a seasoned dipping salt on the side. It was lovely – super rich, crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
Our next course was  mushroom chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), which had a very strong ginger flavor from the raw slices of ginger on top.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
We enjoyed a small cup of their 8-hr chicken stock. It was simply amazing. Phenomenally rich and flavorful, it was thick with collagen and definitely one of the best chicken stocks we’d ever had.
nakameguro-iguchi-19.jpg
Next came a simple wooden spoon filled with a slightly sweet liver pate and a side of homemade toast.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
Then came a salad of lettuce, red bell peppers, preserved seaweed (which reminded me of Chinese preserved prunes), and kaki (persimmon). It was refreshing and light.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
Then came a grilled aged Caciocavallo cheese from Hokkaido. It reminded me a bit of mozzarella.
nakameguro-iguchi-15.jpg
Tiny tiny fish!
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
Then the skewers started coming. The first was chicken tail meat with scallions. The grilled scallions helped balance out the tail meat, which was quite oily and rich. It was a nice pairing.
nakameguro-iguchi-10.jpg
The next skewer was barely seared (basically, like sashimi) chicken breast with wasabi. It was surprisingly really good, this being only the second time I’ve ever had chicken sashimi (here is the first time).
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
We learned that chicken must be freshly slaughtered to be eaten raw. 🙁
nakameguro-iguchi-8.jpg
Next came the boneless chicken wing. It was lovely, with a perfect, crispy skin on top.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
Minced chicken meat was equally delicious.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
Skin of intestines was rich and flavorful.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
We each had a chicken heart and a gizzard served with shaved pickled ginger, minced onions, and a variety of dipping salts.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
Beef intestines came as a pair, one with pure salt, the other with a sweet brown sauce. I liked both, but enjoyed sweet brown sauce a bit more.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
And then onto a few vegetables near the end of the meal: a grilled cherry tomato, mushroom, asparagus, and radish. All were very good.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
Finally, we got to revisit that amazing chicken broth we had at the beginning of the meal. Now, it was served with ramen noodles, a sheet of seaweed, and some scallions on top. It was phenomenal. I haven’t had much chicken ramen, but this was definitely one of the best I’ve ever had, largely because of the incredible broth.
Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori
It was a fun meal. It was a gentle way to be introduce to the world of yakitori – call it the gourmet, upscale version. All of the food was executed really well. I enjoyed the flavors of everything. My favorite was the incredible chicken broth and the ramen made with the broth.

The environment is very dark, which may not suit some people. I typically tend to like having more light, although in this case I did not mind because we could easily see what the chef was doing.

I’d definitely consider coming back, though perhaps I should experience a traditional yakitori first. 😉

All Posts In This Series
Around the World Birthday Extravaganza
Alba White Truffle Fair
Osteria Dei Sognatori – A Traditional Piedmontese Dinner
Italy Wine Tour – Barbaresco
Lunch at Donna Selvatica in Neive, Italy
Dinner at a Truffle Hunter’s Inn – Tra Art e Querce
G.D.Vajra Winery
Trattoria Della Posta in Montfort D’Alba
Nighttime Truffle Hunting with a Dog in Alba
Osteria della Arco – last dinner in Alba
Stunning Images of La Morra and Barolo, Italy
First Day In Bordeaux, France – Une Cuisine en Ville
Chateau Haut-Brion Tour in Bordeaux France
Restaurant Le St. James
Touring Bordeaux Wineries – Day 1 – Left Bank
La Tupina, Bordeaux (traditional French dinner)
Cos d’Estournel Tour
Touring Bordeaux – Pauillac, Chateau Lynch-Bages
Chateau Cordeillan-Bages
A Different Paris
Le Relais de l’Entrecote
Pirouette Paris
L’Ambroisie Paris
Hiking at Mount Takao in Japan
Florilege
Sushi Harutaka

Filed Under: Japan, Restaurant, Review, Tokyo

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Comments

  1. Charlie says

    October 26, 2016 at 10:35 am

    You should try Itokku in Allston. It’s a classic izakaya with yakitori, etc. It’s quite good, and they have $2 valet parking!

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    • Jennifer Che says

      October 27, 2016 at 10:27 pm

      Thanks! I’ve been there once awhile ago, though I don’t think we ordered much of the yakitori. Maybe I’ll try it next time!

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  2. Frances Fung says

    October 26, 2016 at 5:24 pm

    Looks nice but too fine dining of a yakitori establishment for me.
    Slightly not as fine … try Ranjatai. Also try Toriki at Kinshicho and perhaps one of those Toriyoshi branches. More chicken centered, less fluff … and not as dark. 🙂 There are several “introduction/referral only” yakitori places too. Crazy!

    My trips to Japan are always VERY sushi heavy (my favorite food in the world). But also discovered chicken in Japan is super delicious too.

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    • Jennifer Che says

      October 27, 2016 at 10:28 pm

      Thanks for the recs. Next time I go to Tokyo I do hope to try a few more yakitori places. Yes, the Japanese do indeed make very fine chicken as well. 🙂

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  3. Lesley Pittaway says

    October 27, 2016 at 9:56 am

    This looks amazing, but you really must try traditional – It is so much fun!! I nearly died of happiness the first time I went and realised I could order cartilage by the skewer [something I am oddly obsessed with]. Another great read – thanking you!! xx

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    • Jennifer Che says

      October 27, 2016 at 10:28 pm

      Cool, thanks for the encouragement to try the real thing. I’m not sure when I’ll go out to Tokyo next, but I agree, it’s time to visit a real traditional yakitori!

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  4. Scott Yato says

    October 30, 2016 at 12:19 am

    Dear Jen,

    Thank you for coming to our restaurant.
    I hope you enjoyed our foods and had a great time together.
    Your site and the pictures looks amazing!
    Thank you for posting our restaurant on your page.

    please let us know the next time you come back!
    hope to see you again!

    Scott

    Log in to Reply
    • Jennifer Che says

      October 30, 2016 at 4:52 pm

      Dear Scott – thank you for the kind words. We really enjoyed our meal there. I will let you know if we come by again!
      Jen

      Log in to Reply
  5. Stephen Lin says

    November 1, 2016 at 5:48 pm

    Wow your site kicks ass! I wish I had known about it before I went to Tokyo for the first time, but I’m glad I read through it before going my second time this Thanksgiving!

    Is Nakameguro Iguchi a reservations-only place? Or do you think I could just walk-in? I’ve been having a bear of a time securing reservations.

    Your thoughts are appreciated! Keep up the good work and gorgeous photography!

    Log in to Reply
    • Jennifer Che says

      November 4, 2016 at 11:40 pm

      I don’t know if it’s a reservations-only place, though it wasn’t huge, so it’s probably safer to try making reservation.

      Log in to Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori (中目黒いぐち) – Boston Metro Bugle says:
    October 26, 2016 at 10:44 am

    […] by jennifer che • October 26, 2016 • 0 Comments Read the full article […]

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  2. Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong (Central Station) - Tiny Urban Kitchen says:
    November 29, 2016 at 8:48 am

    […] Mount Takao in Japan Florilege Sushi Harutaka Rokurinsha ramen breakfast (六厘舎) Azabu Kadowaki Nakameguro Iguchi yakitori (中目黒いぐち) Sushi-Ya (すし家) Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory – Totoro Cream Puff Sushi Yoshitake […]

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Welcome to Tiny Urban Kitchen!

JenChe

Hi, my name's Jen and welcome to my cooking, eating, and travel site! I am a Boston to Hong Kong transplant, born and raised in Ohio with parents from Taiwan. Feel free to head on over to the About page if you want to learn more about me, or just explore away, maybe starting with the Recipe Index or one of the travel pages! I hope you enjoy this site!
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