Hailing from Tokyo, Japan, this is the izakaya to go to for perfectly cooked chicken skewers. They serve other meats like beef and pork, but we are zeroing in on the wackier parts of the chicken that this joint prepares so well. Start with the cockscomb, Kanmuri ($4) — eating the red crest atop the rooster's head is not as strange as it sounds — it actually tastes like chicken skin! Take our advice and skip the windpipe, Saezuri ($3.50), as tasty as it looks on the skewer, it's too rubbery and dry for our liking. The heart, Hatsu ($3.50) and the neckmeat, Otafuku ($4), however, are well worth a try — both are tender while nicely charred on the outside. As a base to your meal, you must order the Toritama Don ($13) as almost every diner here does, a simple yet satisfying dish of rice with seasoned minced chicken and a poached egg. Reservations recommended.
Avg price: $40 per person with drinks
Photo by Burppler Traveling Noodle