【Tokyo Shinjuku Restaurant】Yakitori ‘鳥茂’ Voice Menu for Easy Ordering

Torishige: A Culinary Gem in Tokyo’s Heart – The Pinnacle of Yakitori and Pork Offal

Since its inception in Showa 24 (1949), “Torishige” has evolved from a modest stall in Shinjuku to a Tokyo yakitori icon. As the birthplace of stuffed green pepper dishes, the founder of Torishige was a pioneer in creative culinary delights. Today, in its third generation, Torishige stands as a testament to Tokyo’s yakitori tradition, boasting a 3.9/5 rating on Tabelog and Google Maps.

Despite ‘Torishige’ meaning ‘bird’ in Japanese, the restaurant primarily specializes in pork offal cuisine. Emphasizing freshness, daily selections of pork from 25 pigs are procured to offer customers top-quality ingredients, complemented by unique sauces and slow-grilled over Kishu Binchotan charcoal. This not only preserves the original flavors but also offers an authentic Japanese culinary experience.

Located just a 2-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station’s south exit, Torishige offers a spacious two-floor seating arrangement with 82 seats. Given its popularity, making a reservation is highly recommended.

One of the signature dishes, “Jō-tan” (premium pork tongue), is made from a rare part of the pig, offering a delicate texture and exquisite taste. This has been a popular choice since the restaurant’s early days, along with other specialties like mixed meatballs, chicken balls, liver, and stuffed green peppers.

The unique ‘Mixed Meatballs’ are crafted to give customers a taste of different textures, combining heart, shoulder loin, and loin on a single skewer. For takeout, these are left uncut to preserve the juices, ensuring the same delicious taste as dining in.

An interesting tradition at Torishige is the use of original “Nambu Ironware Teapots” for serving Japanese sake, a practice unchanged since its founding. Post-war regulations led to serving sake under the guise of tea. Maintaining this tradition, sake is still served in these iron teapots instead of conventional bottles.

The warm hospitality, evident in gestures like offering a beer to waiting customers, adds to Torishige’s charm. The perfect blend of tradition and innovation, along with a commitment to quality and genuine customer care, cements Torishige as a must-visit destination for yakitori enthusiasts.