Shibuya "Hagakure"
Hagakure is a famous restaurant located on the second floor of an alley just before Aoyama Gakuin University, just up Miyamasuzaka in Shibuya. Just like its name suggests, it operates in a hidden location in the bustling city of Shibuya.
I was the first to arrive, breathing heavily. The layout was a magnificent L-shaped cedar counter with three tables and a raised tatami room. "Take any seat you like," I was told, and it was a tense moment trying to decide which was the "best seat." Without hesitation, I secured a counter seat in front of the display case lined with rows of beautifully skewered yakitori in an inverted triangle!
The restaurant is quiet, with only the buzzing of the ventilation fan echoing. You'll be greeted by a nice combination of the honest-looking owner and the affable landlady.
Bottled beer
You can choose between Super Dry or Kirin Lager for the medium-sized bottled beer. The appetizer is cold stewed tongue.
Drinks include bottled beer, sake, and Suntory Old whiskey. Although not on the menu, they also apparently have wine and plum wine.
Kobukuro sashimi
Thinly sliced kobukuro (gizzard shad) into 5mm slices is topped with shiso leaves, green onions, egg yolk, lemon ginger, and garlic. The chewy kobukuro, combined with the complex seasonings and sauce, is heavenly delicious.
Small pickles 550 yen (large 650 yen)
A three-piece serving of eggplant, cucumber, and pickled turnip. It's so filling you'll wonder if it's even a "small" serving. A must-have dish to pace your yakiton.
cold sake
While waiting for the skewers to be grilled, enjoy some chilled Madonoume Special Junmai sake from Saga Sake Brewery, the oldest brewery in Saga Prefecture. Come anytime!
pottery
The skewers may seem expensive at first glance, but when you consider the volume and quality of each skewer, as well as the chef's love for them, they actually seem cheap.
Teppo sauce 250 yen
The folded handle feels very heavy.
Stuffed green peppers with sauce 400 yen
Each skewer is carefully grilled and served like a course meal, with a light and exquisite sauce.
Salted liver 350 yen
The finest liver with a crispy texture. A lightly seasoned premium skewer that fully conveys the flavor of the ingredients.
Salted pork belly 350 yen
A lovingly made skewer that is well-pounded and easy to eat. There is a piece of pork heart in the middle, which is the ideal pork belly skewer for me!
Birth canal salt 500 yen
This was the tip of the Kobukuro skewer, and it was the only one available that day, so I was grateful to have the privilege of being the first to open.
word used after one has been treated (esp. used after a meal)
Regulars seem to reserve bottles of "Kuri Shochu," and bottles are placed on tables instead of "reserve" signs. By the time we left, the bar was full with a wide range of customers, from office workers to groups of university students.
Before you know it, the place is bustling with activity, and you can't even hear the sound of the ventilation fan! It starts quietly and ends in hustle and bustle!
Next time, I'd like to come hungry and enjoy Toro LL with chestnut shochu!
menu
Store Information
Scrapbook
Time: 17:00-23:00
Closed: Sunday
Address: 2-8-11 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0002
English
Japanese
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