2回目も美味しい、安直な焼き鳥屋さん。 : Yakitori Higumo

I first visited about two months ago and had such a wonderful time that I made a reservation to come again.
Despite being a yakitori restaurant, my eyes didn't hurt from smoke, the counter was clean, and the staff were energetic and cheerful (not overly so).
Also, the appetizer was delicious.

Well, with reasons like these and the excellent cost-performance, I decided to return.

The appetizer included well-chilled marinated cherry tomatoes, smoked burdock with cheese, and mozuku vinegar.

Here’s what I ordered:
- Grilled Skewers: thigh, liver, skin, chicken tender, tsukune (meatball), gizzards, and tomato wrapped in meat
- Tempura Corn
- Seasonal Vegetable Salad
- Homemade Chicken Broth Shoyu Ramen

The chicken here is indeed of high quality, and the texture is different. It’s grilled right in front of you, served immediately once it’s ready. Once again, there was no inquiry of 'sauce or salt?'— each skewer was seasoned perfectly based on what suited it best.

I didn’t order it last time, but since it’s summer, I decided to try the tempura corn. They beautifully deep-fried even the corn silk, adding an interesting flair to the dish.

And for the finale, I had to go with this: shoyu ramen made with the flavorful chicken broth. Even though I was almost full, while enjoying this bowl, I thought, 'Did I come here just for this? Was the yakitori just an appetizer?'—it was that impressive of a dish.

Overall, I had a delightful meal.
It was a great meal.

This is a yakitori restaurant that has relocated from Saku City to Karuizawa. It's conveniently near the old rotary, right next to where the former municipal parking lot used to be, and it has a stylish noren (entrance curtain) and a chic exterior.

Since I made a reservation, we were able to enter smoothly, but I noticed some walk-in customers being turned away due to being full. There is a large counter as well as table seating, making it suitable for groups.

The appetizer served was a refreshing marinated mini tomato, rapeseed blossoms, iburi gakkō (smoked pickled daikon), and cheese. While it’s not an extravagant dish, it conveys a sense of care with its flavors, setting a positive tone right from the start.

Here’s what we ordered:
- **Skewers**: thigh, liver (reba), skin, chicken wing, tender (sasami), tsukune (meatball) with perilla, grilled meat with chives, shiitake mushrooms
- Fried long yam
- Seasonal vegetable salad
- Deep-fried chicken wings
- Grilled rice balls
- Homemade chicken broth soy sauce ramen

The high-quality chicken is grilled with confidence over charcoal, prepared with a delicate touch. Without questions like "Sauce or salt?", each part is seasoned perfectly, showing a remarkable understanding of flavors. While you can request your preferences, going with the omakase was definitely the right choice.

The chicken wings are thick and have a wonderful texture with a sweetness to them. This place serves genuinely delicious yakitori.

The initial appetizer, seasonal vegetable salad, and fried long yam were all vibrant in appearance and well-executed in taste.

What surprised me was the soy sauce ramen made with chicken broth, which had a depth of flavor that you could come here just for that.

The chef at the grill and the staff in the dining area were lively and provided attentive service. The overall atmosphere felt very comfortable, making the dining experience even more enjoyable.

This is a place that makes me want to return whenever I crave delicious yakitori.

It was a great meal.