Step inside Kushiwakamaru and you’ll see a mix of locals and visitors shoulder-to-shoulder, downing yakitori almost as fast as their beers. There are skewers like cheese-stuffed green bell peppers wrapped in bacon, tsukune, and other yakitori classics (and then some). One to prioritize is the whole Hokkaido potatoes stuffed with thick pads of butter because it’s the ultimate baked potato for a yakitori feast, sopping up whatever bits are left on your plate. On most nights, this lively Naka-meguro izakaya is packed with a seemingly endless stream of customers well into the night. Make a reservation to avoid standing in line, but if you do have to wait outside, the smell of charcoal-grilled chicken will keep you company.