Eiki (鍈輝)

Tucked into a quiet corner of Ebisu, Eiki is a casually elegant yakitori restaurant run by a chef who trained at the legendary Torishiki, one of Tokyo’s most revered grilled-chicken institutions. The kitchen turns out beautifully charred skewers with a fragrant, smoky finish, drawing devoted regulars willing to book weeks ahead through a members-only reservation service. The restaurant has attracted a following well beyond typical yakitori fans, including former footballer Hidetoshi Nakata, who has returned again and again. Inside, an intimate counter for fifteen guests keeps the mood relaxed yet focused, letting the fire and the chicken do the talking.