Yakitori and more in Shinjuku Japan

[Lugmillord]

That's one cool street. All those cute "restaurinis" xD

[cancio157]

I go back to see this video every few months or so to get ideas. What's funny is I would tear down malls so that they can look like this! If there's any example on promoting small business and building local community this would be it. I'd love to see this set up in other countries. Unique character is what's needed and less cloning of franchises. Celebrate what's unique in your area because where I come from we celebrate that.

[Happy88dog]

Love this video :-)

[morfes]

Do you know anything about the street? If it's already demolished or when it's gonna be? Cuz I want to go to Tokyo and I would like to visit this place.

[slowshowuploads]

Japan is great, love your video ;)

[stillett12343]

I could be wrong, "yet", I like this youtube video. "Reminds me of the efforts people make", Moving to places like Japan speaking the language basically living there life..:)

[lizard944]

I was stationed in northern Japan. Nothing like cruising the Karaoke bars and stumbling down the street trying the various vendor's Yakitori. They are very friendly and speak fluent English, until you ask them what the recipe for the Yakitori sauce is!! Very guarded secret. I asked one guy what was in his sauce, he said "salt" and just smiled.

[ice258man]

I went there on my birthday last year. No matter which place you stop at, everyone treats you like their best friend.

[ILUVFFANDKH]

do you recommend learning japanese before going there?

[toddatron]

@ILUVFFANDKH Learning Japanese is always a plus but not needed there. Since the video he has gotten a rush of foreigners visiting so he learned some English so you can order. I think they have a English menu now not sure but you will be fine.

[etegg11]

i love the small alleyways where u eat :-) thanx 4 the vid

[TheConspiracyMan8]

holy shit!! i love watchin this guy eat!! lol

[ryoko1476]

Your clip has inspired us to make a visit to this amazing place. We met up with oto-San, his wife, and lovely assistant lady. Received wonderful hospitality. Definitely coming back here again. KK from BK

[windiesman]

how is chuhai's alcohol strength differ to that of shochu? (umm did i pronounced that right, "shochu"? like the one made by Kirin e.g. Strong 7)

[toddatron]

@windiesman From what I know its shochu mixed with soda water and lemon so the strenght is based on what and how much shochu you add. A good bartender is able to mix it just right so you get slammed but do not taste the undesirable flavors of too much lemon or shochu. Of course the better the shochu the better the chuhi drink.

[jstb0b]

man that place goes for days. i bet it smells soooo good walking down that street

[aidahussaini]

your videos on tokyo are the most informative i have found on you tube, brilliant! it gives one the feel of the city, as well. hopefully i can absorb a little bit of history when i visit in Nov, plus savour the delights at Fukuhachi --- provided Omoide Yokocho Str. is still around :D) thanks for sharing

[miramu3]

Great place !!! Say hello from the two Germans from Toyama and thanks for the umbrella.

[ravenwind123]

great vid man 5/5 i really miss being there

[cosmicburrito2]

How do you eat Sazai? I noticed she sipped it. Does it liquify when cooked, or, did she eat the snail and then enjoy the juices? One day I'd like to go there and try it. Thanks for the info and video. :)

[toddatron]

@cosmicburrito2 Its grilled in its shell so yes................ you sip the juice and pick out the meat. It slides right out in one piece if cooked through. Its chewy and tart but if you like the smell of a clam bog in the morning its for you:p

[Runtker]

I am going to Tokyo next week. I look forward to yakitori and chu-hai at Fukuhachi!

[supertama1972]

大阪の新世界でカメラを回したら殴られるけど、東京の思い出横丁­では問題なし。

治安レベルが違いすぎるな。

[toddatron]

@supertama1972 I will make sure not to go there.... thanks for the warning.

[tarou3917]

@supertama1972

ええ、なんで殴られるん？

[themaniusedtob]

viva la toddatron never ever stop filming EVER!!!!!!!!

[pouchan68]

思い出横丁（omoideyokotyou）

You enjoyed yourself, right?

[TheCoondog75]

I have eaten much yakitori in my travels to Japan. I finally got to spend some time this past May with a cousin of mine in Tokyo and ate down there every night. Great memories of all the wonderful aroma, cheap drink and bad ass yakitori.

[meesalikeu]

we made a pilgrimage here last week - no sazae in season, but it ruled!

we had assorted yaki, grilled asian eggplant w/ ginger, grilled shitaki mushrooms, and pickled grilled fish. also todd dont lie -- chuhei's = tha bomb!

it was easy to find, they have a sign. they asked how we knew about it and when i told them this video they laughed -- we were in like flynn! thx again todd!

[toddatron]

@meesalikeu You are so welcome and I am ecstatic that you had the enthusiasm to go and enjoy. Yea they are great people and cheers.... really happy that I was able to guide you to a good place. Thanks for being a fan!

[TotoroBerry]

Crap that looks sooooo good. I was in Shinjiku but didn't notice this place. :(

[GimmeKitty]

Todd, have you visited all the restaurants in the alley-way that you filmed?

All the food looks soooo good!

[qoonnie]

昭和だな～。質素な丸イスと何気なく積まれているビールケースが­いい味だしてる。

[toddatron]

@qoonnie I love sitting on a plastic crate and dinning under the tracks in Ueno. There are a few restaurants like that still.

[Ainar86]

I really want to experience the japanese experience:D

[mancio1]

ahah! great place, next time I'll go!

[RishiHemantJha]

cool video man

[kli4nia805]

Hi...

I am planning to go to Shinjuku next week.

What is the name place and the street name?

Thx in advance.

[shinlanten]

@kli4nia805 Omoide yokocho, near the JR East station.

[shinlanten]

Wow, going to be demolished, that sucks! And for a mall of all things, as if Shinjuku does not have enough malls! I feel sorry for all those bar owners who have been there for years. Very sad news indeed.  I would have definitely gone back there if visiting Japan again.

[AaronWindsor]

do you know of any places similar to this?

[pantatjones]

cheers man.

video muchos appreciated!

[pantatjones]

hi, is this street of yakitori still there? am headed up to Shinjuku next week.

[toddatron]

Yes it is still there so go and get some good eats:)

[HyattRegencyOC]

Hey Toddatron. At the 1:00 mark of your video, you are walking through that tunnel from East Shinjuku station exit (near studio alta) then up a small hill to go to the west station "memory lane" correct?

[toddatron]

@HyattRegencyOC Thats it!

[HyattRegencyOC]

@toddatron Nice! I walked the same area early March this year. Also wanted to say thanks for the Suica Card tutorial video. It made perfect sense once I saw it in person. Nexus from Narita, Suica card, Tokyo metro/Toei lines, JR East......awesome transportation systems.

[AaronWindsor]

thats a good song you got playing. seems like that street would be great for a tourist to try out all kinds of japanese . how are the prices on all the foods?

[idkyoo]

i always love a place that still have the stench and look of the olden days

[maxinpains]

wow, this is sooo old video...i wish i could come back in time..

[toddatron]

Yea I hope the locals get to keep the street in tact. It really is ONE of the last "real" places to experience in Tokyo. I hope it stays there forever!

[maxinpains]

@toddatron

Well, it's proberbly gone by now. The Chinese investers buying japan like crazy...

[AnteroX1234]

the girl who translated at 5:08, is that your wife?

[toddatron]

Yes

[shinlanten]

For the most part, the people we came in contact with in Shinjuku spoke little english (we used alot of hand gestures and pointing to pictures), but I can't say that's representative of all Shinjuku, we were only there one day.

[korea7891]

So in that city, people speak English too?

[toddatron]

Well yes. English is sort of a second language in Japan, but I use that expression lightly. You can manage through a night out without Japanese.

[shinlanten]

Good video. Just came back from Japan and we found this place by dumb luck for we needed to take a leak. Almost all the bars were inviting us to join them (felt kinda guilty just picking 1). I wanted to try every one of them! That place was cool (though cramped) and those 2 ladies behind the counter (though spoke little english) were nice. I could have gotten used to that place.

[toddatron]

Thanks. It is still my favorite place in Shinjuku and its luster has not faded.

[ysblfan]

Thanks Toddatron for posting this video. I went to Tokyo years ago and I still remember this place. I read in LP that this was going to be razed as the area is going to redevelop. WHAT A PITY IF THEY DO THAT AS I THINK THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING PLACE and one of the few remnants of the post war time. Is it true it is going to disappear? hope they have realised tourists like this kind of places.

[toddatron]

Wow that's the first I heard of it. Makes me have a chill..... I will ask the owner of the Fukahachi when I see him again. Actually now about 5 or 6 places have been bought out by foreigners and the food is bad and service sucks so that's a sad thing. There are still Japanese places there so I boycott the chain.

[vuman9]

I was there in 9/09 and was refused service because I did not speak Japanese altho I am Asian. I didnt know Japanese could be so racist!! I thought they had learned their WWII lessons, but I guess not.

[toddatron]

Was it the Fukahachi bar or some other bar? Foreigners go there all the time and I have gone to many places there aside from Fukahachi and never have I been treated that way even when I go alone and cannot speak Japanese. I am sorry to here that.... next time I will go with you and make sure you have a good time.

[vuman9]

It was in one of the small stalls in the alleys of Shinjuku. If they have a name it was in Japanese characters and I can't read Japanese. I had eaten a night earlier in a stall ran by a Chinese speaking lady. The next night I wanted to tried one owned by the Japanese and was refused service by not only one but two. I couldn't believe my luck. I was polite and dressed properly. Just do not understand why I was treated that way. Maybe Caucasians are threated different?

[toddatron]

Yea sometimes that can happen. I have been treated rudely before at other places, but don't be discouraged. There are far more places that would find you to be interesting because you are a foreigner and they would try to talk to you and serve you as an honored guest. Next time you are here drop me a line on YouTube :)

[wakarimasen71]

Oishi ! thanks so much for the vid ! I love that place , I am so glad you videoed that walk because it's just as I remembered it in 99, I want to go back so badly ! great work !!!

[toddatron]

Your welcome. I was there last night actually :)

[Shiruvan93]

i'd love to eat in those little restaurant places in omoide street.

really liked it man, 5/5 and faved... btw do you live in japan or just went on a trip?

[toddatron]

Thanks for that! Yea I live and work here.

[kensan0809]

You look like a master of Omoide alley. I used to drop in "Tsurukame" there and grub a "Soy-don". I miss it so much ! XD

[toddatron]

I will and thanks for the comment!

[lonebun]

great video...enjoy it very much...keep up the good work

[Edo111567]

I really enjoyed that little stroll. A taste of real japan most people never see. Well done.

[toddatron]

Much thanks back at yea! I always loved this vid the most and had fun making it:)

[toddatron]

Well lately... yea booze is pricey in Japan so if you subtract the booze then each of you could totally pig out for say 5000 yen each. The place always has a spread like in the vid but some things are seasonal. You can count on the yakitori and tomato and pepper dish... they are standards there.

[urayasukun000]

seven star for the WIN!!

[TiramisuHappy]

How much can a party of, say, three expect to spend at this Yakitori joint (without alcohol)? I'm actually going back there for another visit at the end of July. Definitely planning to look this place up!!

Yaki "tomato-bacon" seemed somewhat out of place, but I think it's brilliant!

The sign says the "sazae" costs $5.00 a piece! Wow, it must be REALLY good...

Thanks for the "trip down memory lane!"

(A literal translation of "Omoide Yokocho.")

[toddatron]

Thanks... yea everything about this vid just happened right. I have yet to top it:) Its my favorite as well.

[syke54]

definitely one of your best video's, Todd!

[SJB666]

the smell along that strip would be mouth watering with so much awesome food being cooked along it

[toddatron]

Yea the pee smell is pretty much gone with the new bathrooms so yea its quite a pleasant aroma now ... so thick you can take a few calories in just breathing.

[toddatron]

yea 300 yen is about 3 bucks a yen is about one cent:)

[shinichi115]

REN SMOKES SEVEN STARS CIGARETTES! Haha.

But um. 300 yen? Does that mean 3 dollars? lol.

[tyronebiggums3]

What did he did the Yakitori in after he took it off the grill?

And did you notice he licked his fingers after he passed the plate off? hehehe

(8:20)

[toddatron]

Its usually a choice salt or the secret sauce that most of the Yakitori is dipped in. Its sort of a home made soy okinomi base like Japanese A1 sauce. Damn! I was waiting for someone to say something about the finger lick... heh yea... it will not kill yea... cheers

[Iloveyakitori]

Todd, am in Shinjuku now and looking forward to joining you for some yakitori. Went to Yakitori Alley and it was packed. Fukuhachi has been packed everytime I went to go there... so found a place with seats available. When do you want to meet up for some beer and yakitori.?

[ughat]

love your vids! You may want to google

「吉田類の酒場放浪記」

it is one of my fav shows and it seems close to your style and taste.

[toddatron]

I did thanks for that I wish I could do that for a living!! cheers

[reynoldsair]

i love stuffed peppers. my wife will make those and i'll put either tonkatsu sauce or sweet chili sauce on them~

[toddatron]

Those are my favorite at that place....... they are worth the trip if in Shinjuku

[Thisnamekills]

that place looks awesome, ...hmm now I'm hungry I gotta find a place like this when I get to Japan in a couple months, maybe even that exact place. what is it's name?

[toddatron]

Its called the Fukuhachi bar and grill... let me know when you are going I may just meet you there... the directions are in the info box... its easy to get there from the station:) cheers bro!

[toho36]

It seems to be a relaxing restaurant and I believe you feel at home.

Can you tell me the sort of the place in Boston or NYC where the Japanese relax just like you do in Shinjuku.

[TiramisuHappy]

NYC does not have an equivalent of Little Tokyo (in LA) or J-Town (in SF.) However there are small clusters of Japanese restaurants here and there if you ever look up fom your Blackberry walking down the street! (especially in Midtown area.) "Korea Town" on the 32nd St is also fast becoming a place where many Japanese locals hang out...

[toddatron]

Yea I heard piss alley before..... Actually this time I noticed that they rehabed the nasty bathrooms in the back alley. Rather decent now...

[BunnyHanyou]

OMG :O.

Can I ask you a question, since Im going to be studying abroad in Japan soon.

Do you know Japanese? Or were you able to get around with just english? Because Im really scared, even though most people told me that alot of people speak english

:X.

THANKS! <3.

[toddatron]

The trains are mostly bilingual in tokyo and you can get maps in the states or here in a book store that are in english. You should get some basic Japanese phrases down... but if you are going to study here then time and your willingness to learn will be your guide. Its always hard the first time here but if you want it bad enough you will succeed.

[shoeach]

Nostalgic place!

I used to visit there with my friends in my student days (34~5 years ago).

At that time, we referred there as "Shonben Yokotyou" which means "The alley where pee smells".

Though, through your video it seems to have been cleaned down after a fire.

I miss there.

[RoninDave]

yakitori and beer - ya can't go wrong with that winning combo!

[Iloveyakitori]

Really one of the best videos' about yakitori. Thanks... I will go there on my next visit to Japan.

[TheBowlerHatGuy]

Awsome...very Bladerunner...lush food

[toddatron]

Dude... I was thinking about that... funny. .... it reminded me of Ghost in The Shell a bit too...

[fatblueman]

After that I think I am headed out for some yakitori...

[toddatron]

Thanks man.... nice work on the Christmas vid...cheers to you.

[novanine]

Nice vlog. I'm hungry now!

[toddatron]

Thanks... I have to say that last vlog of yours or a couple back made me thirsty. I will have to grab a bottle of Baileys for the Holidays here.......... SOON! Its just not Christmas without a supply of sweets Baileys and coffee..... Baileys and coffee is like reving the engine in neutral for me.

Cheers bro.......

[novanine]

Wha?? Do you mix Baileys with coffee or are you talking about the coffee edition of Baileys? I wasn't even aware of that version of Baileys until I saw a billboard, in London today, advertising the stuff!

[toddatron]

Wow a coffee version?...I was talking about the regular/original one... I dump a shot or two or three in a big mug of dark coffee....and a touch of cream.

[Eszra]

I was just wondering yesterday where you were.

I love how there are little food shops like that. I wish it was like that in america.

That food looked so good!

Now I'm hungry!

I've wanted to try the snail, what does it taste like?

[toddatron]

Yea thats a big part of the happy neighborhood culture here. It seems to be a part of what helps keep Japan kind honest and polite and then there is their obsession with quality and freshness even at a little joint like that. These places are also a part of what really runs the ecomomy. I am very fortunate to know that place they treat us like family there.

[toddatron]

I forgot to answer your question as I was rambling..... snail basically tastes like a more intense and chewy clam and then leaning towards the bitter side at times. Half of it is chewey like a clamb and the other half is the organs and they are more intense but if you have eaten steamers then you should be fine.