Recommended by a 3-star Michelin sushi chef, I knew that Gotetsu in Tokyo’s Akasaka neighbourhood had to be good. And it was simply that. Gotetsu specialises in chicken yakitori served in an unassuming restaurant that seats probably not more than 25. We had all parts of the chicken including some of the best innards I’ve tried.

The restaurant is less than a five minute walk from the Akasaka subway station and located on a street behind Akasaka’s main street. The clientele was local and you could tell guests were having a great time from the volume of speech and laughter as the evening progressed – a nice change from sometimes somber restaurants in Japan. I think this had something to do with the more than 45 types of sake and shochu on the menu, which can be ordered by the glass.

We started with raw chicken that was dressed with wasabi and lots of finely sliced spring onions. While the thought of eating raw chicken can be off-putting, this was very good due in large part to the quality of the bird. Other highlights included very tasty chicken hearts. I’m not big on innards but I happily ate more than one in this case. The hearts were firm with a slight crunchiness and not tough.

We also had chicken meatballs – one marinated in a teriyaki sauce and the other with salt and a touch of either wasabi or a plum based paste. The grilled chicken skin was dressed with ponzu sauce. I was a touch disappointed in the skin as I prefer this to be crunchier. I think Fuku (see my Fuku blog) – a general yakitori restaurant in the Yoyogi Uehara area – does the chicken skin better.

Other more easily recognisable dishes included chicken wings, chicken thighs, Japanese peppers and leeks.

Besides the various chicken skewers, we also had a karaage chicken – golden fried bits of chicken and ended the meal with a choice of either minced chicken with rice or Oyakodon, runny egg and chicken over rice. The latter translates as mother and child since it contains the chicken meat and the egg.

Gotetsu is popular and even though we went on a Monday night, the restaurant was fully booked. I think this was because Gotetsu is reasonably priced. It cost SGD330 for five of us inclusive of beer, sake and shochu. I definitely suggest making reservations. The restaurant is open for lunch from 11:30am to 2pm and for dinner from 5:30pm until 11:30pm Monday to Fridays.

Gotetsu’s page on Gurunavi website – contact details and map available: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/a457400/lang/en/