Shinjuku Tatsukichi
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While in Tokyo, we wanted to have kushikatsu again, and when trying to find a restaurant we managed to come across Shinjuku Tatsukichi. Our first experience with kushikatsu was an inexpensive restaurant with a menu of about 20 different options. The food there was still amazing, but we wanted to try out what a higher end kushikatsu restaurant would be like. Shinjuku Tatsukichi is a moderately priced kushikatsu restaurant and the meal we had was one of the best we had our entire time in Tokyo.
Shinjuku Tatsukichi is located in a narrow highrise in Shinjuku. It’s an easy few minute walk from Shinjuku-Sanchome Station, but finding the actual location can be challenging. The signs for Shinjuku Tatsukichi are all in Japanese, so unless you can read the characters, it can be tough to spot. Fortunately, the building is unique and stand out quite well, especially at night with its neon lit facade. Once the building is found, simply take the elevator to the 9th floor.
Kushikatsu is a type of Japanese cuisine that serves various meat and veggies skewered on wooden sticks, coated in breadcrumbs, and lightly fried in oil until they have a crispy texture. Miraculously, they still manage to keep the skewers from being greasy; they are simply light and crisp. You can order individual sticks of your choice, or you can choose to be served “omakase,” or at the chef’s choice. This is what we picked! (You can inform your server of any food allergies or items you dislike, and they’ll skip those for you.)
While cheaper kushikatsu restaurants have just one sauce for dipping (that you only dip once!) Shinjuku Tatsukichi has many sauces. We were each given a tray with four different sauces, a lemon wedge, and even seasoned salt to go with the skewers. Then, when each skewer was served, the server indicated the sauce that would complement the flavors best. There was a cup of veggies sticks and cabbage on the side as well to go with the meal. We ordered a sake and a beer to accompany our meal.
Our first skewer was shrimp that was fried with a green herb, possibly basil. The second was asparagus, which came with its own sauce neatly arranged down its length. Next was tender pork; then chewy, delicious mochi cheese; onion and ham; German potato; lotus root; white fish; and ginko nuts (which was definitely new to us!).
The meal continued with Japanese beef (DELICIOUS); melty mozzarella and tomato; mushrooms that poked their heads out of their breading; a crab claw (which used the end of the claw as a built-in skewer); quail eggs with creamy yolks; cheese; a long, sweet green pepper; fish; squid; and finally more pork. They have dessert options as well (we saw another patron further down the bar being served dessert), but after all those skewers we were quite full!
The chef keeps the various skewers coming until told to stop. Much to her dismay, Michelle stopped at 9 skewers. Taylor ended with 18, but made sure to share the particularly good ones with her once she had stopped getting served any.
We loved the sheer variety and creativity shown in the skewers this restaurant serves. Many kushikatsu places are simpler, with just a piece of meat or veggie fried on its own, and there’s typically only one dipping sauce - those restaurants are still amazing! However, this place went a step beyond that, and we truly enjoyed the experience. We will definitely be back!
Google Maps Link : Shinjuku Tatsukichi
