Tori Ichizu

If chicken is what you want and you're in the Shinjuku area, head towards Tori Ichizu for a bounty of karaage, yakitori, mizutaki and much more – and at rather reasonable prices too. Lunch is where the real value is to be had: we stopped by for their lunch sets, which are all a variation on karaage or chicken nanban, the simplest of which go for a mere ¥500 including rice, pickles, and miso soup (and tax). If you're willing to spare an extra ¥50 or ¥100, you can have negishio karaage or a set with both karaage and chicken nanban; we'd argue that's a pretty good deal. Portion sizes are standard while service is swift but jolly; our neighbour was accidentally served a double portion instead of a half-portion of rice – to great hilarity of the kitchen staff and the customer himself. Note that Tori Ichizu is on the second floor; the stairs are just left of the big steak restaurant on the ground floor, while the elevator is further back.