Yakitori Ebisu Nishi-Ogikubo

The smoke coming from this izakaya is heavy with the smell of roast chicken, and starts enticing patrons from the early afternoon. Don't resist the urge to follow your nose and plonk yourself down here, as you'll be handsomely rewarded with ¥100 skewers and reasonably priced small plates that go rather well with a glass or two of something. If you had to have only one thing, try the iwashi croquette, which is a surprising combination of sardines and potato in one bite. Ebisu attracts customers from all walks of life, from young couples to seniors who seem to never leave the place – we'd argue that's a guarantee of a good time.