Toriden

Located close to Hakusan Station, Toriden is an unpretentious yakitori tavern where patrons gather for aromatic skewers hot off the grill and an extensive list of homemade sides. The skewer roster covers izakaya mainstays, featuring negima chicken and scallion, tender young chicken (hina), liver, gizzard, skin, and tebasaki chicken wings, each providing a distinct texture and savory depth. Creative specialty skewers add variety to an order, including juicy minced meat stuffed into shiitake mushrooms or green peppers, as well as chewy mochi wrapped in pork belly.

The broad array of small dishes served while skewers are grilling is another major draw that keeps regulars returning. A popular choice is the tori sashi (chicken sashimi), accompanied by other drink-friendly plates such as slow-simmered chicken stew (tori nikomi), refreshing chicken tenderloin with ponzu, and egg-yolk-topped tonpeiyaki. The kitchen also turns out homemade nukazuke pickles, edamame-shrimp-and-cheese spring rolls, and seafood options like cured mackerel (shime saba) and sardine sashimi, giving diners plenty of ways to tailor their spread.

House-Made Fruit Syrups and Comforting Rice Dishes

A distinctive fixture of the beverage menu is the house-made fruit syrup collection, featuring flavors such as Japanese plum (ume), kiwi, yuzu, quince (karin), and strawberry. These syrups can be enjoyed as crisp sodas or mixed with shochu, vodka, or whisky, where the gentle fruit notes cut cleanly through the rich, salted char of the grilled skewers. Draft beer, sake, and traditional shochu pours are also available, making it easy to start the evening with whichever drink suits your mood. To wrap up the meal, warm bowls of ochazuke and rice balls can be ordered with fillings like seaweed, umeboshi, salmon, or spicy cod roe (mentaiko), alongside fragrant grilled onigiri toasted to a crust.

Seating includes both counter spots and table arrangements, offering a comfortable atmosphere whether you are stopping by alone after work or sharing drinks with friends and family. Because the tavern operates only in the evening and fills up quickly, considering a reservation and bringing cash ahead of time will ensure an effortless visit.