Katsu, Kichijoji かつ、吉祥寺

Following the thorough disappointment that is Shun, my Friday evening was redeemed thanks to Katsu, a small basement yakitori-ya also but a stone’s throw from the park exit of Kichijoji station.

To be honest, while I enjoyed my time there, as far as I can recall, I was so inebriated that I had not the presence of mind to make note of the delicious morsels consumed. In retrospect, however, both my dining partners and myself agree that all were of excellent quality.

A tiny establishment, consisting of a small bar, a few tables and a tiny raised tatami-floored platform, Katsu is a lively, ‘alternative’ take on the yakitori-ya, that is perhaps best described with adjective such as ‘cool’ or ‘funky’. Overall the décor, atmosphere and staff had a distinctively ‘alternative culture’ feel to them. The master of the place – see photo – is a charming well-mannered individual who attended to our needs handsomely. An excellent selection of nihonshu, again at least as far as I remember, was on offer. The food was tasty and fresh although perhaps a little too small for my tastes.

Certainly a second, more lucid, visit is in order so as to give Katsu the review it deserves.