01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Tontokoton in Asakusa offers an easygoing spot to unwind with a drink in hand and hot skewers off the grill. Counter seating occupies the 1st floor, while tables on the 2nd floor accommodate both solo diners popping in for a quick drink and lively groups gathering for a toast.
Skewers form the backbone of the menu, appealingly priced starting in the 100-yen range for 1 piece. Salted cuts like pork rib belly (bara) and pork jowl (kashira) highlight the natural flavor of the meat, while tare-glazed intestine (shiro) and cartilage (nankotsu) deliver deep, savory char. The yakitori selection is just as tempting, featuring crispy salted neck skin (kawa), sauce-coated chicken and scallion skewers (negima), and plump chicken hearts (hatsu), making it easy to order across the variety.
Beyond the skewers, the menu highlights well-known regional comfort foods from around Japan. Highlights include Atsugi shirokoro grilled over charcoal with a special miso sauce, Fujinomiya yakisoba tossed with firm steamed noodles and rich dried fish powder, and Yokote yakisoba finished with a fried egg and bright red pickled vegetables (fukujinzuke). Small bites such as house-made potato salad and chunks of Pacific bluefin tuna (hon-maguro butsu) make satisfying starters to go with that first pour.
The drink lineup covers izakaya staples, featuring sub-zero draft beer, mega mugs, and Hoppy sets with white, black, or red mixers. Timed all-you-can-drink plans are also on offer. Operating from late afternoon on weekdays and starting earlier in the afternoon on weekends through late night, the shop welcomes diners to settle in and drink at their own pace.
