On the shotengai street of Azabu-Juban it is hard to miss the smell of yakitori, grilled chicken skewers, coming out from Abe-chan. The shop opens at 3 p.m. and it is not unusual to see older diners come in before the evening rush. Abe-chan is a local yakitori-ya that is a good value and fun. It’s not competing with high-end shops like Ginza Birdland for a special night out, but is a shop that you come in for a few skewers with family or friends.
The cuts of meat are generous so don’t order too many skewers right away. The staff will suggest which skewers are best with the tare sauce or…
and which are best simply salted.
Can you believe this? The pot with the tare sauce at the front of the shop has been constantly topped off for 70 years. The handsome father, here in the photo, on television said that if the big earthquake comes he would race to the shop to protect this sauce pot. Love it.
In the blue shirt is the son, also Abe-chan, as Abe is the family’s last name. I love this local yakitori-ya and it’s just down the street from my favorite bar in the city, Bar Gen Yamamoto. Abe-chan has a second shop around the corner and the staff can direct you there if the main shop is full, which is often the case.
Abe-chan
Minato-ku, Azabu-Juban 2-1-1 港区麻布十番2-1-1
Food Sake Tokyo 
Thanks for the great post! Just wondering, do they have an English menu at all?
Good question. I introduced my girlfriend to the shop and she went many times and was fine. I asked her if there was an English menu and she thought there was. She did add that if there wasn’t an English menu, that someone on the staff spoke enough English to help them order. Lovely shop. I hope you make it there. 🙂