Saitamaya

4.0 387 reviews 4:00 AM - 8:30 PM 2 Chome-5-12 Higashijujo, Kita City, Tokyo 114-0001, Japan

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At Saitamaya, a delightful kushiyaki restaurant nestled in Kita City, Tokyo, patrons are met with a wonderful blend of local hospitality and exceptional culinary artistry. This charming Mom & Pop establishment is quickly becoming a favorite among those who seek an authentic dining experience in Japan. The friendly staff and owner create an inviting atmosphere, making every visit memorable.

Guests rave about the omakase-style yakitori, where expertly grilled skewers showcase a variety of pork inner parts, seasoned simply with salt to highlight the meat’s natural flavors. Christian Calcano hails the food as the best you'll find anywhere, while Mitch Arm's group particularly enjoys the dangerously good lemon sours and the standout beef stew paired with bread.

Many visitors, like CYL, find themselves emotionally attached to the divine skewers, lamenting the last bite. The convivial atmosphere, characterized by humor and warmth, keeps guests engaged throughout their dining experience. Whether you’re a first-timer or a returning guest, Saitamaya promises a delightful culinary journey filled with laughter, great drinks, and unforgettable dishes. It’s a must-visit for anyone wanting to experience Japan's flavorful kushiyaki.

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Amenities & More

Service options

Onsite services
Dine-in
Delivery

Popular for

Dinner

Dining options

Dinner
Table service

Amenities

Restroom

Note: Amenity details are aggregated from verified visits, the venue's website and Google. They may change without notice. We recommend confirming key details (pet policy, accessibility, reservations) directly with Saitamaya before visiting.

Reviews for Saitamaya

4.0

387 reviews

100%

38%

13%

27%

Review highlights

Based on 387 reviews

Saitamaya, a kushiyaki restaurant in Tokyo, is widely praised for its authentic local atmosphere, friendly and engaging staff, and expertly prepared skewers. Customers often highlight the omakase-style dining experience featuring a variety of pork innards, lightly seasoned to enhance natural flavors. The lively, convivial environment and warm interactions with the owner contribute significantly to the overall appeal. Additionally, the restaurant’s signature drinks, especially the lemon sours, receive frequent acclaim for their quality and complement to the food. While some note the need to arrive early due to its popularity, most reviews emphasize the value and enjoyment found in the reasonably priced, flavorful dishes and attentive service, making Saitamaya a favored spot among both locals and visitors seeking an authentic kushiyaki experience.

Christian Calcano

Sep 03, 2025

I've been wanting to go for a while and finally got to go and it will be added to my go to spots when I am in Japan. The family/staff are very friendly, accommodating, and skilled. The sours are fantastic and the food is the best you'll find anywhere. Highly recommend if you want a local feel, a solid drink, and incredible food.

Mitch Arm

Aug 29, 2025

Ignore all these 1 star reviews, this little Mom & Pop place was incredible, especially the atmosphere and interactions with the staff. Our group of 4 had a blast and the food was delicious, listen to the staff as they advise you how to eat the skewers. Drink the Lemon sours they are dangerously good. Beef stew with the bread was the star of the show for us. (We got seconds) Cost PP was around ¥6000. We will be returning when we come back to Japan

CYL

Jul 07, 2025

Absolutely wonderful experience - the skewers here are absolutely divine! When I got to my last skewer I was genuinely sad and wished I could do it all over again! Owner of the store is very friendly and the whole atmosphere is convivial and lovely!

Daniel Cerventus Lim

Jun 30, 2025

Omakese style yakitori which is chef choice. They serve a lot of pork inner parts out of the set of 9 stick. It is does not serve non alcoholic drink and the yakitori is lightly seasoned with mostly salt instead of sauce. Good experience for someone who loves pork. The chef is one entertaining guy.

Cho Jessica

Jun 14, 2025

It was an amazing experience!! need to line up way before opening, but it was worth it. Staffs were very kind and hilarious. I totally enjoyed my time eating and laughing during the omakase course that was about ~2hrs. They tend to tease you a lot (in funny way)

Phillip Lau

Jun 13, 2025

A mom and pop business that does grilled skewers. Not for the shy and introverted people because you will be making friends with the people next to you. Mostly locals, but there are also people from all walks of life. It is an omakase experience. They will tell you how to eat certain skewers. I would recommend getting the wagyu beef stew. They have alcohol as well. Lemon sour can get you bust if you’re not careful . Cash only!

Russell Yap

May 31, 2025

The food was fantastic and the owner was so warm And bubbly with the most wonderful personality! Ordering is simple because it’s the owners choice of 9 skewers made from beef, pork and chicken. The beef stew with toasted bread is also a must try dish as the meat is stewed until it is completely fork tender. You can use your lips to chew the meat. For the main event, Each of the 9 skewers was specially curated to give you an experience which just keeps going up, up, up! Each skewer was entirely different from the other and they each had their own special traits, flavour and texture. The highlights for me were the pork intestine skewer, pork spleen and the chicken skewer with salsa was a great way to end the meal. Order a strong lemon sour to go with the meal and get ready for a great time of interaction and food! I will definitely go again!

Ken Chen

May 30, 2025

2nd visit, always marvelled by the food technique in this shop. Please do come at least 30 mins before shop opening for guaranteed first entry. Obey their rules of no smoking and drinking is a must, u will have a fun night for sure.