Motsuyaki Captain Yoyogi

One of Japan’s lesser-known soul foods, motsuyaki, or grilled offal, is a popular dinner choice after a particularly long workday — or just to treat oneself to a meal of meaty, fatty goodness. At the intersection of Kita-sando, Shinjuku and Yoyogi Stations is Hobo Shinjuku Norengai, a gathering of izakaya that attracts crowds of office workers and tourists alike for its eclectic selection of cuisines. Here, Motsuyaki Captain Yoyogi stands tall as the only motsuyaki specialist. The restaurant takes particular pride in the freshness of its offal; every day, the chef purchases a whole pork intestine in the morning, slowly and methodically disassembling it into constituent parts to grill over bincho-tan charcoal, then serving them up to waiting (and hungry) customers. It’s said to be one of the few restaurants to consistently serve motsu so fresh that even the offal’s characteristic oily smell is absent. So confident is Motsuyaki Captain in its quality control, in fact, that it even serves offal sashimi (motsu-sashi), a menu offering only available at a select few restaurants. More adventurous guests will find that aside from motsuyaki staples like heart and tongue, Motsuyaki Captain’s menu even contains parts that are difficult to find in other motsuyaki restaurants, such as cartilage (nankotsu). Hobo Shinjuku Norengai possesses its own unique atmosphere, with its narrow streets offering a genuine “yokocho-style” walking experience abuzz with the sound of sizzling meats, chattering diners and shouted orders in kitchens. Motsuyaki Captain Yoyogi invites visitors to make even more of a night to remember with its one-of-a-kind menu offerings.