01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Choosing what to order is part of the pleasure at Washu Dining Takeyama. The liver pâté, served on thin slices of bread, has been a popular menu item since the restaurant opened, according to its introduction. It is described as having a subtly Japanese flavour and pairing well with sake and shochu. One diner recalls ordering it with baguette, finding the seasoning on the strong side and a good match for a drink. It makes an appealing start to the meal.
There are several ways to enjoy the chicken. The seared chicken, made with chicken prepared the same day, comes with a choice of ponzu, soy sauce or sesame-oil salt. Torisawa pairs refreshing chicken tenderloin with crunchy rice crackers. For something light, either could be a good place to begin. There is also tender steamed chicken with a spicy sauce, and Abe chicken grilled on a stone plate. The stone-grilled chicken is listed in mixed platters ranging from 4 varieties for 1,500 yen to 7 varieties for 1,800 yen, making it easy to choose according to appetite and group size.
For a dish with a distinctive look, try Takeyama-style chicken nanban, served with pink tartar sauce. A half portion is also listed, so it can be enjoyed alongside other chicken dishes or small plates. The “Nerima Black Bang Bang Chicken” is another house speciality whose name is sure to pique curiosity. The drinks list has a notable selection of sake and shochu. The junmai sake can be enjoyed chilled or warmed, and some can be ordered in half portions. Shochu options include sweet-potato, barley and rice varieties. The shochu prepared by combining it with water and letting it rest for 2 weeks is also served on the rocks or warmed. Choose drinks to match each dish, or consider one of the listed courses with 3 hours of all-you-can-drink.
To finish with a substantial meal, there is chicken and vegetable rice cooked in a clay pot, with the contents changing by season and portions for 2–3 people. The mizutaki hot pot, a chicken broth hot pot, includes a rice-porridge set and requires advance booking from 2 portions. In Fujimidai, Takeyama offers the makings of a meal centred on chicken, whether dining solo or with a group: choose a dish, a drink and something to round things off.
