YAKITORI Moe es

Sixteen seats, two sittings, no walk-ins: book before you plan the rest of your evening

YAKITORI Moe es operates on strict scarcity. The restaurant runs two omakase sittings per evening — 18:00 and 19:00 — with eight seats available per slot. All dishes are served simultaneously, which means arriving late directly reduces how much you eat. There are no à la carte options and no walk-ins accepted. If this format works for you, you are looking at one of the most consistently decorated yakitori counters in Tokyo: a Tabelog Bronze Award winner in both 2025 and 2026, a Michelin Plate holder in 2024 and 2025, and a member of the Tabelog Yakitori Top 100 every year since 2022. The score sits at 4.27 on Tabelog, with review-based spending typically landing in the JPY 15,000–19,999 range once drinks and the 10% service charge are factored in.

What makes this worth the booking

Chef Daisuke Numano brings French technique to yakitori in a way that changes the opening and closing of the meal without disrupting its core identity. The omakase begins with appetisers that read more like a French kitchen than a grill , smoked chicken preparations and terrine de foie gras appear before the skewers arrive. The chicken soup that follows is described as clear as consommé, reflecting stock discipline more common in haute cuisine than a yakitori-ya. The meal closes with simple chicken soba noodles, a deliberately understated finish that keeps the focus on the bird throughout. Numano sources whole chickens from a breed with an extended breeding cycle, then rests the meat for several days to deepen flavour concentration. Seasoning philosophy leans heavily on salt over sauce, which is a deliberate choice to let the quality of the chicken speak rather than masking it. This approach distinguishes Moe es from the sauce-forward style common at many Tokyo yakitori counters.

The room opened in June 2021 and seats 16 people across 12 counter seats and a private room for up to four. The counter is the right choice for solo diners and couples; the private room suits small business dinners or occasions where discretion matters. Tabelog users specifically flag this venue for business occasions. No smoking throughout. Children are not permitted.

The drinks program

The beverage offering at Moe es is more considered than you typically find at this price point in the yakitori category. The restaurant is described as particular about both sake (nihonshu) and wine, and a sommelier is available , an unusual provision for a 16-seat yakitori counter. If you are coming with a specific bottle in mind, call ahead; the database does not confirm a corkage policy, so verification is worth the effort before arrival. The sake selection is the more natural pairing with the salt-forward skewer style here, but the wine focus suggests the kitchen is comfortable serving guests who prefer to drink European. For a comparable drinks-forward yakitori experience in Tokyo, BIRD LAND in Ginza also takes the beverage program seriously, though it operates at a different price point and without omakase-only restrictions. Asagaya BIRD LAND offers a more neighbourhood-focused version of the same lineage if you are exploring beyond central Tokyo.

Ratings and recognition

• Tabelog Bronze Award , 2025 and 2026
• Tabelog Score , 4.27
• Tabelog Yakitori East Top 100 , every year from 2022 to 2025
• Michelin Plate , 2024 and 2025
• Opinionated About Dining Leading Restaurants in Japan , ranked #612 (2025)
• Google Reviews , 4.4 from 268 reviews

Booking and practical details

Reservations: Omakase only; reservation required. Two sittings nightly , 18:00 (ends 20:15) and 19:00 (ends 20:40). Late arrivals result in fewer courses served. Book as far ahead as possible; with only eight seats per sitting and no official website listed in the database, reservations are most reliably made through Tabelog. Budget: Listed at JPY 10,000–14,999; review-based average is JPY 15,000–19,999 before the 10% service charge. Plan for the higher end. Dress: No formal dress code is listed, but the stylish counter setting, business occasion recommendation, and prix-fixe format suggest smart-casual at minimum. Access: 3 minutes on foot from Roppongi Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line or Toei Oedo Line). Payment: Credit cards accepted; electronic money and QR code payments are not. Private room: Available for up to four guests , suitable for a business dinner or a small occasion. Children: Not permitted. Parking: Not available.

How it compares

See the full comparison below. For other high-quality yakitori in Tokyo, Yakitori Omino and Aramaki are worth considering, as is 124. KAGURAZAKA for a different neighbourhood setting. If you are building a broader Japan itinerary, the yakitori category extends well beyond Tokyo: Ichimatsu in Osaka and Torisaki in Kyoto are both worth a visit. For fine dining in other Japanese cities, consider HAJIME in Osaka, Gion Sasaki in Kyoto, akordu in Nara, Goh in Fukuoka, 1000 in Yokohama, or 6 in Okinawa.

For everything else in Tokyo: our full Tokyo restaurants guide, Tokyo hotels, Tokyo bars, Tokyo wineries, and Tokyo experiences.

Frequently asked questions

• Is YAKITORI Moe es good for a special occasion? Yes, with the right group size. The private room (up to four guests) and the French-influenced omakase format make it a credible choice for a business dinner or a low-key celebration. The Tabelog Bronze Award and Michelin Plate recognition back up the price, and the sommelier presence adds a layer of service depth you do not get at most yakitori counters. Solo diners and couples work well at the counter for the same occasion type.
• Can I eat at the bar at YAKITORI Moe es? The counter seats 12 and is the primary dining experience here. All 16 seats , counter and private room , are reservation-only omakase, so there is no option to drop in for a drink or a single skewer. If you want a more casual yakitori counter experience in Roppongi or central Tokyo, this is not the format for you.
• What should I wear to YAKITORI Moe es? No dress code is stated, but the combination of a stylish counter setting, a price point of JPY 15,000–19,999 per head, Michelin recognition, and a strong business-occasion reputation points to smart-casual as the floor. You will not be turned away in neat casual wear, but overdressing is better than underdressing here.
• Can YAKITORI Moe es accommodate groups? The venue seats 16 in total , 12 at the counter and up to four in the private room. The private room is the right option for a group of four; groups larger than four cannot be seated together. The restaurant is listed as unavailable for full private hire, so if you need the whole space, look elsewhere.
• Is the tasting menu worth it at YAKITORI Moe es? At JPY 15,000–19,999 all-in (including the 10% service charge), this is at the high end of the Tokyo yakitori market. The French-technique approach , foie gras terrine, consommé-clear chicken soup, extended-breed sourcing , justifies a premium over a standard yakitori-ya. The four consecutive years in the Tabelog Top 100 and dual Michelin Plates confirm the kitchen is delivering at this price. Worth it if the omakase format suits you; less compelling if you prefer to order selectively.
• What are alternatives to YAKITORI Moe es in Tokyo? For yakitori at a similar award level: Yakitori Omino and Aramaki are the closest comparators. BIRD LAND in Ginza is more accessible and less prix-fixe in format if you want flexibility. For a French-Japanese fine dining experience without the yakitori format, HOMMAGE or Crony cover similar Franco-Japanese territory at ¥¥¥¥.
• Is YAKITORI Moe es worth the price? For most explorers in the Tokyo fine dining category: yes. The combination of French-trained technique, extended-breed chicken sourcing, sommelier service, and consecutive Tabelog and Michelin recognition makes the JPY 15,000–19,999 spend defensible. The format is strict , omakase only, simultaneous service, no late arrivals , so the price is only worth it if you can commit to the structure. If you want flexibility at a similar spend, consider RyuGin for kaiseki or L'Effervescence for French.