Kushitei 串亭 横須賀

The more you start looking around Yokosuka, the more restaurants you realize you had no idea were here. Part of the problem is that it's easy to get into a comfort zone and keep going back to your old reliable places. But there are many other places if you're willing to explore a bit.

Kushitei is just a few turns away once you get to Yokosuka Chuo Station. Although we drove and parked in a secret location, it's easily walk-able from base.

Now, for the astute observer, one will notice that their sign says "Kusitei" but I've written it as "Kushitei." The restaurant sign cannot possibly be wrong... and what difference does it make if the food is good? Perhaps they want to distinguish themselves from Kushimichi a few blocks away?

Kushitei is close to the "12 frogs" place or one of our favorites restaurants "Tori Gin." You can find it on the blog map.

Kushitei has two levels. On the first is counter seating and a few tables. The second floor has "booths" that are separately by dividers. Two tables/booths are between each divider so you may have someone at the table next to you. The dividers do an acceptable, but not perfect job of blocking smoke from any potential smokers in the next booth. Of course, when the other group within your shared area starts smoking, there is no wall divider, and as such you will breath their smoke. Luckily we were finishing before the staff placed someone else at the table next to ours. When we visit again - and I'm sure we will - I'd like to try out the counter where we can watch the chef's cook.

串亭 is the Kanji for Kushi-Tei. Kushi means spit or skewer and is one of the easiest Kanji to learn. After all, you can see the meat on the stick! Tei or 亭 is frequently used in restaurant names. It can mean arbor, pavilion, cottage, music hall or restaurant. Restaurant Kurobatei uses it, as does Gyorantei.

Kushitei has an extensive menu and sure to please varied tastes. The prices are good too. Their normal menu is in both Japanese and English and is provided below. I especially like the last page of the menu where they describe the different staff training levels. They offer a seasonal menu but only in Japanese. I've done my best at translating the one from April below. Often some really good dishes are on the seasonal menus, so it's good to try to figure it out. But you can see the danger of the point and shoot method if you don't know what your pointing at.

Kamameshi cooking at your table

Kamameshi is a steamed rice dish with other food on top of the rice as it's cooked. Tori-gin specializes in it as well. Here at Kushitei though, you get to see the kamameshi cook right at your own table. If you order this, order it right away since it will take about 40 minutes to be ready to eat. 30 minutes until the flame goes out and then another 10 minutes wait period to finish up the cooking.

The food here is classic Izakaya fair. Although their name and sign would lead one to believe that food on a stick rules, there are many other menu choices.

Good lookin' Tofu salad

Kakiage and sauce

Here you see some kakiage (described here in this post). Hard to go wrong with kakiage. The English menu (gotta love it) describes it "mixture of fried shrimp and trifoliate." How someone gets to the English word "trifoliate" using whatever translation tool - I don't know. But it just means shrimp with three vegetables all bound by a tempura batter and deep fried.

Chicken wings - Tebasaki

Deep fried chicken - Chicken Karaage

Hotate - Scallops

Deep fried shrimp - eat the head and all

Miso soup and a salmon onigiri

Tsukune or chicken meatball

Tomato wrapped in bacon

Most places will serve mini tomatoes wrapped in bacon but here they just cut up a regular tomato and then wrap it. Guess what, it still tastes good.

Tori Negi - Chicken and Negi onions

Yaki onigiri

Kushitei

Notice the spelling of their name on the front of the menu?

If you want to practice your Japanese and Kanji this is an excellent menu to do so. You've got the Kanji, the Hiragana or the Katakana, the romaji pronunciation, and the English translation all together. You'll see many of the Kanji from my "Key food Kanji" page.