Omoide Yokocho Memory Lane

Tourist attraction · Shinjuku

Omoide Yokocho Memory Lane

Tourist attraction · Shinjuku

4

1 Chome-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan

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Highlights

Explore a lively alleyway in Shinjuku brimming with cozy food stalls serving BBQ and drinks, perfect for mingling with locals and travelers alike.  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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1 Chome-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan Get directions

shinjuku-omoide.com

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1 Chome-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan Get directions

+81 3 5909 5890
shinjuku-omoide.com

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Last updated

Jul 14, 2025

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@cntraveler

"What’s this place all about? Shinjuku ’s Omoide Yokocho is an atmospheric, narrow lane filled with 60 or so bustling, open-fronted, hole in-the-wall restaurants, each seating only a handful of customers. Come after dark to see the red lanterns glowing and the charcoal smoke billowing into the streets. Who’s eating here? Locals frequenting their favorite yakitori shop; tourists and travelers lured in by the characterful and charming setting. What’s to drink? It’s all about beer; ask for Kirin or Suntory Premium Malt. And what should we order to eat? Even at these small yakitori joints, you can embrace the Japanese concept of omakase, where you leave your meal in the hands of the chefs. Then sit back and relax while you are served a continuous stream of tasty skewers of chicken, pork, and vegetables. How is the service? At these tiny yakitori stalls, everything is quick and efficient. You sit down and there are only one or two staff. Service is is a notch above a street cart, and the atmosphere is lively and frenetic." - Anna Chittenden

Omoide Yokocho – Neighborhood Review | Condé Nast Traveler
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@atlasobscura

"Located near the busiest train station in the world, a tiny alley of around 60 small bars and restaurants linked by a narrow street just wide enough for two to pass stands in a stark contrast to its crowded neighbor. This area, known as Omoide Yokocho (“Memory Lane”), started out as a black market in the late 1940s after World War II. The strip was also known for cheap drinks and grilled skewers of yakitori. The area’s many watering holes and lack of public restrooms earned it the nickname “piss alley,” as inebriated patrons would relieve themselves in the street. Although the alley was partly razed to make room for the new Shinjuku station and partly destroyed in a fire in the 1990s, a sizable chunk has survived. The local government also rebuilt the fire-damaged sections, making sure to restore their original Shōwa-era appearance.  Today, Omoide Yokocho is filled with tiny stalls serving yakitori and nikomi (a type of beef tendon stew) meant to be washed down with plenty of cheap beer and sake. One of the most famous, or infamous, of them is suggestively named Asadachi, which means “morning wood.” This bar is known for offering such delicacies as fried frogs, salamanders, and aphrodisiacs such as bull penises to go with your beer. Despite its past, the area is now perfectly safe to visit. Most establishments even offer menus in English. To experience Omoide Yokocho in its full glory, it is recommended to visit at nighttime, when most of the tiny bars are open, the lights are illuminated, and the area is filled with businessmen and tourists alike looking for a quick snack and a good drink. Know Before You Go It's a five-minute walk from Shinjuku station. The Omoide Yokocho website has a convenient map showing the locations of all of the establishments in the alley." - buffycaine99, FrustratedFormerContributor, Fred Cherrygarden, mattpeterturner, Hermit09

Omoide Yokocho – Tokyo, Japan - Gastro Obscura
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@chinny

Izakayas

Japan
View Postcard for Omoide Yokocho
@jopleta

Alleway with lots of small restaurants and izakayas

Tokyo
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JillLim

Google
We went here on a Friday at 6pm to avoid the crowds. I love the authentic Japanese vibes of the alleys. It’s beautiful. We ate yakitori (chicken and pork) and it was delicious. There are a lot of restaurants to choose from. We even brought kids and they enjoyed the food too.

Theresa_ SoCalRealty

Google
First time here! This place was different vibe of concepts. Small, tight, crowded during weekend. But food and drinks was great! Each restaurant had same meals the only thing you concerned if one them had spot because they were full seat most of them. If you like exotic food this place must go to. I super enjoyed the foods, beer, smell and loud the area.. Cash only. Parking is hard.

Samuel M. Worthington IV

Google
Tiny alleys bustling with people with tiny bars serving food and drink. It was still fairly easy to find a table for four, and the atmosphere is wonderful! You are super close to everyone so don’t expect any personal space for sure.

Luzma Cortez

Google
During the day it’s less business and only a couple of places are open to eat and drink. Going thru there at night was beautiful with all the lights . The only downfall the places to eat are small and limited. You can wait but you will eventually eat some good food.

Faizan Khan

Google
Easily one of the most vibrant places in the city. Visitors can immerse themselves in the lively atmosphere, savoring traditional Japanese street food like yakitori and broiled offal, while surrounded by the nostalgic charm of old Japan. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of halal options. But a stroll through the city is worth the effort. In the evenings, this place attracts a large crowd of tourists. I would not recommend navigating this street with a stroller, especially if you're traveling with a young family. The narrow alleys and crowded conditions make it challenging to maneuver.

T

Google
Great alleys leading to many small street food style restaurants. All open fronts where you smell the flavours of a range of foods cooking luring you in. It can get smokey around here as it is small and compact but I honestly loved this experience and meeting other tourists closely seated by. Service is fast and you will see your food being cooked and prepared right in front of you on the grill. I loved the pork skewers and the beef soup! This experience really made me feel like I was in city life of Japan and wish I could have visited here again. I would definitely recommend to all to experience the food and night life here. Thanks for the memories.

Winston Lai

Google
Small smokey alley with a number of different small yakitori stalls and other small restaurants. The alley has a unique vibe, with the aroma of charred meats and hazy smoke. It is often crowded, with vendors calling out from different sides. We decided to stop by a small unmarked yakitori restaurant knowing that the food was most likely not going to be amazing but just to enjoy the atmosphere. Lemon and grapefruit sours were great, and squid was quite enjoyable. Most places will charge a table fee of approximately 400 yen/person and you are generally paying a higher cost for drinks and food, but would recommend if you just wanted to check this place out.

MATTHEW SODIKOFF

Google
Got lucky, stopped in for Yakatori at last call. Would have ordered more had we known how delicious it is. Wide variety of places to eat, also variety of different meats and beers within each restaurant. Some are cozy and small, others have room to move. I prefer the ones that did not have English posted.

Jenny C.

Yelp
Tucked away in the heart of Shinjuku, Memory Lane (aka Omoide Yokocho) is like stepping back in time. This tiny, narrow alley is filled smoky grills, small bars, and glowing lanterns that haven't changed in decades. It's a stark contrast to the high-tech, fast-paced world around it--like the famous CAT TV and Godzilla poking behind buildings. I was told locals jokingly call it "Piss Street", and the nickname kinda makes sense when you hear the stories. In its early days, the alley had a reputation for being rowdy, with street vendors serving yakitori (grilled skewers) and takoyaki in a space where people would drink too much and sometimes, well, relieve themselves in less-than-ideal spots. As you wander through the alley now, it's hard not to feel the history. Small, hole-in-the-wall restaurants line both sides, each one offering up some of the best yakitori and local drinks you'll find in Tokyo. So, if you're in Shinjuku and want to experience Tokyo's underbelly, skip the trendy spots and head down to Memory Lane. It's messy, it's filled with lots of interesting arcades/videos, but it's real--and holds historic significance that's exactly what makes it worth the visit.

Cynthia M.

Yelp
Such a beautiful place to get a bite to eat or just stroll. We went in late September and it was already decorated for the fall. It's quaint, old world, and cheap to support their culture & business. Don't miss it. It makes for a great couples day or a family walk down these pretty streets.

Cathy C.

Yelp
Yelp Review 2024 #118: A small bar/ restaurant alley, Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane) near Shinjuku Station is aptly called since it has kept a nostalgic feel/ atmosphere of post-World War II. Most bars/ restaurants here serve yakitori and of course, beer. Some places take credit cards but most are cash only. Some serve meats you're familiar with and some serve grilled innards on skewers. This place attracts a few locals and lots of tourists. Some actually eating, most just taking lots and lots of pictures like it's their personal photo studio which is annoying considering how narrow and small this place is. It's especially annoying when it's raining. If you want to take pictures of this place without people, do it when the bars are closed and people are ought to be sleeping so, anytime between 2am-10am. Come here once and be done with it. Nearby Golden Gai has bars and restaurants with bigger space. Go there instead.

Pat W.

Yelp
A must see place if you are near but full of tourists. Some of the places do have decent food and a fun atmosphere to drink beer and eat Izakaya. There are many Yakocho's that have a more local vibe and Genuine. But this place is great to take pictures and pretty cool to see, and convenient if you are a first timer, limited on time or interested specifically in this place which was nicknamed "Piss Alley"

Marques R.

Yelp
I was here with the fam on a recent trip. The atmosphere here is really cool! The hustle and bustle of the staff and the aroma of the food was amazing! This is definitely one of those few places where you want to spend as much time as possible eating and drinking!

Julia H.

Yelp
By far, my favorite Yakitori experience in Tokyo was here at Omoide Yokocho Alley in Shinjuku. Had we not had other plans that night, I felt like I could have spent hours here just eating through the alley. I loved the feel of it, seated in a small bar, seeing the grill right there from the small alley walkway and all the patrons just enjoying a simple meal and drink with their friends or loved ones. It is a bit of a tourist attraction now so it gets crowded during the dinner rush, but the alley is quite long so you can find a spot to dine-in if you keep moving along. Definitely felt like "memory lane" for those old-timey classic small 4-6 seat bars and yakitori (skewer) grills right in front of the bar that you would see from old travel shows. Right now they've got autumn decorations up, which made the alley look pretty along with the smoke from all the grills.

Tyler L.

Yelp
There is a famous narrow alley in Shinjuku called Omoide Yokocho (Memory Lane). There you will find small, hole in the wall places that mainly serve yakitori (meat skewers). Being a tourist, my local friend took me here for the experience. It is definitely a must do for visitors to Shinjuku. This was the spot that we decided to go to. It is so cramped inside that you will be sitting shoulder to shoulder with the other customers. The food was great though. We ordered several small plates of food and shared everything. The meat was freshly grilled and succulent. This type of place is sort of like a tapas place - a non pretentious spot to share food and alcohol.

Samantha L.

Yelp
Walking into "Piss Alley" and basically found myself among my fellow tourists, many speaking English. Still fun to check out if you want to find a tiny bar to drink, eat small bites and mingle with other visitors. They fill up quickly so you have to pop your head in and out of each bar and ask if they have any seats available. Most have a cover charge. We paid 1000 yen for one on the upstairs/second floor. This is where you get sloppy and wander out into Shinjuku aimlessly buying yakitori or eating vending machine soba in the whee hours of the night.

Jimmy H.

Yelp
It must have been featured in Lonely Planet or something. So many foreign tourists flock in here. Some eat in, others look around just to see what it is like. This narrow, narrow alley sure portraits old school "Show" era, particularly 50's and 60's to be exact. I'm such sucker to this retro atmosphere(and Mary O said in spot-on description - "Piss Alley") and I become quite forgiving even if the service is shitty. Most of the shops are yakitori but there are some few exception of ramen and oden(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oden). All overall experience varies depending on who works where. One night, several of us stumbled up one of yakitori joints in this alley where old lady looking like Melisandre w/o the neckless and a Korean kid who worked on the grill. She was rather grumpy. But she seemed to like young guys(20's). I'm in my 40's but was accompanied by my friends who were all in late 20's, so we were well received by her. There was another pair of young guys next to us whom she locked on them, and sat on their lap and pretty much molesting them. This sight was quite entertaining to us. This lady sucked at math. We drank and ate a lot and charged us 2000yen each. On the other hands, those guys who were molested got charged for 5000 yen for 2 bottle(2liter size) of beer. I love watching shit show here. "Cold blooded" as Snoop Dogg would put it.

Ed U.

Yelp
Omoide Yokocho: Piss Alley, baby. I am so there. I've heard about this jumble of yakitori watering holes before Jamie W.'s and my virginal visit, but it was once again Phil Rosenthal's recent Tokyo episode that made me want what Phil was having. Well, not exactly what he was having since he ran into skeletal indigestion from chewing on an eel's head, but I love grilled meat on a stick (who doesn't?) and some offal ain't bad either. We had quite the dickens finding the place even though it looks fairly straightforward on the Google Maps app. That's Shinjuku for ya, just a hub of pedestrians going every which way and in the process, turning us around like guinea pigs in a maze. I asked a retail store worker where it was in my broken Japlish, "Piss Alley, doko-desuka?" He pointed in the general direction, but we still couldn't find it. We then waited for an available sales clerk in the Uniqlo right at the train station. She was kind enough to walk with us outside the store and point directly to the green sign marking the entrance of Omoide Yokochō, which translates into Memory Lane (photo: http://bit.ly/1ODb8Jm). Domo arigato. At first, it doesn't seem all that unique with bars crowded next to each other but once you go inside the labyrinth and see more and more tiny places with grills, counters and bottles of beer, you start to recognize the whole "Blade Runner" vibe that the congested area has (photo: http://bit.ly/1MobQIB). It all looked great to me as I saw piles of yakitori skewers that smelled good to me, but Jamie was not loving it and didn't like the public restrooms where women pass behind you as you do your business at the urinal. He didn't want to go into any of the crowded spaces, so we entered one of the few restaurants that had dining tables on a second floor. There we had a tofu starter (photo: http://bit.ly/1IgIzoz) and the ￥250 Grilled Chicken Wings along with the ￥310 Grilled Pork Loin and the ￥350 Grilled Chicken Hearts (photo: http://bit.ly/1Igr2N4). We tried to wipe our consciences by ordering the ￥310 Grilled Green Pepper, and we were happy that two sets of skewers came (photo: http://bit.ly/1k9hRCk). Tasty bar bites that went well with our Kirin beers. FOOD - 4 stars...nothing more than solid bar bites but tasty and cheap, easy to see why the salarymen come here AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...the seediness adds to the atmosphere more than the Uniqlo a few feet away SERVICE - 3 stars...good at first but tends to get hazy as the evening progresses TOTAL - 4 stars...ready for a walk down Memory Lane?...say, what''s that smell?

Stephen L.

Yelp
According to most travel guides and forums, this is a must try location. You just go into the alley, and its just filled with endless shops that sell mostly skewers. It is an experience all by itself. A lot of the shops look old and a bit dirty. I only went to one skewer shop, but I would assume every other shop is more or less the same since it appeared the menu with pictures were identical. There's a 300 yen cover charge right off the bat and ordering a drink was a requirement. The skewers ranged from 200-500 yen, so it's really meant to be a snack. I have to say that coming here was a learning experience for me in realizing I really enjoy dining on a full table and not on a tiny booth with a stool. I say trying this place if it's on your list, do it, but I wouldn't make it a priority to eat, walking through piss alley/memory lane is good enough.

Ricky Boby L.

Yelp
Found this place close to our airbnb. Cute little japanese restaurant that serves yakitori. Ordered a total of 7 skewers. 3 chicken. 2 beef and 2 porks. The chicken were okay,but nothing craZy. The beef and the pork ones were overcooked and chewy. The worst part is the price. 2600 yen!! i Do not recommend this place

Brian R.

Yelp
No english menu, so we went with the chef's recommendation. When we sat down, he said "Pork only," but oddly, the meal started with beef tripe soup, which was very flavorful, and super soft. The rest of the dishes were different types of pork, and an udon dish with bonito flakes on top. Let the chef pick for you and you won't go wrong. It's in memory lane aka "piss alley," so it's super casual.

Yonnie C.

Yelp
We came here to get our fill of yakitori, during our short time in Tokyo! When you're in Japan, you should eat yakitori at some point, since it's the real deal! While I've had yakitori in NYC and LA before, it's just more authentic here, since Japanese people are known to make great yakitori! My husband and I randomly picked a small shop, sat at the bar, and proceeded to order our fill of yakitori skewers. There were chicken, gizzard, red meats, mushroom, veggies, and more! It's easy to order 8+ skewers to share, and even get some Japanese beer to go with the meal. Everything is made to order, and grilled right in front of you. Almost every bar counter was full of people, we were fortunate enough to find 2 empty seats! It's fun to come after 8:00 pm -- the location is rather obscure, we weren't sure we were in the right place, until we saw yakitori shops lined up in multiple alley-ways. Then, it became more obvious! If you're in Shinjuku, and looking for an affordable fun meal, come here and try it out. You won't be disappointed! More photos here: https://ourwelltraveledlife.wordpress.com/2015/06/04/konnichiwa-tokyo/

Jana C.

Yelp
Jhoana was right; I was lured by the descriptors of historical and famous(in) of all the "piss alleys" about. And Janno-- thank you for reminding me of its moniker. My original m.o. was to walk around the hilly uneven streets, take it all in,& then slurp down more noodles at that 24 hour teency tiny place. But after spying all the Asian bodies spilling out of the entryway and into the street, uh--- great Japanese food can be devoured anywhere. What struck me: the wide and gorgeous path leading up into this area from the southern direction: soo nice Arrive: sooo rowdy! Unkempt black cables and lines running everywhere overhead, like Uncombed hair. Bars bars and bars... Staggering footsteps, yelling, lots of expats and tourists, and interiors which I could barely peek into save shimmying my body literally into the shoeboxes store spaces along there. It was raining; that definitely added to the whole ambience of debaucherous! Amazingly small and really alive and well during the sunset and after hours, I'm sure these couple of streets keep chefs' hours. And I just plopped back to the throngs of brightly lit Shinjuku. 4 stars for its historicity, intact exteriors, and uniqueness of it all. There is one great yakitori offal place,& one great ramen shoppe!

Jason Z.

Yelp
I went half way across the world, and I took a piss in piss alley, AND I am amazed at the cleanliness of the public bathroom. (Please do not urinate on the buildings.) This is probably my favorite place in all of Tokyo. You are surrounded by modern buildings and skyscrapers, and then there is piss alley. The restaurants around the outside of piss alley seem to have more seating space, while the interior is a picturesque labyrinth of dark corridors lit by lanterns. The restaurants deep within are just as tiny and crowded. It's cramped and tight, but there are some really cool photographs to be taken. The food, mostly yakitori, is cheap and delicious! We ordered everything we could on a stick - crunchy ears, tender jowls, crispy skin. You name the animal part, and they will have it on the menu. Japanese coleslaw is the specialty (it has apples in it) and there's a one drink minimum (you can order tea if you don't want alcohol). Tourist notes: short walk from shinjuku station, on Google maps, cash only, places around the outside are less crowded. There are many other yokocho's throughout the city, but this happened to be my favorite.

Tony U.

Yelp
It's a grungy, dusty old dingy eating area where the public restrooms are weird. The urinals are surrounded by two women room squat toilets. What winds up happening is while men pee in their urinals, women navigate right last them to their doors. Men have no privacy when they have to take a piss. Women on the other hand have to be very brave walking past men while they are peeing. Awk-Warrrrd... This area offers many fun eat and get drunk places that seat as few as 6 people and as many as 20. I tried two yakitori places. One was horrible and there were bugs hanging out near my plate and a view of subway trains passing by every 5 minutes. The food quality is ok but not hot enough or flavorful enough. Also, the patrons are mostly loud, annoying tourists from China, the US, France, Argentina, Spain, etc. etc. What I've learned. The most annoying language in the world is the language of "tourists." The only language more annoying is that of drunks. Here: you got drunk tourists: ewe.

Nancy T.

Yelp
Wow this place... was disappointing to say the least. 1. Foreigners only get an option of a pork package and some appetizers but that's it 2. A lot of things were sold out by 8 PM such as the the macaroni, mushrooms , chicken wing, pork belly..... 3. Instead of the asparagus & bacon that was part of the package deal, we got green onions instead... and we did not get the pork belly. Would not recommend.

Cindy W.

Yelp
Hmm... This street is known as Piss Alley OR Memory Lane. You pick. This is probably my FAVORITE location in all of Tokyo. It's so hidden in the middle of bustling Shinjuku and it is loaded with gems. It's also VERY local - no English on the menu - which are all GREAT signs. My friend and I first stopped at an eel yakitori place. DELICIOUS. For $10 we ordered award-winning eel. So good and fresh that I can still taste it in my mind... No cold eel on unagi will ever come close to what I had here. We also went to another joint that was very packed. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of these two places but you would easily know because they are packed and there's a line. We ate stewed intestines, pig intestine yakitori, cold tofu, and tongue. All of it was DELICIOUS. My favorite Tokyo meal experiences. Also, one of the best parts is that you sit with locals in a cramped space. You hear them banter back and forth with the men behind the counter while the grill sizzles with meat. Then, wash it all down with cold Asani beer. Life really doesn't get better than that. So cheap and so authentic. Experiences like what you find in Piss Alley is exactly the kind that I seek on vacation.

Olivier B.

Yelp
I found this small street while walking around. I decide to choose the restaurant that had a line up of japanease people. I waited maybe 10 minutes that not to bad. I got the pork (they only have pork ) if you read japanease it seams there more options. The meat was really really good especially the red sauce we can put on top of the meat :) i wish the menu would be more elaborate in english because i would have try mire stuff. The staff is friendly and they want to help you. And they make sure you like it! I would go again!

Brian L.

Yelp
World travelers must pay a visit to Memory lane or so called "Pissing Alley". These tight streets brings great traditional yakatori. Depending on the place, you'll sit inside or outside. Outside feels more authentic to the experience. Grab a beer, eat some salty grilled meat and innards and just absorb a special part of Tokyo.

Terrance Y.

Yelp
One of my must stop places to eat in Shinjuku, which is near the JR West Shinjuku exit. Omoide Yokocho (memory Lane) though sometimes called "Piss Alley" but don't worry it's a old narrow lane but although the name doesn't smell like that is a wonderful little lane full of small one thin row eateries serving Yakitori, Kushiyaki, "gut soup" (for lack of the knowledge of what it's called), Ramen, Soba, and other interesting fare. The "Gut Soup" at least that's what I call it since I don't know what it's called is served in a bunch of these little eateries is basically a combo of innards and depending on the place a few vegetables it's actually quite tasty and one of my favorites besides the Yakitori and Kushiyaki in the alley and the price is pretty good too. Almost all of these places in the alley consist on a counter and a very narrow Aisle with stools so if you are a wide person you can forget squeezing in many of the eateries. It's a must even if you don't eat there to at least stroll down the little alley to see it.

Paul B.

Yelp
"Sumimasen, Omoide Yokocho?", I must have asked eight people in a span of 20 minutes. This small collection of Ramen-Ya and Yakitori restaurants is difficult to find. Nestled in the shadow of Shinjuku Station's outbound rail tracks, rests this small network of restaurants congregating into three alleys. "Piss Alley", it is nicknamed. I can't quite figure out why this is. There is no smell of urine...nor is there anything overly dirty about the alleys. Unfortunately, I do not know, nor can I find, the name of the Ramen-Ya we ate at in this area. All I can tell you is that it was the north end-cap of the second alley and was quite busy. "Tabemono Oishii Deska?", my wife asked to the proprietor/expeditor? He pointed to #2 which was a ramen filled with chashu pork [must have been 10 pieces] in a chicken broth soup. It was made very clear that no photography was allowed inside...urgh!!! The Broth: A flavorful chicken broth with a medium level of fat. Not creamy though. The Chashu: While the McDonald's of the world may exaggerate with there food photography, the picture of the ramen at this establishment was true to form. I have never had so much pork in one bowl of soup in my entire life! And it was all delicious and gone in a flash. The Noodles: Medium-sized, the noodles were almost as abundant as the pork resting atop them. So was this Ramen worth all of the chaos, questioning of non-English-speakers and navigation through Japan's largest red-light district and the world's busiest train station? You bet your pork it was!

Abigail T.

Yelp
Omoide Yokocho or Piss Alley as it was once known is a must visit in Shinjuku. It's a narrow alley next to the JR station. Kinda hard to find but ask anyone and they'd know what you're talking about. Forget about those izakayas with flat screen TVs. The smokier, the better. Most stands in this alley does not have an English menu but is nothing to worry about. Set your brain in "adventure" mode and say "oh-soo-soo-may" and be ready to put anything from the grill in yo mouth. A large bottle of Kirin or maybe a shot or two of Shochu and a gazillion sticks of skewered meat/animal parts (lol) is all you need for a great night. And maybe share a laugh or two with your friendly server. After getting your fill of these fine (oh so fine!) skewered goodness, head on to Kabukicho (red light district) and finish your Sarurday night with more debauchery. Hey, when in Rome...

Teri Y.

Yelp
Call this place Omoide Yokocho or any other of the English names it is affectionately known as: Yakitori Lane, Piss Alley, or Memory Lane. Located next to the train tracks on the western side of Shinjuku station, the cramped alleyways of yakitori (skewered grilled meat) restaurants and bars bring us into a view of postwar Japan. Its inconspicuous location makes it a tad tricky to locate initially but once we are there it makes us temporarily forget that we are in Shinjuku, one of the busiest areas for business, entertainment, and shopping in Tokyo. Along Yakitori Lane are many hole-in-the-wall restaurants to choose from with each of them big enough to seat up to about 8 people at a time. The most "adventurous" restaurant is Asadachi which in fact does not quite focus on yakitori alone but specializes in organs, pig testicles, and the infamous frog sashimi. We are the first customers for the night at Asadachi. We go in and seat ourselves on the bench along the very narrowly spaced restaurant that comfortably seats no more than 6 people. The chef stands behind the counter with his mother who helps out. One of their friends is there who appears just to be hanging out with them while chatting loudly in Japanese. This is when our hilarious evening begins. English is hardly spoken at Asadachi and there is a whole lot of hand gesture going on during our interactions. We tried grilled whole frog leg, monkfish liver, rare pig's womb (interesting...), grilled tofu. Absolutely fun and memorable experience here. We then moved onto another restaurant. It is time for some skewered meats found ubiquitously along the alleyways here (Asadachi is the exception on Yakitori Lane that does not focus on yakitori). Many of the yakitori stalls are as tiny as each other and just able to fit the kitchen counter and about 8 seats. At each place is a similar scene: the chef stands behind the kitchen counter grilling while customers (many of them salarymen) sit along the counter enjoying sticks of meat and offal with nama biru (draft beer). No one is bothered by the smokey grill at the restaurants.

Paul G.

Yelp
Omoide yoko-cho, or Memory Lane, is a street or two of hole in the wall Yakitori restaurants walking distance to Shinjuku station. The Yakitori restaurants are quite packed, being that max seating at each place is a typical 8 people. Each hole in the wall spot allows smoking, so if you don't like the smell of smoke while eating, this place may not be for you. Of course, eating various Yakitori meats not common to your area (horse, livers, hearts, intestines, whale) might be a little disturbing to the average American tourist, they offer alcohol to wash it down and perhaps erase your memory of ever eating it. 4 stars for the diversity, selection and unique ambiance.

Jim T.

Yelp
Yeah... I found myself eating here as often as not. When traveling I find simple, good food at places where they are friendly to tourists much more enjoyable than 'better' places that are utterly inconvenienced by your existence in their restaurant. Of course, then there are the places that just flat out turn you away because you don't speak Japanese (I understand why, but it's still kind of a bummer). However, not the case here. it seemed like most places were pretty welcoming. I pretty much stuck to one place... Umakyu (posted a pic of it), which was not in the main alley, but one over by the train tracks. Great yakatori and ok sashimi, but they seemed to be very welcoming of clueless gaijin. So the environment/people won me over. Order the BBQ Pork skewers and the Maguro/Avocado salad (awesome wasabi dressing!). Cool vibe, good food, not expensive... what else do you want?

Xiao Ling Z.

Yelp
I'm having trouble between giving Piss Alley a 2 star rating or a 3 star rating, but being that it is my personal opinion that I do not like how they decided to monetize the "awesome tourist attraction" (will explain further) -- I will simply settle for a 2.5 star rating. This alley, upon first glance, looks super exciting-- an endless street filled with little stores, but it didn't appear to be very lit.... OH BUT WAIT, it turns out that the action is actually in the little turn you make where there is a sign pointing to the toilets-- now THAT little alley looks awesome. So now, there are EVEN MORE little stores, each of them filled with people (they all seat no more than 8 people). I went into one that's more towards the beginning of the alley where they had a second floor-- I'm guessing this one a little bit more suitable for larger parties of 3-4? The thing is... The stairway was a bit narrow for you to walk up (and I believe that the owners were Chinese as I heard them conversing in Chinese). I was also unhappy that the room was filled with smoke (hard to breathe)-- on a positive note, it was smoke from skewer making and not from cigs. There was a 300 yen cover charge per person, which... wasn't too bad, but the skewers were a little bit jacked up in price too (the place didn't even have beef sticks), so... UGH I'll do it for the experience, maybe the food would be beyond my wildest imaginations. K. The skewers were tasty. SUPER TASTY. Whatever sauce they used and the timing they have on the skewers were ON POINT. Two stars for this point alone. Given that the poor service, the 50s - 60s atmosphere, and the environment itself were all part of the "experience"-- I can deal. But, to charge me for a seat?? not even the well kept and clean restaurants do this! AND the skewers aren't even at a reasonable price? Well. Sorry to say that I am not a fan-- but that might just be me, and some people may be very into this kind of old-time vibe, so we can call it even and I'll add half a star. But make no mistake, I wouldn't say this was special just because the place was tiny.

Reza S.

Yelp
We came here because of the reviews... This place had cockroaches everywhere.... Our tab came to a higher total than what we ordered by about 10%. Watch out and keep tabs... DO NOT ORDER SUSHI/SASHIMI the fish here is not fresh. I'm pretty sure you can get much better food nearby.

Khoi P.

Yelp
Memory Lane or Piss Alley isn't just about the food experience, it's about the whole atmosphere and ambience of sitting at small bar and having a personal experience with your fellow diners and the chef/bartender. It's good fun whether you go alone or with friends as you'll end up making new friends before the night is over. I met fellow travellers and locals out for a feed and a drink and I only visited 3 times during my time in Shinjuku. I'm not sure if any joint is better than the next, basically if you see a free seat - take it and the rest will come along with the beeru or sake. Yakitori is the food of choice, bits of chicken grilled over high temperature coals to get that smokey taste. Most places also have a stew with carrot and bits of offal which is tastier than it may sound! This for me is a must visit if you come by Shinjuku, its not bright lights or entertainment per se - but it gives an insight into the Japanese culture.

Tammy L.

Yelp
This is a little hidden alley near Shinjuku station. If you want good late night local food, this alley is definitely for you. In one alley lane, you get about 20 small shops that can fit no more than 8 people. When my boyfriend and I came here, we didn't know which shops to sit in because everything looked so good. A lot of the shops were already full, so we ended up at this one bar that had two seats available. The staffs here extremely friendly. They have English menus for tourists and they even try to interact with us. A lot of the food in this alley are pretty much the same. They serve lots of alcohol and skewers type of food. Everything is cooked in front of you, so be aware that you will smell like bbq meat. Because this area is so tight and tiny, I highly recommend tourist to leave your camera equipment back at the hotel and just take one camera with you. Leave your luggage behind and dont bring children. There's a lot of smokes and boozes. I love this local alley and I highly recommend everyone to find this hidden gem. You will love this!

Ginger S.

Yelp
Very good enjoyed! Very busy have to waive staff down to order or get check! Get the high all too!!!

Carla C.

Yelp
Heaven for yakitori lovers. Im a huge fan of yakitori and this place is a gem tucked in Shinjuku is a must visit for those who are like me. I have to say that it made me less tired just by looking at the rows of yakitoris we passed by as we searched for the one we could get into and of course given you're in Japan, that was a challenge as there is always a queue you have to endure. We got lucky and got a seat right away in a small shack-looking one. Others are saying they were charged for the seats, we weren't. Maybe the other ones do but ours was just the food. The service of course, you do not expect that you're eating in michelin star place so i think unless someone berated you or threw a tantrum in front of you, then there shouldn't be complaining. Again, we were lucky, the lady understood english so it wasn't that hard for us. She waited patiently for us to get our orders done. People go here to eat and just enjoy a glass of beer along with a couple of skewers and we did exactly like that. Having ordered tsukune (meatball of some kind), pork belly, chicken skewer and other stuff, i would give it a 4 star just because it wasn't the best yakitori ive ever had. This place is more for the experience that I'd still come back when given the chance.

Jing X.

Yelp
This food alley is next to Shinjuku station. There's a good mix of locals and tourists here although some places do not have English menus (and also don't speak English). Be brave, pop into a shop, and order some beer or sake with meat skewers. I feel like your time here is what you make of it.

C S.

Yelp
Very small place popular with the local late night crowds. Clean inside with english speaking staff. Food is typical yakitori found in many of the joints around here. Chicken is very moist and tender and comprises 75% of the dishes here. Definitely worth a try.

Sarath P.

Yelp
We came to this area 3 times during our stay in Tokyo -- the first time, we didn't have the greatest experience but the 2nd time was such an awesome experience that we came again the next night! Your experience depends on the which yakitori spot you end up at. The first place had a mandatory service charge of 300 yen per person and the 2nd spot didn't have a service charge at all -- they just asked that you purchase a beverage. So be on the lookout for that when you're there. Also -- not all places in Omoide Yokocho were meat on a stick spots -- some specialized in seafood yakitori, noodle bowls, etc... This place is smoky, cramped and small but if you're ok with that and find that perfect yakitori spot with the best grilled pork livers and grilled chicken hearts -- it's all good.

Patience S.

Yelp
Taken here while very jet lagged ages ago and I fell in love with the grungy places that served cheap and delicious food. Not a "tourist" area. Go here with a local and get treated like the rare creature you are. Eat whatever everyone else is eating. Smile at the nice old toothless guys. Let them talk to you in English. Thank them in Japanese. Have a blast.

Austen M.

Yelp
I don't understand! Another highly rated area in Shinjuku which really is very average. I'm clearly in the minority here as others in their reviews are blown away by the area and giving it five stars, but for me it's a 2 or 3 max. All it is, is a small lane by a station, with lots of mini restaurants that only sit about 5-10 people. At one time it used to smell of piss (may still do at times, but not when we were there) hence the nickname piss alley. You can walk the length of the lane in about 5 mins and if you fancy a bit to eat you will defo have lots of opportunity. Just be careful tho, as several places specialise in intestine stew. Unless that's your thing of course! A lane like you find any big bustling Asian city. Bit probably a bit safer and less challenging than most. Worth a look, but nothing really to shout about or draw you back in a hurry.

Dee K.

Yelp
I waited in line for thirty minutes to eat here. When I was next in line the restaurant staff informed me without apology that they were out of yakitori. (They only had hormon yaki.) Needless to say, I was not impressed. Two stars.

Brick W.

Yelp
This was a pretty good dead animal on a stick place in piss alley. The food was decent enough and the drinks weren't bad either. The reason I only gave 2 stars is that there was a sitting fee. I think it was about $4-5 per person but it's just to be able to sit down. We were surprised by this but as we didn't find out til after we had our drinks it was a little too late by then. Needless to say we made sure to ask about the sitting fee at the rest of the places we went to before we sat down.

Matthew R.

Yelp
I'd eat beforehand. I left hungry and drunk after coming here a with a bunch of friends. We grabbed some yakitori and it was pretty good but on the pricier side for yakitori. Beers were ~$5 or ~$6 where we went. It has a dive feel without dive prices. I'd recommend stopping in to check it out but don't make it your whole night.

Andrés B.

Yelp
Very nice street food here.. As other people said you have to be very open to try new things, but in my experience it was completely worth it. It can be a little annoying to pick a place and to wait in this little alley but if you go there earlier my guess is this wouldn't happen. Bottom line include this place in your trip..

Melanie N.

Yelp
I would recommend to come here and look around but this place is extremely small and there are a lot of people waiting at different stands or shops in the alley. We went to a place and just waited for bit and grabbed some yakitori sticks with beers and the space was extremely tight with little room.

Laura-Elise R.

Yelp
Piss Alley is a great place to get a cheap eat in Tokyo! Soup with your choice of noodles, delicious broth and huge Tempura for 350¥ - definitely a favorite!

Bobito G.

Yelp
When I'm not busy hunting down replicants I like to dip into omoide yokocho to get yakitori faced. All of these restaurants here are small so if you are a kaiju like myself just getting in and out to sit down can be challenging. I really like this area so if you are planning on visiting while I'm here please go somewhere else perhaps robot restaurant or the lockup...both are great spots for tourists ;¥

Ron Z.

Yelp
Good, but would have been great if not for being overpriced. But it is a popular tourist spot, so you can't really blame them. We went to one of the more popular yakitori places, and it was very good. But 1100 yen for 5 sticks? That's too much. But a very fun experience.

Tunaidi A.

Yelp
This is a cool area a little north of the Shinjuku Station. It's small street and can be hard to miss, but the food here is great. It's essentially a bunch of restaurants that specialize in yakitori. Take your pick. I usually go for the restaurant that seems the busiest.

Jacky K.

Yelp
Dont think the Main Street is just a few stores make a right at the bathroom sign for a back alley of many establishments. Also watch out for them giving you a different menu that charge you a sit down fee just go to another place, some places dislike foreigners and charge you a sit down fee and treat you like crap.

Peter W.

Yelp
We found this place by accident just strolling along the area near Shinjuku station. The contrast between the glitzy Shinjuku shops on the main roads to the throw-back alley food stalls a few steps away is bewildering. This was a Saturday night so it was packed with locals and tourists. I didn't even think a place like this existed in what I expected as modern Japan. We found a yakitori place with tables and squeezed in the tiny chairs for a good meal.
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