A warm glow under the elevated tracks at Fuse Station.

With the clatter of trains in the background, it’s just a short walk from Fuse Station.When you look up, you’ll spot a subtle sign reading “Kushikatsu Takabou.”

Inside, it’s more spacious than I expected.An L-shaped counter stretches across the room, and through the glass partition, the chef is carefully frying the skewers. There are also a few table seats. It’s a bright, clean space that feels welcoming even for families with children.

It’s not just about the sauce—it’s the fun of choosing.

You place your order by writing it on a slip of paper.Beef skewers, onions, quail eggs… there are classics, as well as some unique options.Shrimp in breadcrumbs, beef with grated yam, and meat-stuffed lotus root. Hmm, this is a tough choice.

“Help yourself however you like.”The local custom is to put condiments like sauce, ponzu, and salt on a small plate.

Takabou’s sauce isn’t thick; it’s light.It’s not cloying, and it leaves a lingering aftertaste in your mouth.

The batter is thin and crispy. Since it doesn’t feel heavy, you’ll find yourself reaching for one more skewer, then another.

The sense of comfort provided by the chef and his wife working together.

The chef is in the kitchen. He’s a bit reserved and seems like a true craftsman, but when you talk to him,he’s a warm-hearted person.

Whether it’s “Welcome” or “Thank you,” his words come slowly and reach you directly.His wife also moves back and forth through the dining room, never forgetting to be attentive to the guests.

“We get a lot of families here,”the chef said, a hint of joy visible on his face.“Since it’s just the two of us running the place, I think that makes it easier for those kinds of customers to feel welcome.”

The wait for the food to be ready is a pleasant one.

The restaurant opened in 2005.While the variety of skewers lined up before the owner may have increased, the care he puts into each and every one hasn’t changed in the past 20 years.

If you ask me whether kushikatsu is a special dish, I’m not so sure it is. But today, and tomorrow, it quietly accepts someone’s “That was delicious.”That is the role Takabou fulfills.