01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Whether you gather around a whole fried chicken or choose charcoal-grilled tsukune and small plates one by one, Marudori Ruisuke in Nishi-Shinjuku makes chicken the centre of a meal you can put together your own way. Its signature half chicken, fried without batter, is made with a branded chicken from Tottori Prefecture; the menu highlights the flavourful fat and juiciness of the thigh meat. Some diners have also remarked on the crisp skin. For a distinctive take on fried chicken, it is a natural place to start.
Among the charcoal-grilled dishes, the truffle tsukune—chicken meatballs wrapped in bamboo leaves and steamed over charcoal—can be ordered from 1 pieces. There is also a tare-glazed tsukune wrapped in bamboo leaves. One diner described removing the leaves themselves to reveal a springy texture and juicy meat, and found the truffle version satisfyingly plump. Since you can choose different flavours by the piece, trying them side by side is an option. The charcoal-grilled liver skewer is offered in limited quantities and, according to the menu, is served on the day it is prepared. Diners have praised its soft, plump texture and rich flavour. A basket-grilled combination of gizzard and heart offers another contrast in texture alongside the skewers and grilled dishes.
For a change of pace, try black soybean mascarpone with crackers or lightly pickled cabbage with seasonal citrus. One diner enjoyed the sweet black beans and mascarpone almost like a dessert, and found the pickles just right as a refreshing bite between dishes. These small plates provide a welcome alternative to another chicken dish. To finish, there is stone-pot meat rice: minced meat made with chicken cartilage for texture, seasoned sweet and savoury, and served as stone-pot bibimbap with seasonal root vegetables. One visitor noted the changing textures as they mixed it and let a crust form on the bottom. Beer, shochu and sake are among the drinks on offer, making the menu suited to a meal centred on the whole chicken as well as a drink accompanied by grilled dishes and small plates.
