01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
As the steam rises from a freshly served batch of skewers, a sip of shitamachi highball is the natural opening move. The signature shiro tare at Nonki Ayase features tender pork offal grilled over charcoal with a sweet basting sauce. Crisp and fragrant on the outside with a plump interior, each bite finds an easy counterbalance in the amber-tinged, effervescent highball, brightened by a slice of lemon that cuts cleanly through the rich tare glaze.
While grilled skewers are generally ordered in sets of 4, the shop accommodates orders of 2 skewers across 2 varieties, making it convenient for solo diners or smaller groups to sample different cuts. Offerings such as salt-grilled kashira (pork temple) packed with savory juices, reba negi finished with sliced scallions, and kashira garlic each bring their own distinct charcoal aroma.
Between rounds of skewers, side dishes offer a refreshing shift in pace. Crunchy kobukuro sashi (uterus sashimi) served with tangy vinegared miso, bright harami ponzu, and classic potato salad round out the table nicely. Drink options extend to pitchers of the house shitamachi highball alongside pours like sumomo hai (plum liqueur with shochu) and baisu sour.
With both counter and table seating, the izakaya suits an unhurried solo drink with skewers just as readily as an evening shared over clinking glasses with friends.
