A comparison report of yakitori chain restaurants in Morioka's Odori area where you can enjoy a cheap drink and snack! [Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture]

Around Morioka's downtown area, "Odori," there are four yakitori restaurants belonging to national chains where you can enjoy a cheap drink and snack

I visited these four restaurants, ordered according to a common set of rules, compared their cost-performance ratios, and created a ranking based on my own preferences

Please enjoy this along with our introduction to the shop

Please note that all prices mentioned in this article are inclusive of tax and are current as of June 2, 2026

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Basic rules for comparing drinks

With prices continuing to rise these days, places where you can get completely drunk for 1,000 yen ("senbero") are disappearing

Therefore, in this study, we decided to compare how much satisfaction can be obtained with a budget of around 1,500 yen at chain yakitori restaurants, and set the following rules

• I'll have one beer (medium size) and one highball
• The budget for one restaurant is limited to 1,500 yen (1,650 yen including tax), including the appetizer
• For appetizers, choose from the restaurant's recommended signature dishes

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Shin Jidai Kaiunbashi-dori Store

The "Shin Jidai" group operates over 200 stores throughout Japan, and in Morioka City, there are two locations: this one and the "Ekimae Store."

The complimentary appetizer here is 385 yen and consists of three pieces of bamboo shoots, but the drinks are cheap, with a medium-sized draft beer for 209 yen and a highball for 165 yen (prices shown in the image are before tax)

"Denkushi Pyramid" Small Pyramid (6 pieces for 330 yen)

The "Den-kushi" chicken skin skewers (55 yen each), which have a crispy exterior and a chewy interior, are stacked in a pyramid shape, with the largest being the "New Era Pyramid" of 36 skewers

Sprinkling the homemade "Denkushi Spice (salt-free, ginseng, and soy-derived)" on the table will enhance the flavor even more

Liver sashimi (418 yen)

Thanks to our unique heating process, this dish is cooked through yet retains the same texture and flavor as raw liver sashimi

The aroma and flavor of the sesame oil in the sauce poured over the liver go perfectly with beer or highball

Evaluation points for "Shin Jidai Kaiunbashi-dori Store"

Draft beer is very cheap at 190 yen (209 yen including tax), but there are only a few varieties and no wine

On the other hand, they have a wide variety of fruit sours and cocktails

Although the menu wasn't extensive, it featured unique and delicious-looking dishes

The total amount for this transaction was 1,507 yen

• Appetizer: 385 yen
• Medium draft beer (Sapporo Black Label): 209 yen
• Highball: 165 yen
• Denkushi Mini Pyramid (6 pieces): 330 yen
• Liver sashimi: 418 yen

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Izakaya Soreyuke! Toriyaro! Morioka Branch

"Toriyaro" has over 80 stores mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and drinks are very cheap, with lemon sours at 55 yen and highballs at 109 yen

The drink menu is extensive, with a wide selection of wines and cocktails. The complimentary appetizer, priced at 439 yen, can be chosen from three options: shrimp crackers (all-you-can-eat), edamame, or cabbage with salt sauce

Spicy skewers (109 yen)

One of the two signature dishes of "Toriyaro," it's a chicken skin skewer with a crispy exterior, but with a softer, chewier texture than the newer "Denkushi" of the same type

As the name suggests, the seasoning is very spicy and goes perfectly with beer

Wada-chan Fried Chicken (219 yen)

"Wada-chan" is apparently the name of the company president, and the fried chicken is so big that one piece is more than enough to satisfy you

Adding the original fried chicken powder that comes with it makes it even more delicious and perfect with a drink

Grilled chicken thigh with salt (439 yen)

Since it's served on a sizzling hot plate, the meat stays warm even after some time has passed, and the accompanying cabbage also becomes delicious as it's cooked through

This chicken dish is highly recommended because it contains a generous amount of chicken

Evaluation points for "Go for it! Chicken Yarou!"

While the cover charge is a bit on the expensive side, the all-you-can-eat shrimp crackers make a great dry snack, which was a big plus for me

Since highballs and lemon sours are very cheap, you can enjoy a true "senbero" (drinking for 1000 yen) experience by pairing them with inexpensive snacks

The total bill was 1,644 yen

• Appetizer: 439 yen
• Beer (Suntory Draft Beer): 329 yen
• Highball (Torys): 109 yen
• Spicy skewer (1 skewer): 109 yen
• Wada-chan Fried Chicken (1 piece): 219 yen
• Grilled chicken skewers (thigh, salt): 439 yen

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ToriBura Morioka Odori Store

This restaurant belongs to the same chain as "Shin Jidai" and some of the dishes are the same, but there is no cover charge; instead, a seating fee (330 yen) is charged

The drink prices are the same as at "Shin Jidai," with beer (medium mug) at 209 yen and highballs at 165 yen, making it very affordable

Furthermore, the highball was filled to the brim of the glass, and the whiskey was visibly strong, which I found to be quite satisfying

The restaurant recommends various types of yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and chicken sashimi, which is prepared using a unique cooking method to keep it close to raw

Freshly skewered chicken with salt (242 yen)

By skewering the chicken while it's still raw, it achieves a fluffy texture, and each piece of meat is generously sized, making it very satisfying

The seasoning uses "Sano Salt," named after the founder of the "Shin Jidai" group, who traveled the world sampling yakitori, which gives the chicken an even deeper flavor

Raw chicken heart skewers (165 yen)

These chicken skewers are grilled to perfection, leaving the heart (hatsu) with a satisfying chewiness while remaining tender and juicy

The store's official website lists it as "the most popular item among regular customers."

Doru sashimi (638 yen)

Despite being called "sashimi," the chicken is not raw but cooked using a unique heating method, allowing you to enjoy the texture of sashimi while concentrating its flavor

Also, please refer to our "New Era" report on liver sashimi prepared using the same method

Evaluation points for "Toribura Morioka Odori Store"

The same draft beer as "Shin Jidai" is priced at 209 yen and highballs at 165 yen, which is great pricing for drinkers

Also, while the "raw skewered" yakitori is a bit pricey, you can really savor the deliciousness of the chicken, and the chicken sashimi, prepared using a unique cooking method, allows you to safely enjoy the texture of raw chicken, making you truly appreciate the deliciousness of chicken

My companion ordered the "Grilled Rice Ball with Free-Range Chicken Egg Yolk and Snow Cheese (418 yen)," which features a generous amount of cheese on top of a grilled rice ball. The combination with the egg yolk is excellent, making it a highly-rated dish that's also great as a snack

Please forgive me for exceeding the set amount by 99 yen, as the total bill came to 1,749 yen, but this was because I really wanted to eat "doru sashimi"

• Table charge: 330 yen
• Medium draft beer (Sapporo Black Label): 209 yen
• Highball (Dewar's): 165 yen
• Salt-grilled chicken skewers: 242 yen
• Upper heart: 165 yen
• Doru Sashimi: 638 yen

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Private rooms available. Tori Ichizu, a popular chicken pub in Morioka Odori

This is a restaurant belonging to the "Toriichizu" group, which has over 100 locations nationwide, and it opened on October 27, 2025, near the Uchimaru area of ​​Odori Street

This restaurant specializes in chicken dishes and offers them at reasonable prices. You can enjoy Hakata's "Mizutaki Nabe" (chicken hot pot) and "Imabari Yakitori" (grilled chicken skewers), which is rare in Morioka

The restaurant is spacious and has a relaxing atmosphere, with raised seating areas and partitioned private rooms, which are rare in chain restaurants of the same type

The appetizer is the most expensive of the four restaurants at 462 yen, but you can choose from three options: shrimp crackers, pickled cabbage, and fried pasta, and refills are free

Secret recipe chicken skin skewers (109 yen) & chicken snacks (85 yen)

This chicken skin skewer, recommended by the shop, offers a delightful combination of sweet and spicy sauce and a crispy texture

Compared to the new-era Denkushi, this Kawakushi is slightly moister, and like the Denkushi, you can enjoy changing the flavor with the spicy powder

Another specialty of the restaurant is "Ate Chiki," which is deep-fried chicken wings seasoned with more than 10 kinds of spices and goes well with drinks such as beer

Both can be easily ordered individually, and ordering in bulk offers a discount, making it a great deal

Imabari-style grilled chicken gizzards (439 yen)

"Imabari Yakitori" is a local specialty from Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, where chicken is not skewered but pressed with an iron weight and grilled while the fat is rendered out

Known for its crispy exterior and juicy interior, the chicken skin is said to be delicious, but the gizzards were also perfectly grilled with a fantastic chewy texture

Evaluation points for "Toriichizu Morioka Odori Store"

While I did think the appetizer was a bit pricey, the fact that all three types were all-you-can-eat actually made it a plus point

Furthermore, although the "fried pasta" I ordered that day couldn't be refilled due to the restaurant's policy, they kindly allowed me to switch to "shrimp crackers" midway through the meal, which showed the restaurant's excellent service

I also wanted to try the chicken hot pot, which is the next recommended dish after the chicken skewers, but it was 1,078 yen per serving, so it didn't fit the purpose of this trip and I gave up on it

The total amount was 1,533 yen

• Cover charge: 462 yen
• Beer (Asahi Super Dry): 329 yen
• Extra-carbonated highball: 109 yen
• Secret Recipe Chicken Skin Skewers (1 skewer): 109 yen
• Chicken (1 piece): 85 yen
• Imabari-style grilled chicken gizzards: 439 yen

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I visited four nationwide yakitori chain restaurants on Morioka's Odori Street and made my own ranking!

Each of the four establishments has its own unique characteristics, making it difficult to choose a favorite. However, here is my personal ranking based on my own enjoyment of the "1500 Drinks" challenge!

1st Place: ToriBura Morioka Store

Besides the cheap prices of drinks like beer and the fact that their highballs had the strongest whiskey, the deciding factor was that the "freshly skewered" yakitori tasted exactly to my liking

2nd Place: Shin Jidai Morioka Kaiunbashi-dori Store

The appeal of this restaurant lies in the impressive pyramid-shaped skewers, their taste, the incredibly low price of 55 yen per skewer, and the fact that, like its sister restaurant "Toribura," the drinks are also inexpensive

3rd Place: Soreyuke! Toriyaro! Morioka Branch

The fact that the lemon sour is only 55 yen is a big plus, but it's a shame that the beer is 329 yen, which is the most expensive among the four shops

The fact that you can enjoy a true "senbero" (drinking for 1000 yen) experience by ordering all-you-can-eat shrimp crackers as an appetizer and focusing on lemon sours is a big plus

4th Place: Toriichizu Morioka Odori Store

The cover charge is high, but the fact that all three types are all-you-can-eat is a big plus

While drinks like highballs and lemon sours (freshly squeezed) are cheap at 109 yen, the 329 yen price of beer was the main reason it didn't rank higher

As a bonus, we'll also introduce a ranking from the perspective of your companion!

My colleague, who accompanied me on the interview, created a ranking based on the self-imposed rule that the total cost, including one lemon sour and an appetizer, had to be under 1,500 yen, so I'll share it as a bonus

1st place: New era

The Denkushi (55 yen) has a delightful crispy texture, and although it's a cheap item, it has a unique taste

The oden platter (418 yen) was packed with ingredients and was more than enough to fill me up

2nd place: Tori-bura

The premium chicken hearts (165 yen) are juicy and delicious

The grilled rice ball with free-range chicken egg yolk and snow cheese (418 yen) is visually impressive and makes a great snack to nibble on

3rd Place: Toriichizu

Although the appetizer costs 462 yen, the fact that you can eat as much of the appetizer snacks (fried pasta, shrimp crackers, or pickled cabbage) as you want is a nice bonus

Freshly squeezed lemon sour (109 yen) is incredibly cheap

Chicken skin skewers (109 yen), a good balance of crispiness and juiciness

4th place: Chicken Yarou!

A lemon sour for 55 yen is incredibly cheap

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summary

The four nationwide chain izakayas located on Odori Street in Morioka City each had their own unique characteristics and strengths, making for a very enjoyable experience

Although I ranked them, there was hardly any difference between them; all of them were excellent restaurants that I would recommend

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