A while ago, I went to a really nice fried chicken restaurant in Jiyugaoka that truly embodies the term "normcore." It wasn't because someone recommended it to me, nor did I look it up on Tabelog. It was a photo of fried chicken thighs that caught my eye on Sumally. There were no reviews or ratings. It's strange how I still decided to go. It's so fashionable and internet-like. It was already dusk, and I was in Jiyugaoka. I went from TODAY'S SPECIAL to IDEE SHOP, browsing vintage Arabia cups and saucers at the flea market outside the store. Suddenly, I remembered Toyoda and called them. (I was hungry.) It's supposed to be a popular restaurant, but luckily, I was able to get in right away, so I headed straight there. The interior was bright and clean. The menu basically consists of only three items: gizzards, chicken wings, and thighs. The rest are pickles and grilled rice balls for the final dish. That's really all there is. Simple and straightforward. The only condiments on the table are salt, soy sauce, and shichimi togarashi (seven-spice chili pepper). The shichimi togarashi isn't from Yawataya Isogorou in Asakusa, Genbori, or Zenkoji, but from the ubiquitous S&B Foods brand. I wonder if this is what they call normcore? Incidentally, as a customer, I've really noticed a trend back toward simplicity, not just in clothing or fried chicken. Even ramen is becoming simpler, with an emphasis on ingredients, and the number of restaurants offering classic, standard puddings is on the rise. Personally, I'm very pleased with this trend. The food arrives in the order of sliced onions as an appetizer, followed by gizzards, chicken wings, and thighs. Juicy deep-fried gizzards with no odor at all, fried chicken wings that you can eat down to the bone, and fried thighs with crispy skin and juicy inside. The seasonings are the same, but there is a great sense of variety. And although it's not on the menu, they serve an elegant chicken soup at the end.

Because it's simple, talking about the taste will only make it sound stale, so if you have the chance, I recommend you try it. If you're not satisfied, you can have some clear soup noodles from Baika on your way home.

[Store Information]
Toyoda
Address: 2-17-12 Midorigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Telephone: 03-3723-7683
Opening Hours: 17:30-22:30 (Mon-Fri), 17:00-22:30 (Sat)
Closed: Sundays and public holidays