Located in the bustling alleys of the East District, 【uncle ray】 is a popular yakitori izakaya. During dinner hours, the restaurant is always crowded, so it’s advisable to make a reservation in advance. This visit included a comprehensive selection of appetizers, grilled items, fried dishes, and drinks. Overall, the atmosphere is lively, the food quality is consistent, making it a great place to relax with friends and satisfy your cravings!

Surprisingly impressive “Rich Miso Soup”
This bowl of soup has a rich miso flavor with a hint of garlic, its texture is thick but not overly salty, leaving you with a feeling of wanting to refill your bowl.

“Cumin Lamb Ribs”
The lamb is grilled to a perfect crisp outside and tender inside, with no gamey taste, and a strong cumin aroma with a hint of spiciness that makes it increasingly enjoyable.

“Shiso Plum Salad”
The salty and sweet tanginess pairs perfectly with the grilled skewers!

Another popular dish is “Crispy Fried Potatoes with Truffle Sauce.”
The fries are excellent—crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, fried to perfection without being greasy. They are delicious on their own. However, the signature truffle sauce felt somewhat ordinary to me; while it had aroma, it wasn't overwhelming and even somewhat masked the natural flavor of the fries. It’s recommended to eat the fries first and then dip them as needed to truly appreciate their charm!

For the skewers, both the “Braised Grilled Chicken Butt” and “Signature Grilled Tofu Skin” were delightful surprises. The chicken butt is well-marinated, with a slightly crispy exterior, rich in fat yet not greasy, grilled just right; while the tofu skin is layers of crispiness with a hint of saltiness, making it an excellent side dish with drinks. The mushrooms are simply seasoned with salt and grilled, retaining moisture and freshness—though there are no standout features, they are decent. The “Rice Blood Cake” was quite average, lacking memorable qualities.

The seafood highlights come from the “Grilled Scallops,” featuring fresh scallops with a noticeable grilled aroma, showcasing the quality of the ingredients. In contrast, the “Tender Salt and Pepper Chicken” isn’t a traditional skewer but is well-fried, with a crispy skin and juicy interior; it could have been perfect with a bit more basil aroma, as it currently feels like a plate of “tasty but missing something” Taiwanese fried chicken.

Overall, uncle ray is a sincere yakitori restaurant, excelling in the grilling of skewers, handling of fried dishes, and pairing of soups and drinks, all above standard. While not every dish is exceptional, the overall dining experience is satisfying, and the prices are proportional to the quality. I left feeling extremely full! XD

The business starts at 6 PM, and we made a reservation in advance. There are some games to play, and they also offer a service for storing drinks (in cups). It feels like a great place for heavy drinking. You can order by scanning a QR code, and if you pay in cash, you can get a 5% discount. If convenient, it's recommended to finish all your food before paying in cash.

On a weekday evening, shortly after being seated, customers began to come in one after another, indicating that the business is doing well. The serving speed is fairly quick, and we didn't have to wait long. The grilled items we ordered were not dry; aside from the grilled rice ball, which I felt was a bit hard on the outside, everything else was quite good. For drinks, we ordered an 18% plum wine (the cup has a cute cat design), and I found it quite smooth for my first time drinking plum wine, but the portion was a bit small. A friend ordered an 8% Asahi draft beer (honey flavor), which he liked a lot. We each ordered one drink only and also received a complimentary drink. There are many drink options available, making it suitable for events or group drinking dinners. The atmosphere in the store is lively, and the staff's attitude is good, but personally, I think it's not suitable for serious conversations with friends over drinks, as it might require speaking quite loudly.