Indecisive? You crave beef, but lamb looks good, too. Oh, pork as well! Ah, fried chicken! Wait–shrimp, too? Smoked salmon? Why not just try them all?
Problem solved: Juicy Things, specializing in small portions of fried chicken and sliders–miniature hamburgers just 6cm across. With a choice of five fillings (plus a weekly special), you needn’t limit yourself to one slider; three or four will make a meal. Order the meat alone on a tiny bun (“Original”) or add lettuce, tomato, and onion (“Classic”). Prices are also diminutive, from ¥300 to ¥400. Fried chicken (original, cacciatore, or Cajun) costs ¥200 to ¥300 for three bites. Both sliders and chicken are tender and succulent–juicy! The Value Lunch (noon to 17:00) lives up to its name, at ¥740 to ¥1080 for an overflowing plate. Sides include fries, coleslaw, and soup.
Juicy Things offers a broad assortment of beverages, alcoholic and otherwise. There is juice, naturally, craft lemonade, gourmet coffee, and Sri Lankan tea from a local shop. Five taps of craft beer and cider rotate regularly, mostly from well-known Japanese breweries, averaging ¥900 for 260ml and ¥1200 for 420ml. On a recent visit, two IPAs were balanced by an excellent dry stout. Imported wine and cider are available in bottles.
The Lilliputian theme of the dishes is matched by the restaurant itself, a narrow but deep alley extending from the street side entrance. Tables seat four, with four counter stools, and six can stand by a wall ledge. Kenji Sakuma, Masami Hirokawa, and Shunta Katsumoto provide friendly service.