Yes - it is a lovely dive. I returned after an 8 year absence to find it unchanged. There are about 10 bar stools and one table. The bar tender is the chef. Come prepared to navigate the food selection without pictures or english. Because it is yakitori that is pretty easy. Essentially skewers of Chicken, pork, shitake, onion, peppers, etc... The mingling scents of grilling foods, beer, sake, and cigarette smoke are integral to the scene. Also note the hundreds of business cards plastering the stained panel above the bar. This is a very good value with good quality hot of the charcoal grill food.

We stepped into this place for beer and yakitori. Customers were seated around a bar served by a lone bartender who grilled skewers on a charcoal grill. Smoking is allowed in most Japanese izakaya's and patrons took full advantage of this. Food was simple, quick, cheap and delicious. It was great washing all this down with beer. Most small plates were around 300-400 yen.

Stumbled on this place through a review in Lonely Planet. It is the definition of hole in the wall, in every good way. It is on the Gion side of the Sanjo Dori bridge, basically across the street from the Koto hotel. Due to its location it is a great jumping off point for a night out in Gion or Pontocho. It is a small, very casual, one room restaurant that consists of 12-15 seats at the bar and they have a menu of 12 chicken meats / parts yakatori plus a pork option and some deep fried items. The staff didn't speak English, but were very friendly and had English and picture menus. With limited Japanese and pointing, you can order to your heart's content. The food was great and VERY cheap. We ate our fill of great Yakatori for 1300 yen ( total, for 2 people). Definitely not a place to go if you are trying to impress a date, but for good food at a great price in the middle of the nightlife area in Kyoto it is hard to beat.