Chicken skin dumplings and simmered giblets were delicious.

Calm atmosphere and delicious mentaiko dishes. I prefer yakisoba with plenty of moisture.

Located between a shopping street and a residential area, this izakaya seems to blend in well with the local community. It was visited after the Himitsudo and Nezu Shrine Grand Festival, which was quite a while ago. The oden and tsukune were particularly delicious, and the yakitori was better than expected. The yakitori master even mentioned that as you grow older, you come to appreciate the taste of negima more. The yakitori here was cooked perfectly without burning the leeks, which is a sign of skilled cooking. The yakisoba, following the yakitori, was also tasty. Overall, it was a satisfying meal, and the bill came out to be around 2500 yen per person. This izakaya is definitely worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood.

In the blue valley, we danced to the Nezu Ondo for over 7 minutes, having a great time on this night that is slowly coming to an end. The Nezu Shrine Festival is in full swing on September 19th and 20th, with the shrine grounds and the streets filled with festivities day and night. Even the izakayas have open-air seating set up, with stylish young men wearing neighborhood association happi coats, enjoying lively drinking parties... The festival night creates a special atmosphere throughout the town, making it a fun experience. Popular restaurants are often fully booked, but we managed to find a table in a small alley and made our way in. After toasting, we ordered an omelette and bitter melon stir-fry to settle our stomachs. Looking around the restaurant, we spotted a mackerel dish, but unfortunately, it was sold out. Just as we were considering ordering tuna instead, the owner, like a line from a TV show, said, "I have it." The mackerel dish that was served had a beautiful shine to it. We also ordered skewers, which were large and delicious. Lastly, we debated between yakisoba or yakisoba for our final dish, and settled on onigiri, each with our own favorite fillings. As we were about to finish, a group of young men in festival happi coats at the next table asked for advice on coordinating a yukata outfit for their girlfriend, and we chatted for a while. The owner complimented the rabbit-patterned yukata I was wearing that night and invited me to wear it again the next day for the festival. I thought it was just a sales pitch and politely declined. The next day, as I passed by the restaurant, the owner said, "Oh, not wearing the yukata? I was waiting for you in it," and offered me oden outside the shop. I declined the offer gently as my sister was with me that day, and headed home. Festivals in the downtown area sure are lively, aren't they...

I visited the izakaya "Hana※Hana" in the back alley of Sendagi, which has been around for a long time. I was planning to try the new "Kushiyaki Tokuri" on Hebi Street, but it was full, so I decided to visit "Hana※Hana" after a long time. The place was lively with a group of customers and almost full. I ordered a draft beer (500 yen) and enjoyed the boiled spinach as a complimentary dish. There were many delicious izakaya dishes, and on that day, I had the simmered beef tendon with tofu (580 yen), spicy chicken wings (580 yen), and fresh tomatoes (300 yen). The beef tendon was chewy and flavorful. Sendagi may not be very noticeable, but it has good izakayas like this one. "Hana※Hana" is one of those izakayas.

It's a local izakaya, but it doesn't have the intimidating atmosphere often found in Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi. The lightly pickled mackerel is fresh and colorful. The recommended yakitori is the liver. It's not white liver, but it's rich and creamy. For some reason, the tuna salad always comes out last after ordering a few dishes. It's a combination of dressing and mayonnaise. Also, I like the saltiness and filling of the rice balls. There used to be a raised seating area, but it was renovated into table seating. I think it's more relaxing now.