The inside of the shop is filled with Doraemon, the lineup of Japanese sake is extensive, and the snacks are all delicious. It's a wonderful shop run by a mom, so it can get crowded and you may have to wait, but it's a great place to go if you have the time.

I made plans to drink with an acquaintance who frequents the Otsuka area, but I arrived a bit early and decided to have a solo first round at a place in Otsuka that I had been curious about but rarely visited. The entrance was small and inconspicuous on the main street, located on the second floor, but ultimately, this turned out to be a good thing. Upon opening the heavy sliding door, I was greeted by a clean and calm Japanese-style space that was surprisingly not typical of Otsuka. I was guided to a seat at the counter by a woman working in the kitchen, who seemed to be handling everything on her own. She appeared to be around 50 years old. The menu consisted of oden, obanzai (side dishes), sashimi, and various creative dishes. It wasn't the usual home-cooked meal you might expect from a female shop owner, but rather a lineup of dishes with a clear culinary expertise, and the flavors reflected that. The selection of sake was also good, and the woman was knowledgeable and willing to provide recommendations. The interior of the restaurant was decorated with various cat robot-related goods, and the water glasses and characters had a gentle and relaxing vibe. I was told that many customers bring these items as souvenirs because they like them. Despite the restaurant looking new and clean, it was actually already in its seventh year of operation, which was impressive. While Otsuka is known for its many casual dining options, it's worth keeping places like this in mind. I would definitely like to drop by again.

This article is a reprint from a blog. Sake Log: https://sushi-blog.com/sakelog/otsuka-maruma/ Once known as the "Four Kings of Otsuka Izakaya," the quietly closed "Konakara" was a fine establishment that delighted customers with high-quality dishes and delicious sake. Many were disappointed by its closure. The "Otsuka Maruma" we are introducing today is a restaurant opened by the former owner of "Konakara," Mayumi Higawa. The charm of the restaurant lies in its cleverly crafted dishes and the ability to enjoy popular sake in a casual setting. While the dish names may seem homey, the cooking is refined and overall elegant. Popular items like "Macaroni Salad" and "Karaage" increase trust in the deliciousness of the menu. Here are the dishes and sake we enjoyed this time: - Kagura Nanban - Homemade Satsuma Age - Ham Cutlet - Macaroni Salad - Mozuku Vinegar - Vegetable Salad - Karaage Curry Sake we enjoyed: - Sapporo Beer Red Star - Akagiku Tomei Mizutori Junmai Karakuchi - Hagi no Tsuru Manatsu no Neko Junmai Ginjo Besshikomi - Koeikiku Sun Burst Muroka Namagenshu

This is my first visit. The atmosphere is a bit intimidating. The interior has one table and the rest is counter seating, quite spacious. It feels like a place for adults to enjoy. I think it's run by two women. When I visited, there were two women. It took quite a while for the food to be served, but when I tasted it, it was amazingly delicious. There are good restaurants just a step away from the main stations. If you want to enjoy the same level of food in Ikebukuro, you would have to pay about 1.5 times more. I was surprised by the variety of sake. When I asked what was good, they recommended something without hesitation. It was a very enjoyable restaurant. I will definitely come back.

On a Monday holiday, I visited the restaurant without a reservation around 9 pm for a casual drink. The counter was full but there were empty tables available. I ordered the following items: - Shallots and cucumber with miso for 500 yen - Clam soup for 550 yen - Highball Ichiro's Blended for 650 yen - Ume shu from Kochi Sentou for 550 yen The total bill came to 2930 yen, with no cover charge. Despite reading "Sanpo no Tatsujin No.263 Sugamo, Otsuka, Komagome," the experience was disappointing as the staff were unfriendly. Upon entering, no one greeted me and I was left alone until I was seated. When I tried to hang up my coat, I was scolded for not letting the staff do it. It took a while for the staff to come and take my order, saying "please wait a moment." The staff seemed to be enjoying conversations with customers at the counter, so they may be friendly to regulars but strict with new customers. The restaurant did not have a rating on Tabelog as of December 2018.

My favorite store right now.

The teriyaki yellowtail was very flavorful.

Celespo - ★★★★☆ I recently dined at Celespo and had a great experience. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. I highly recommend trying their signature dish. Overall, a fantastic dining experience.

The food is delicious.

Adult Weekend: Corn Soup with Sake