This restaurant is popular among salarymen as it allows smoking and serves both meat and fish set meals. During lunchtime, it gets close to full after 12 o'clock. The interior has counter seats, table seats, and sunken kotatsu seating. I had the grilled mackerel set meal and it was quite delicious. The curry priced at 650 yen that the person next to me was eating seems reasonable. They say that fried dishes take some time to prepare.

After an 8-year absence, I revisited the restaurant called "Mishokusho Wako," which is under the same management as the mahjong parlor "Tahai Wako." The mahjong parlor's name is based on the rule-breaking act of having too many tiles in mahjong. Wako serves home-style set meals and curry dishes. There is nothing particularly noteworthy about the place, but they offer a variety of simple and home-cooked meals. In the past, I used to come here for the fried horse mackerel or mackerel miso set meal, but today I was drawn to the meat and tofu set meal and added some natto. Wako-san has aged quite a bit in the 8 years since my last visit, probably in her late 70s, but still going strong. She handles the cooking of yakiniku, napa cabbage with shimeji mushrooms, nikujaga, mapo tofu, mackerel miso, grilled fish, tonkatsu, fried horse mackerel, pork cutlet curry, and curry rice all by herself, which is impressive. The meat and tofu dish had plenty of leeks and less meat, with a light and homely flavor. The side dishes included dried radish with tofu, chilled tofu, miso soup with tofu and seaweed, and yellow pickled daikon. The additional natto came in a pack with chopped green onions on top. The quality is consistent with no highs or lows, and there's nothing particularly special that would make you want to keep coming back, but the homely and comforting taste of a meal you would have at home is somewhat precious. The meat and tofu, natto, chilled tofu, miso soup with tofu and seaweed, a tofu-filled lunch, seems healthy with low fat and high protein. While lacking the glamour of dining out, this place is perfect for when you crave a simple home-cooked meal. Wako-san, stay healthy always.

Located at the edge of Tamachi Station and Keio Nakadori Shotengai, this eatery is a popular spot for solo lunches among salarymen. The menu offers a variety of options, from fish to meat to curry, at reasonable prices. I chose the light and satisfying cabbage and shimeji mushroom stew set meal. It came with cold tofu, dried daikon radish, and pickles, which were all delicious. The stew was comforting and the rice was tasty. The meticulous attention to detail, including the delicious dried daikon radish, was a rare find. The no-nonsense female owner efficiently manages the bustling restaurant. Despite her slightly strict demeanor, I am grateful for the delicious meal and will definitely be returning.

From Tamachi Station, it's a 5-minute walk from the 2nd floor pedestrian bridge at the west exit, crossing the main street. It's located in a slightly hard-to-find spot in the Keio Nakadori shopping street. It's easy to spot by looking for the Tenkaippin Tamachi store. When I arrived at 11:30, there were no other customers. The restaurant allows smoking in all seats, but sitting at the counter can be uncomfortable if the person next to you doesn't smoke. There is a sign on the left side of the entrance indicating that it's a smoking-permitted establishment under the Health Promotion Law, but it's not well-known to the general public. I ordered the Napa cabbage and shimeji mushroom set meal for 800 yen, and an additional bowl of rice for 100 yen. The rice in the photo is piled up like in a Japanese folktale, because I initially ordered two bowls of rice and combined them. The dishes were all well-seasoned, and the rice was so delicious that I wished I had ordered more. They don't offer soft drinks on the menu, but if they did, I would want to try everything on the menu. It's a hidden gem that is not well-known to people other than nearby office workers. There were three women running the restaurant, but I couldn't tell which one was Kazuko. The woman who served us was polite and provided quick service, even opening the door for us as we left. It felt like dining at a high-end restaurant in Ginza. I left before noon, but judging by the number of customers coming in as I left, it seemed like it would be full during lunchtime. Even though dining out with friends is difficult in the current situation with the pandemic, I definitely want to revisit when I'm in Tamachi.

Niku-dofu set meal at Kazuko @ Mita I was curious about the set meal menu written on the blackboard outside the restaurant, so I went to Kazuko for lunch. I ordered the Niku-dofu set meal for 800 yen. It was served promptly. "Thank you for waiting~" The seasoning of the Niku-dofu was quite sweet, maybe a bit too sweet for my liking. Hello everyone, it seems that the yakiniku set meal is popular here, as almost all the customers ordered it. Thank you for the meal!

At a restaurant located at the far end of the Keio Nakadori Shopping Street near the north exit of JR Tamachi Station, my colleague and I entered around 12:15 for lunch on a weekday. To our surprise, we saw a customer smoking inside the restaurant. This was the first time we had seen this since April 1st. We decided to order the "Napa Cabbage and Shimeji Mushroom Set Meal" (800 yen including tax) as the fried dishes had a 20-minute wait. My colleague ordered the grilled meat set meal, which took quite a while, but my meal arrived in about 5 minutes, likely because it only needed to be reheated. The set meal included napa cabbage and shimeji mushrooms simmered in a sweet sauce, rice, miso soup, a small dish of hijiki seaweed, a small dish of cold tofu, and pickles. It was a decent meal with a good amount of food, especially the small side dishes. However, the fact that smoking was allowed in the restaurant during lunchtime significantly lowered my overall evaluation. The restaurant is family-run, and the lady who took our order and served us was very friendly, but the smoking policy was a deal-breaker for me. I will not be returning. Thank you for the meal.

Visited the izakaya around 6 pm on Thursday, June 18, 2020. It's located on a side street and has a counter, tables, and a raised seating area. Saw some regulars enjoying a bottle of shochu. Ordered curry rice for ¥650 and a medium-sized bottle of beer (¥550, Super Dry). The curry was like a comforting home-cooked meal, with a light taste. It came with miso soup, hijiki salad, and pickled radish as a set meal. The price for this set meal in Mita area is very reasonable and I appreciated it.

I finished my work at a client's place in Mita in the morning and successfully delivered the goods. I felt relieved that one task was completed, but then I realized I was hungry. I probably won't be coming back to Mita this fiscal year, especially with all this virus commotion. It might be a while before I can visit clients in person. I thought I should inform this to the target store. This store is the target store. I always feel uneasy when a restaurant has a woman's name in its name. There must be something behind it. The appearance of the store gives off a shady vibe, like a mahjong parlor or a dining hall. And when I opened the door... I was greeted by a lovely smile that didn't match the old-fashioned name "Kazuko," and a woman with a small face saying "Welcome." The atmosphere was like if the vocalist of Ikimono Gakari became a bit cuter. And her voice was lovely. It was close to 1 pm, but there were quite a few customers inside. It was a clean, Showa-era dining hall with tatami seating. It seemed to transform into an izakaya at night, with many reserved bottles. I ordered the top item on the vertical menu, the Yakiniku set meal for 800 yen. I sat at the counter and looked around a bit. In front of me was a woman preparing dishes, unlike the one who welcomed me. She was around my age or a bit older. There was an older lady in the back who seemed to be cooking. I assumed she was Kazuko. Anyway, when I was lost in my thoughts, the Yakiniku set meal arrived in about 5 minutes. I took a bite and thought, "Wow, this taste is nostalgic." It was like pork seasoned with Morambon sauce. It was the kind of dish that went well with rice. There were side dishes too. Simmered dried daikon radish, macaroni salad, and cabbage were served. The miso soup was delicious too. Overall, it tasted like home-cooked food. I think I'm satisfied with this for 800 yen. After finishing my meal, I paid the young female staff member and she saw me off with a smile. I couldn't shake off my uneasiness. I still couldn't get any clues about Kazuko, and I couldn't confirm her existence directly. However, I could tell that other customers also had a positive impression of the young female staff. Even the female customers. At this point, I no longer cared about Kazuko. I urge you all to go and meet the young female staff members! *By the way, based on other reviews and Google Maps comments, it seems like using this place as an izakaya at night is not recommended...

Visited "Oshokusho Kazuko" in Shibada 5-chome, Minato-ku for two consecutive days. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere with around 20 seats at the counter, tables, and private rooms. It is a family-run establishment with a mother who resembles Kyoko Hasegawa, a mother who resembles Etsuko Ichihara, and a daughter who resembles Haruna Kawaguchi. The daughter is elegant, has a cute smile, and greets each customer with a warm "welcome". Even young male customers are drawn to her charm. Sat at the counter and ordered the lunch special, Katsu curry set for 900 yen. Asked for the large portion. The dish arrived with an impressive volume, showcasing the skills of a family-run business. The shiny rice with a hint of sweetness, perfectly balanced with the curry roux, which seems to be a commercial product. The crispy texture of the pork cutlet is satisfying, with a strong pork flavor. The hot miso soup was also delicious. The variety of side dishes was a nice touch. Everything was delicious. A relaxing and soothing place. Truly, the ultimate curry, a taste of paradise. When I asked the daughter how much it was, she replied with a charming smile, "It's 100 yen extra for the large portion. That will be 1000 yen." I'm already falling for her charm. I will definitely come back again.

Located in Minato-ku, Shiba 5-chome, is "Oshokujidokoro Kazuko". It has been 2 and a half years since my last visit, with the previous one being 10 years ago. The second floor is a mahjong parlor run by the same owner. There are only two mahjong parlors in Tamachi, including this one. The lunch menu, which has remained unchanged, costs around 800 yen. It has only increased by 50 yen compared to 10 years ago. Despite the rise in consumption tax from 5% to 8% to 10%, this effort is remarkable. The clean and tidy interior has around 20 seats, including counter, tables, and coregari. It truly feels like a homely restaurant. It is managed by three women: a Mama who resembles Kyoko Hasegawa, her mother, and a young lady who resembles Haruna Kawaguchi. The cute girl who was helping out during my last visit, who resembled Alice Hirose, is no longer there, but a lovely new girl remains. She is so attentive and greets each customer with "irasshaimase". It seems that young male customers come here just to see her. I ordered the grilled fish set meal for 800 yen, choosing mackerel. The shiny rice, hot miso soup, hiziki, chilled tofu, and pickles were all delicious as usual. And the way the mackerel was grilled was perfect. The flesh was juicy and tender, while the skin was crispy and flavorful. It was delicious. A soothing place for the soul. Truly, a taste of home. The pork cutlet curry set meal with a small side dish also looked appetizing, so I think I'll come back tomorrow to try it out.

This area is an interesting place where drinking salarymen and students mingle on equal terms. Guided by regular customers, we ventured deep into the back. As we reached this far, the foot traffic in the alleyway became more organized and calm. Looking up, we saw a vibrant green tent with the white letters "Wako". Although I didn't record the details of the menu after enjoying lively drinks, the last dish left a lasting impression with its delicious taste. By that point, the bustling atmosphere of the restaurant had quieted down. The signature dish, Curry Rice Half Udon Bowl, featured curry covering the entire surface of the bowl. Alongside it floated Fukujinzuke. When I scooped up the rice curry with a spoon, I could feel the rich curry sauce. It was not overly thick, but you could still taste the essence of Japanese dashi in the curry. The fine powdered spices stimulated my taste buds with each bite. As I continued eating, I found myself completely immersed in the flavor, to the point where I couldn't remember what I had eaten earlier that day. The half-sized portion was just right, providing a satisfyingly delicious experience. I left feeling content, having immersed myself in the exquisite taste.

On a certain no overtime day, I was wandering around the Mita area and decided to check out this restaurant that caught my eye. It's called "Oshokusho Wako" and the vibrant green exterior gives it a nice atmosphere. Inside, there are counter seats and tables, with regular salarymen customers enjoying themselves. We toasted with sake, and the appetizer was simmered hijiki seaweed, which had a comforting taste. The variety of side dishes lined up on the counter was enjoyable. The roughly cut konjac had a rich flavor, and the crunchy bamboo shoot was delicious. The potato salad with cucumber and ham brought back nostalgic memories. I loved the big juicy hokke fish, perfect with sake. The meat and tofu dish was mild and filled with green onions. My favorite was the fried tofu stuffed with natto, with a crispy surface and enjoyable texture. We finished with miso soup. It's nice to have a cozy izakaya nearby. I look forward to visiting again. Thank you for the meal!

On February 27, 2019, I visited Mita, a place I had never been before despite its frequent appearance. The exterior had a nostalgic feel, like it had been around for a long time. I arrived a little after 12 o'clock and the restaurant was almost full. I was seated at the counter as a solo diner. The menu offered classic set meals, including grilled fish and simmered dishes. I ordered the most expensive item, the curry cutlet for 900 yen. The food was served in just 10 minutes. The meal included side dishes like hijiki seaweed and potato salad, along with miso soup, giving it a homey feel. The curry had a nostalgic taste as well. I left satisfied and full. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I thought it was a nice shop in the neighborhood, but I don't usually have time to visit on weekdays. I happened to have some free time, so I decided to stop by. I was a bit surprised by the rather indifferent reaction when I sat down. I ordered mapo tofu, potato salad, hokke (grilled fish), and cabbage with mushrooms (all under 600 yen each) along with a small appetizer. The potato salad was really delicious and the hokke was decent. I also ordered a bottle of beer, a bottle of shochu, two ice cubes, and six small bottles of soda. A lady who seemed like the owner briefly appeared, and I thought it might be fun to chat with her. I was already full, and since I don't come here often, I decided to take the bottle of shochu home. I had been keeping an eye on the cost of the food, so I was expecting around 8000 yen, but it turned out to be 11200 yen! I wonder how much the unlisted alcohol cost... Honestly, it felt expensive. The no-frills service didn't bother me too much (although my companion seemed put off by the lackluster reaction to the food). I've lived in this area for over 20 years and have always enjoyed supporting local independent shops, but it's tough.

I visited with old friends and the food was delicious. We drank a lot of beer.

I went to a regular diner and ordered the usual fried horse mackerel set meal today. It had a safe taste as always.