While enjoying hanami at Arai Yakushi Park, it started raining so we sought refuge here. I heard last time they might have a standing style, but this time we could sit and drink normally. We ordered: - Kaw - Nankotsu We checked what was available due to the ongoing ikifun, and chose these two. The Kaw wasn't as raw as last time, but not too crispy either, so maybe this is how they cook it here? The Nankotsu was knee cartilage. It was delicious too. We also had the simmered dish (white), which was consistently good with tender simmered offal and vegetables. I had a few glasses of highball as drinks. It was a bit tricky to order due to the ongoing preparations, but the staff kindly approached us to take our order. Thank you for the meal!

On the way back from the flea market, we passed by a takeout specialty shop that had replaced the previous store. There was only one table inside the shop, and when we asked if we could eat inside, they said it was okay. We decided to try a few dishes, including: - Liver and skin yakitori: The liver was rare and tender, while the skin was chewy and delicious. - Motsu (offal) stew: We chose the regular version over the spicy one, and it came in a large bowl with a generous portion. The flavor was rich and satisfying. - Inari sushi: The rice was lightly seasoned with vinegar, and there were no fillings. It was also quite filling. We also had a few drinks, like beer and canned chu-hi, which were nicely chilled in ice water. The simple table setup made us feel like we were at a festival, enjoying canned beer and yakitori. It would have been perfect if they had some buttered potatoes! (Just my personal opinion) The shop was still in the process of renovating, with plans to add a standing space in the future. It will be interesting to see how the shop evolves. Overall, it was a delightful dining experience.

After having a light lunch at Tirol Hanare, I continued to visit this place which still operates during lunch hours even after the state of emergency was lifted. There were no other customers, and there were more staff members than customers. We had: - Appetizers: simmered vegetables and rolled omelette. It's nice to have two different types of appetizers even though the portion was not large. - Name-rolled fish paste with seaweed. Among the many options at this address, this place is known for its fish dishes, so we ordered the name-rolled fish paste. It was served with seaweed for an extra 150 yen, and surprisingly, it was Korean seaweed! It can be enjoyed as a snack on its own (even though it may not go well with the fish paste). The name-rolled fish paste had a mysterious texture and upon closer inspection, I found salmon pieces in it! It must be the same as the recommended salmon sashimi written on the blackboard (lol). For drinks, I went from bottled beer to sake. I was feeling pleasantly tipsy in the afternoon, so I was in a good mood. Thank you for the meal!

Today, I took a walk towards Arai Yakushi. Among the various takeout options recommended by my companion, I chose this izakaya in the area. It was my first time visiting this izakaya chain. They were grilling yakitori in front of the shop, and there were also bento boxes and side dishes displayed. They had a refrigerated case with items like potato salad. I purchased: - Yakitori pack for 500 yen. It was served in a paper bag, and included regular meat, negima (chicken and scallion), soft bone, skin, and tsukune (chicken meatballs). They reheated the grilled skewers on a grill before serving, and although there were separate skewers for salt and sauce, they all ended up tasting like sauce since they were put in the same bag. I tried the skin and tsukune, both of which were delicious. I ate them in a nearby park, but accidentally spilled sauce on my skirt while trying to take a photo. Be careful when eating! Thank you for the meal!

The fish market that used to be here was really good and wonderful. Unfortunately, something happened that got it on Teru Oshima's site, and after that, it became part of the 17th Street chain of stores. I don't know, but I just don't seem to get along well with this chain. They have a decent selection of sake, but it's expensive. If you go for the all-you-can-drink sake course, it might be worth it, but if you just order a few things and different types of sake, the bill adds up to be quite high.

The fish is delicious☆ The sake is delicious☆

On January 28, 2017, after watching a farewell game at Smile Japan, I went to a restaurant with my wife and youngest daughter to satisfy her hunger. We arrived at the restaurant at 19:40 and there were 5 groups and 9 people already there. We ordered two draft beers and an oolong tea for my daughter. The menu had a variety of fish dishes, which I assumed was because the place used to be a fish market, but that was not the case. We ordered seaweed vinegar, sashimi including bluefin tuna and octopus, grilled mackerel, and fresh oysters. We also ordered grilled yellowtail collar, salmon roe rice bowl, and tofu hot pot with monkfish liver and shirako. The appetizers were pickled herring, spinach, and mushrooms. The seaweed vinegar was delicious, the cheese and tomato dish was enjoyed by my daughter, and the sashimi was fresh and tasty. The grilled mackerel was lightly seared and flavorful. However, the portion sizes were a bit small for the price, especially the tofu hot pot. Overall, the food was good but may require a higher budget for those looking for a more filling meal.

Yesterday, I was invited to a popular izakaya called Juunananachou. It's a place known for its cheap drinks and food. I mistakenly thought it was in Nakano, but it's actually closer to Arai Yakushi. It took about 15 minutes to walk from Nakano. They serve sashimi, yakitori, and hot pot, and offer all-you-can-drink sake for 6,500 yen. Some high-end sake is limited to one glass per person, but there is a wide selection of delicious sake available for all-you-can-drink. The food is tasty, the sake selection is great, and the cost performance is excellent.

On my way home, I was drawn to a certain izakaya that I have visited a few times before. Today, I was lured in by the sign advertising salt-grilled saury, the first of the season. When I entered, I noticed that the staff had completely changed since my last visit. I wonder if this is just for today or if it's a regular occurrence. Anyway, I sat at the counter and ordered a draft beer and the salt-grilled saury. The draft beer arrived along with the appetizers: mentaiko potato salad and squid and seaweed vinegar dish. The appetizers were alright, offering different flavors and textures. As I finished the appetizers, the salt-grilled saury was served. It was on the thinner side, garnished with slices of sudachi lime. The grated daikon radish served with it was roughly chopped, which I thought didn't quite complement the grilled fish. Though the saury didn't seem to be very fatty, eating it in this season felt like a special ritual. It was a nice experience revisiting this place, especially since they now offer not only sake by the glass but also by the cup, although it is a bit pricey. Now, I must head home to watch the final World Cup qualifier match. Thank you for the meal.

The Seventeen Banchi Group, which operates a dozen or so establishments mainly in the Nakano area, is thriving with a strategy of selecting properties that are not attracting tenants and having the president, Tokki, personally handle the interior work to reduce initial investment. This time, they renovated a former fish market, so there was a huge refrigerator from the fish market era in the back. I sat at the counter and ordered a medium-sized beer (600 yen + tax). The appetizer of the day (400 yen + tax) was beef tataki and water eggplant. According to other reviews, it seems like you can choose the appetizer, but I wasn't asked anything this time. Perhaps they decided not to ask for preferences in order to serve the appetizer quickly. This group's restaurants are also known for their selection of sake, but the cheapest sake, a glass/120cc (700 yen + tax), and a bottle (1,100 yen + tax) are quite pricey. As a fan of Kenbishi sake, these sake options seemed a bit out of reach for me. I switched to a lemon sour (400 yen + tax) and added grilled squid (300 yen + tax). I chose the grilled squid because Tokki was in front of the grill. He not only handles the interior work of the new establishment but also serves as the manager for a while after the opening. Once the restaurant is on track, he entrusts it to the employees and rushes to set up another new establishment. I honestly don't want to try dishes from inexperienced new staff, but I trust Tokki. When the grilled squid was ready, I thought the female staff would bring it, but Tokki himself brought it, saying "Thank you for your patronage," and left a complimentary dish of boiled octopus. "Joso" is another restaurant in the Seventeen Banchi Group, but I'm not a regular there. I only used it once four years ago. I occasionally encounter skillful staff who treat customers well because I often go out drinking. But is there really someone who remembers a customer who used a different group's restaurant only once four years ago and offers free service when they see them again? I felt bad just for being treated to a more expensive dish like boiled octopus than the grilled squid I ordered, so I added an additional order of Kabutomushi sake from Tochigi, a sweet and sour Japanese sake, and ended the meal. I may never revisit this restaurant again. However, when Tokki opens another new establishment, I will definitely visit. It's like being a fan of Tokki at this point.

A new izakaya opened in the area closest to Arai Yakushi at the Yakuai Road shopping street. Until about half a year ago, there was a long-established fish shop called Ooasai in that location. I had been curious about what would become of the site, so when I saw a notice about the opening of Juushichiban-dai, I was eager to check it out. Like other stores in the area, the interior and exterior have a handmade feel. Originally scheduled to open in late June, it seems that construction and staff arrangements did not go as planned, so the opening was delayed until July 1st. I was surprised to see that the restaurant was already open when I passed by last night. I inquired and found out that it was a pre-opening, with the official opening to the public still scheduled for July 1st. When I entered around 6 pm, there were not many customers in the Yakushi Road shopping street, as expected. I immediately ordered the "300 yen discounted draft beer for the opening celebration." This place is known for its wide variety of sake, but as a beer lover, I stuck to beer only. I decided to order the "motsu simmered dish" (tax included 300 yen) as my first choice. Looking at the menu, I searched for something in ponzu sauce and ordered the "guts sashimi" (tax included 300 yen). However, later I regretted that I chose only meat dishes. The beer was served promptly, a Sapporo Black Label. The brand was good, but the glass was incredibly small. If they had told me it was 500 yen, there might have been a riot due to the size (laughs). Well, today it's 300 yen, so it's fine. But beer after work on the weekend is exceptionally delicious. Ahh. I didn't expect an appetizer, but the waitress said, "Please choose two from here." Reflexively, I chose "bonito tataki" and "chicken wasabi." I don't remember what else was available. This was also a selection of meat and fish. I regretted not noticing the "pickled rakkyo and myoga" that caught my eye on the menu. - Motsu simmered dish The motsu simmered dish was cheap at 300 yen, and it came in a decent portion, but there was not much motsu, with more daikon and konjac. The taste was not bad, and considering the price, it was okay. - Guts sashimi The guts were topped with a large amount of chopped green onions and ponzu sauce. Yuzu pepper was also provided. The guts were surprisingly tender and quite delicious. (I'm saying this as someone who doesn't usually eat this kind of food, so don't rely on my opinion (laughs)) I had another beer and enjoyed the appetizers before settling the bill. However, a man smoking next to me ended up downwind. The worst situation, so I had to leave. By the way, calculating backwards, the appetizer + seating fee was 400 yen. This seemed a bit high. Recently, many shops in the Ai Road shopping street have been closing, so I hope this Juushichiban-dai will do well. Today, there weren't many customers, but it's still early, so I'll keep an eye on it. I might revisit this weekend to try the "pickled rakkyo and myoga." Three doors down, there is Chizui Chira, a popular grilled fish restaurant, but it is small and the counter is always occupied by regulars (laughs), so it's good that this new restaurant is open and easy to enter. Thank you for the meal.

It used to be a traditional fish market in the Ai Road shopping street, adding to the nostalgic atmosphere of the Showa era. After it closed down, I heard that a chain izakaya was going to open, but I didn't really get the concept at first. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is an open izakaya where you can drink from early hours. I liked that the original interior was mostly preserved, giving it a cozy and familiar feel. The lively atmosphere of the fish market seems to have been seamlessly carried over to the izakaya, which I find quite nostalgic. I think the prices and the taste are reasonable. While I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to people coming from afar, I will definitely continue to visit this izakaya with my family for casual outings. Also, I like the idea of dropping by for a drink after paying respects at the shrine on New Year's Day, so I will probably visit if they are open.

Grilled chicken skewers and simmered mackerel sushi.