Located right by Otsuka Station South Exit, this place was bustling with people and various eateries were crowded, giving off a lively atmosphere reminiscent of pre-COVID times. I decided to try a new restaurant this time, which I had not visited before. After researching online, I found out that they offer all-you-can-eat motsunabe (tripe hot pot). I made a same-day reservation online for the motsunabe buffet, all-you-can-drink, and all-you-can-eat appetizers. I took the elevator to the 6th floor, where this place used to be a Shirakiya in the past. I remembered the good service we received from the manager back then when we visited late at night. The interior of the restaurant looked almost the same, and we were seated comfortably at the same spot we used to sit. This place is a hidden gem. There were only four groups of customers. It's surprising to see that even the usually quiet restaurants in the Otsuka Station area are packed today. I started off with a chilled glass of draft beer (Asahi Super Dry), served promptly. The motsunabe arrived quickly as well. Among the selection of appetizers, the Satsuma-age (fried fish cake) was large, but the taste was average. The tomato cheese was also average, while the myoga (Japanese ginger) was good. The crispy and juicy toriten (chicken tempura) was delicious. The marinated whole dried sardine was flavorful, although it had a unique taste. There were many other options, but this time we focused mainly on the motsunabe. The vegetables and tripe for the hot pot were refillable, but unfortunately, there was no tofu available, which was not listed on the regular menu. The tripe pieces were initially large but shrunk and became slightly tough once cooked. Nevertheless, since it was all-you-can-eat, we quickly ordered more. We topped off the meal with Chinese noodles for the finale, but we overdid it with two servings. Despite feeling full, we managed to enjoy some ice cream to finish. The alcohol selection was satisfying, with the option for a strong pour of Kaku Highball. The staff consisted of a polite male employee and a careless part-time staff member. By the time we left after two hours, we were the only customers remaining. This place is truly a hidden gem. There are also two seats where you can watch TV.

In the case of Otsuka, there are many izakaya chain restaurants in the north exit. The representative restaurant in the south exit is Yamanoi Farm. It's convenient for sudden drinking parties because they offer all-you-can-drink. However, it's inconvenient that it's on the 6th floor of a mixed building with only a small elevator. I ordered the local chicken charcoal grill. It goes well with yuzu pepper and makes the alcohol go down smoothly. I ate chicken skin with ponzu, seared mackerel, tuna sashimi with avocado, and grilled offal. For those from Kyushu, it's a nostalgic taste. There are many sour drinks made with tropical fruits, which are likely to be popular with young women. Although I usually dislike izakaya chain restaurants, I'm starting to think that Yamanoi Farm is quite good these days.

Today was the first match of the World Cup, so many izakayas were open in various places since the morning. I ended up having a drink at "Yamauchi Farm" as a substitute for lunch. First, I had the "local chicken seared sashimi" with yuzu pepper and Kyushu soy sauce, which was both nostalgic and delicious! The "spicy fried chicken wings" were just right. The "grilled shiitake and eringi mushrooms" came with "name miso" and paired well with the alcohol. For the finale, I had the "katsuo fisherman's rice," also with a "name miso" kick. It was just right when sprinkled with tea. Yamauchi Farm is a chain izakaya, but they really know what they're doing.