It was a long-awaited revisit! My senior and I enjoyed a 5000 yen all-you-can-drink deal. There were many fresh Japanese sake options, and we were very satisfied! The amount of food was overwhelming but delicious! The Asian staff members were kind and it was a great experience. We will definitely come back again!

"Highly recommend the izakaya 'Juunananachii' located in the back streets of Waseda-dori near Espas. They offer a variety of dishes from sashimi and yakitori to deep-fried foods and rare delicacies. The staff, including the chefs and waitresses, are mostly foreigners and very friendly. The atmosphere is great for having a drink and a chat. Personally, I loved the whale meat, local buttered potatoes, and liver. Thank you for the wonderful meal!"

I was looking for a place around here where I could drink Asahitaka, and since this place is in the same series as Nakano Toko Warai, which I often visit, I decided to give it a try. I arrived around 7:20 pm on Friday without a reservation, and there were already many customers. I couldn't see the back of the store or the second floor from the entrance, so I asked if there was a terrace-like counter seat facing the kitchen grill if that was okay. It was a rainy night, but like the Nakano store, the terrace seats were inside vinyl curtains, so I didn't get wet or cold, so I decided to sit there. There were heaters available, and they were used on cold days. There were also counter seats surrounding the kitchen inside, perpendicular to the terrace seats. Across the aisle, there were table seats, and upstairs there were also table seats. I couldn't see the sake refrigerator in the back of the store from the terrace seats. There was no particular mention of a course menu, but when I asked the kitchen, they said it was 5,500 yen for 2 hours. It was similar to what I usually order at Toko Warai, so I went with that. First, I had a draft beer. The appetizers, potato salad and macaroni salad, arrived quickly. The potato salad had fried onions on top, which was excellent. The macaroni salad had a mature taste with a hint of black pepper. Next, I had bamboo skewers. Thick bamboo skewers with fresh cucumbers. This is also a staple at Toko Warai. It had a satisfying texture. At this point, I switched to sake. The Asahitaka had a rich flavor with a smooth finish. The appetizer was beef tripe sashimi. It was served with plenty of chopped green onions. It had no unpleasant odor, and the firm texture was enjoyable, making it hard to stop eating. The sake was Tedeokawa. It came in a slim bottle with a pattern of a rabbit that I had never seen before, resembling a wine bottle at first glance. There was no label, but upon investigation, it was a zodiac bottle. The taste was as good as always with a smooth finish. Next was seasoned bamboo shoots. It had plenty of green onions. It had a rich flavor but was not too heavy. It went well with the sake. Next, I had Oriental Beauty and Masumi. Oh? Wasn't the bottle the same as the Tedeokawa I had earlier? I thought, but it had the tag for Masumi. I liked the taste of both. Next was bonito tataki. It had plenty of condiments, with shrimp on top. It had a good balance of fat and a nice sear, and it was delicious with ponzu sauce. The shumai was hot. It was cut in half, making it easy to eat. I anticipated the next appetizer, so I had Karakuchikiddo and Shinsei No. 6 sake. Shinsei is always delicious. The king of appetizers, creamy shirako and rich and sticky ankimo, made an appearance. I seem to have it once a week lately. It always goes well with sake. The sake was Otokoyama and Tatenokawa. Tatenokawa had a clean taste that was comforting and delicious. It never gets boring. The grilled dish was tsukune skewers. It seemed like there was a good selection of yakitori dishes, which seemed to be a feature of Takadanobaba. The grilling was well done, and it was delicious and juicy. It was time for the finale. The sake was Machida Shuzo and Ryuuki. Ryuuki's pink color, how many more times can I have it before spring is over? For the finale, I had chicken and konjac stewed udon. It was delicious with a strong broth. Finally, I just had sake, Ichinokami Usumurasaki, Gakki Masamune, Tatenokawa (smooth finish), and Hitoroki. After having so much to drink and eat for 5,500 yen, it was amazing. So, I feel like coming back again. The only downside compared to Toko Warai was that there were many sake options that were sold out, and it took a relatively long time for the sake to be served after ordering. Maybe it's because Toko Warai has more staff members. However, the service was very good, and I enjoyed drinking comfortably. Thank you for the meal.

17th Address Takadanobaba Store @ Takadanobaba ★☆☆Table seats and counter seats, 2nd floor seats available, credit cards accepted, no electronic money, reservations possible, all-you-can-drink, smoking allowed. All-you-can-drink course per person 6,600 yen. Feeling tired. Located near Takadanobaba Station, this izakaya specializes in Japanese sake. I've liked it since my college days and occasionally visit. The food is delicious and cost-effective. This time, I tried the all-you-can-drink course. They have a good selection of Japanese sake, making the course quite a deal. It included favorites like white liver, sashimi, and sea urchin. There were other dishes that I couldn't capture in photos. The cold udon noodles at the end were unexpectedly tasty. Overall, I was very satisfied with the food. The taste and cost-effectiveness of this place are reliable and much appreciated.

I went to a izakaya called Juunananbanchi, located just 1 minute walk from Takadanobaba Station! I was completely impressed by the exterior of the restaurant! I tried dishes like salmon yukke, seseri negi mamire, gyutan yaki, and yakitori don. The salmon yukke was generously piled up in a pyramid shape, giving a great value for money! The seseri negi mamire had plenty of green onions on top of the seseri, making it very hearty. The gyutan yaki was served hot and juicy, best enjoyed with a squeeze of lemon! The yakitori don was also delicious with the sauce soaked in nicely! Everything was tasty and satisfying! This is a place where you can enjoy a light drink or have a proper drinking session!

I went to Juunana-banchi in Takadanobaba! I had white liver, meat tofu, and 5 skewers of yakitori! The white liver, called "Negi-mamire" (meaning covered in green onions), was piled high with green onions! The simmered daikon radish in the meat tofu was amazing! The alcohol just kept flowing and flowing! The yakitori was delicious with sauce! I highly recommend all the dishes! Definitely check it out when you're in Takadanobaba! ☺️

I should have eaten karashi-yaki at Yopodin, but I lost my way and ended up wandering to the back of Espas. I should have just pushed through to Debuchan, but I stumbled upon an izakaya called Jushichiban at random. The place was packed with young TKDBB-style customers, almost all wearing chin masks and making a lot of noise. The casual service from the young Korean and Chinese-looking staff didn't quite match the concept of a Japanese sake bar. Anyway, I was shocked to find out that the otoshi (appetizer) was 500 yen before paying, so I left in a hurry. The seared mentaiko for 500 yen and the taxi driver's one cup of sake for 1,100 yen, both excluding tax, were not worth it. Chopsticks don't come unless you ask for them. Thanks for the meal. I hope the government lifts the KJS (copying) ban soon, as you have to work pretty hard to earn 500 yen.

I visited this restaurant at night, and even though I am a bit tipsy from drinking from 2 PM until after 7 PM, I had a great time. It's a great place. High quality restaurants in Takadanobaba never disappoint. Many of the staff members are foreigners, and this time I was drinking in a separate room (they have a separate room on the second floor apart from the open counter on the first floor), so I couldn't see the chefs in action, but they handle fresh ingredients with skill and satisfy us drinkers. They also offer takeout at the storefront, and the staff members work hard. The organization seems to be well-coordinated, and I have a good impression. I will definitely go back.

At night in Takadanobaba. On this day, I went with my colleagues from work to Juunananbanchi, a charming izakaya in the center of Nakano Ward. They are operating with thorough infection prevention measures. It feels like it's been months since I last had a toast with 4 people. The appetizers were macaroni, chicken, and fish head soup. We ordered the classic izakaya menu items, potato salad and sashimi platter. We also added the recommended dish, white liver with green onions. The potato salad had a nice crispy texture with plenty of green onions, and the creamy white liver melted in my mouth like a Japanese foie gras. It went well with the dry sake. The chef's selection sashimi platter came with 6 types of fish, including octopus, mid-fatty tuna, black rockfish, red snapper, bonito. The firm black rockfish was chewy, and the tuna's red meat had a good amount of fat. The fresh horse mackerel tartare came with Korean seaweed. The miso and green onion flavor paired perfectly with the sake. The chef's selection yakitori included salt-grilled meatballs, scallion-wrapped skewers, and liver with sauce. The meatballs were soft and juicy, and the perfectly rare liver melted in my mouth. The stewed tripe came in a large pot with plenty of root vegetables, warming my heart.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I tried a bento box from a restaurant that was selling them to make some income. I chose the grilled chicken bowl for 500 yen. Since I haven't been able to go to bars, I was craving some yakitori. I took it back to my workplace and ate it. It had negima, tsukune, and thigh meat with sauce. I usually prefer salt yakitori, but the sauce went well with the rice. The rice was a bit soft (a little disappointing). Towards the end, the sauce was a bit sweet, so I sprinkled some shichimi pepper on it. The portion (rice) was generous, and I was full by the end. I would recommend it over convenience store bento boxes. It's a tough time during the pandemic, but hang in there!

I visited on a Friday night. Both the first and second floors were quite crowded, so it seems to be a popular place. The food is delicious, but the specialty here is the sake. There are so many varieties and they are all delicious. Personally, I think this is the most delicious restaurant in Takadanobaba.

A cute little shop where the international student part-time workers call the manager "Papa". It was a heartwarming time chatting with the part-time workers during a quiet period when we were the only customers. It was so much fun!

When I ordered the ginger pork set meal for ¥780, they also brought four small side dishes! I laughed. This is the place to go when you're really hungry.

An izakaya specializing in yakitori and mainly serving sake. The quality of the appetizers is high. The tofu skin soaked in a rich sauce is delicious and goes well with sake. The sashimi is also excellent.

Great customer service.