I had lunch near Yurakucho today and decided to try out the "Robata Honten" for the first time. The atmosphere was quite retro, exuding a sense of tradition. "Welcome. Please take a seat at the counter," greeted the staff as I entered right at noon, with only two other customers in the restaurant. I started to wonder if this place wasn't popular, but the cozy interior put me at ease. I was sure I would find a delicious lunch here. I looked at the menu on the counter and found a few intriguing options. The "Bone-in Chicken Leg Stew" caught my eye with its impressive Christmas-like chicken leg. Should I give it a try? The "Oriental Rice" also captivated me, seeming to whisper something sarcastic from Singapore. It looked like chicken rice in the photo, but I was curious. I hesitated. When in doubt, my experience told me that a simple choice is usually a safe bet. "Excuse me, I'll have the fried chicken, please." "Sure, coming right up," the staff responded. I chose the "Green Yuzu Pepper Fried Chicken (with mini udon set and rice)" for 800 yen, which seemed quite reasonable. Customers started to arrive one after another. The tables quickly filled up, and the counter seats were almost full too. It seemed like a popular spot after all. Just 4 minutes later, the "Green Yuzu Pepper Fried Chicken" was served. That was fast. I started with the mini udon, which had a gentle and comforting flavor. It was more enjoyable than miso soup as a side dish. The main dish of fried chicken came with four large pieces. Was this too generous of a portion? I started to feel a bit unsure if I could finish it all.

I visited the Rotei Honten restaurant on this day. I ordered the original Niku-tama Meshi for 950 yen including tax. Although there was a slight difference between the menu's photo and the actual dish, it was delicious. With salad and miso soup included, I think it's worth it for 950 yen. Thank you for the meal.

I tried the original meaty rice bowl. The rice wasn't tasty, it had uneven cooking and the aroma of the rice felt old. The salad had roughly cut vegetables that were hard, and the miso soup was the typical strong-flavored type that foreigners often make. I'd rather have soup with a strong flavor because the pork meat had a strong flavor. It was dim and very cold even during the day, so I left right after eating. If lunch isn't delicious, I can't invite my friends for dinner.

We decided to take a break for lunch during a subway transfer in January 2023. We stumbled upon a restaurant with two other groups of customers already enjoying their meals. We quickly got a table for our group of three and ordered from the lunch menu. I chose the "Pork Shabu-Shabu with Yuzu Salt Udon," while my companion ordered the "Original Meatball Rice." The udon arrived first, accompanied by chicken tempura and rice. The udon had a nice texture and smooth appearance, with the addition of watercress giving it a refreshing salad-like taste. The pork and tempura were both tasty, with the chicken tempura being crispy and juicy. My companion enjoyed the pork, which had a nice aroma. The only downside was that the egg was hard-boiled instead of soft-boiled. Nevertheless, my companion didn't mind and found it delicious. Overall, it was a satisfying meal.

Nice to meet you, Mr. Tatami. I was looking for a place to have lunch around here but couldn't find the intended restaurant... As I wandered around, I suddenly spotted a shop with a charming exterior. The inside was dimly lit, making it hard to see, but there was a sign indicating that they were open, so I decided to give it a try. There were a few people scattered around, and some finished dishes on the tables. It wasn't too crowded, but also not completely empty, just the right atmosphere. I ordered the pork shabu-shabu and yuzu salt udon from the lunch menu. The interior had a cozy feel with its dim lighting and traditional house style, with walls and cupboards adding to the ambiance. In front of the counter, there were many large plates lined up, so I assume they serve a variety of dishes during the evening izakaya hours. The pork shabu-shabu, yuzu salt udon, rice, fried chicken, and salad arrived. I mistakenly thought the udon in that type of bowl would be cold, but it turned out to be warm. It had sweet potato and pumpkin tempura, along with watercress, giving it a cold udon-like appearance but warm in reality. It had a refreshing taste suitable for summer. The fried chicken was hot and crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. It had a yuzu salt flavor, which most people enjoy, though it's not my favorite. The crispiness and heat of the chicken ended up hurting my mouth a bit. Overall, it was quite an interesting place to dine.

This is a creative izakaya near Hibiya Station with a traditional Japanese house-style interior and exterior. There is a large plate in front of the counter seats, where it seems that dishes are served at night and customers can choose what they want. Since I visited during the day, there were no dishes on the plate yet. I ordered the pork belly ginger stir-fry, which is one of the original set meal options served on a hot plate. The meat was well marinated with ginger flavor and very tasty, especially with the free rice refill option. I left satisfied.

I had been curious about a charcoal-grilled izakaya that I always passed by, and they have now started serving lunch. Since the evening section is always full, I will visit after the state of emergency is lifted, but since it was their first time, I decided to try their lunch menu. Perhaps due to the holiday, they offer not only set meals but also a menu where you can enjoy a little drink. I was in the mood for something refreshing, so I ordered the Pork Shabu-Shabu and Yuzu Salt Udon for 950 yen, which came with a mini fried chicken, and I paired it with a draft beer for 660 yen. The beer was brought to me right away. As expected from a popular izakaya, the foam was beautifully formed. I had to wait a bit for the udon, but it arrived fairly quickly. Although they are not a udon specialty store, the appearance was very appealing, with a scent of yuzu and the deep-fried pumpkin adding a nice touch with its color and texture. The pork shabu-shabu was more generous than I expected, providing a satisfying meal. The fried chicken, fried fresh for each order, was properly drained of oil and was a perfect match for the beer! They have just started serving lunch, but I would like to try other menu items when I have the chance. There was a plastic sheet hanging between the charcoal grill and the counter seats for social distancing. This situation may continue for a while, and I believe that restaurants like this are facing great difficulties. The best I can do is to find opportunities to support them by having lunch there, ordering takeout, or even just having a drink alone in the evening. I will try to visit again when I go to watch a movie, as it is a small way to show my support.

I visited this place for drinks a while back and I remember there was a host who looked like he stepped out of a picture of Miyamoto Musashi drawn in ink. I was surprised to find out they also serve lunch! The Oriental meal for 800 yen was okay. The fried chicken had a fine, crispy coating and the meat was tender, but the seasoning was a bit lacking. The ketchup rice seemed to be missing salt and had a slightly unusual flavor, maybe some cumin in it? The miso soup was too salty, but oddly enough, it went well with the bland ketchup rice.

On 10/26, I went to Yurakucho for some business and ended up having a solo drink afterwards. The first yakitori restaurant I tried to go to across the street seemed very busy and crowded, so I decided to try a different place closer to the station. The exterior of the restaurant looked interesting, but the interior was even more stylish and had a cool atmosphere. There were no menus, instead, you could see the actual dishes on display at the counter. I thought it was a traditional robatayaki restaurant based on the name, but it turned out they only served dishes on the counter. For drinks, they had a selection of three different types of sake, and the staff explained each one to me. I tried the oyster cream stew, which was served in a pot and warmed up. The seasoning was unique, almost like a curry flavor, and there were plenty of chopped ingredients along with the oysters.

Located along the Yurakucho guard, "Robata Honten" is a classical izakaya that has been running for 100 years since the previous generation. The current owner has a great presence and serves large plate dishes. When I went alone before, I found the portions to be too much for one person, so I hadn't been back since. However, when I was thinking about where to take overseas clients for work, I remembered this place. With four people, we were able to try various dishes and the classical atmosphere was a big hit with the foreign guests. The only downside was that they only had beer, sake, and wine, so I switched to wine after beer. Surprisingly, dishes like duck in orange sauce, pork belly in tomato sauce, and marinated octopus had a Western touch and paired well. The famous oysters were not available due to the season, but the scallops in cream sauce were delicious. The dishes were carefully prepared, and the freedom to choose from a variety of dishes on large plates was enjoyable. While enjoying an Ebisu beer, I even had the lucky encounter of Ebisu himself, which added to my satisfaction. The experience here really depends on the occasion.

There is a quaint old-fashioned restaurant near Yurakucho Station with a unique charm. The atmosphere inside is quite nostalgic and charming. In the past, there used to be large dishes of food displayed, but perhaps due to COVID-19 measures, all the plates and bowls are empty. It's a bit disappointing. I had a beer, a plum wine, and two dishes, totaling 4,111 yen. The beer was a Super Dry. The dishes I had were grilled Atka mackerel and steamed cod with seasonal vegetables. The Atka mackerel was of high quality, but the cod dish was just average. Is watercress in season now? With this type of cuisine, I felt like having some sake, but the selection was limited, so I left soon after. I wish the price was a bit lower, maybe under 4,000 yen.

I visited a restaurant where I used to enjoy one of my favorite dishes, and they had started serving lunch. I ordered the steamed chicken or pork lunch set. It came with plenty of vegetables and a generous portion, and I was very satisfied.

I noticed a lunch place in an old house and decided to try it. The exterior and interior of the restaurant are dark and black, but upon closer inspection, it has a brownish hue. The lunch menu includes dishes like "grilled meat lunch," "grilled mackerel with salt," "fried chicken," and "oriental rice." I decided to try the grilled meat lunch, which is a steamed dish with chicken, pork, and vegetables. The vegetables included pumpkin, sweet potato, lotus root, tomato, watercress, and more, making for a colorful and satisfying meal. A side salad of shredded cabbage was also served, but it may not be necessary with so many vegetables in the main dish.

The meat easily fell off the bone and was tender and delicious.

I'm sorry, there are no photos. I visited for the first time yesterday, so my memory is a bit fuzzy. Yesterday was a special occasion called Han-Natsu, so I had Spanish-style vinegar octopus. I also enjoyed delicious edamame, turnip and tomato salad, boiled eggs, pork belly stew, creamed lily bulbs and taro, etc. Everything was delicious, especially the fried chicken cartilage made with knee and yagen cartilage, it was really tasty. I definitely want to visit again. Next time, I will definitely take photos. Thank you for the meal!

I had the Donkey Lunch (steamed chicken/pork and vegetables, side dish, rice, soup) for 950 yen. The restaurant had been closed for a while since the pandemic hit, but recently they started offering lunch again. The place stands out in the rapidly changing Yurakucho area, surrounded by redevelopment projects like Hibiya Midtown, with its old-fashioned appearance. I had always been curious about it but never had the courage to go in until now. I chose the lunch set that seems to be their specialty. When the food arrived after about 5 minutes, the main dish, the steamed dish, felt a bit lukewarm and pre-made. The taste was quite bland, almost like hospital food. On the positive side, it could be seen as a healthy option compared to the usual salty restaurant food. The miso soup was simple, and even though rice was refillable, I didn't feel like getting more as there wasn't much to go with it. Passing by on my way back from work, I peeked inside and saw the warm glow of the fishing light illuminating the cozy brown interior, creating a cool atmosphere. I remember this place used to be bustling with customers every night before the pandemic, so it was a bit disappointing to see it less lively now.

A shop run by elderly staff, with a calm atmosphere and good food. I felt the cost performance was decent.

No revisit. No counter seats, many foreigners. No menu. Drinks are ordered verbally, with choices of beer, sake, and wine. A sense of unease. Select dishes from a large plate menu, each served generously on a large plate. Mostly simmered dishes. Oyster cream curry, large omelette, potato salad, marinated herring, tough chicken and bamboo shoot stew. Dishes that need reheating are put in a pot by the man behind the counter. By the way, this man sometimes sits behind the counter and even falls asleep. Not bad, just can't seem to relax since entering. White wine is not good if you drink too much. Poured from a bottle with no label. Cold. Cramped. Dirty. And there's a sour smell like something hasn't been washed for days. Occasionally, a nose-pinching sour smell wafts by. Surprised by the bill! Hot sake 800 yen, wine 700 yen, dishes start at 1300 to 1500 yen each. So, a plate generously filled with food costs 5000 yen? 19000 yen for 3 people... No fresh sashimi or dishes only available at restaurants for this price. No return! Why is it always full?

I happened to stumble upon this place, but it turned out to be a gem. The old man chef was amazing, and I loved the generous portions of food, the atmosphere, the dishes, and the drinks. I want to come back with a big group because the portions are huge! ❤️

It was fun to choose side dishes like o-banzai. The star anise-flavored pork kakuni was amazing.