Formerly the owner of Ebisu's "GEM by moto," Mariko Chiba, opened her own shop in Nishi-Azabu last November 2022. The shop manager is Shizuka, who also worked at GEM. I became a fan of Mariko after visiting GEM by moto quite a while ago, and ever since seeing the announcement of her independence on Instagram, I've been wanting to visit. Finally, I had the chance to go with two others, so we made a reservation in advance. Like GEM, the shop mainly has counter seats, but there are also private rooms in the back for four people. Compared to the simple and bright impression of GEM, this place has a neon logo and a modern, stylish vibe that feels very Nishi-Azabu. [What we ordered] *In addition to other drinks and dishes, we ordered quite a lot, and I forgot to take pictures of some of them... What a mistake! - First drink: "Fukushima Sake Project Urusei Yatsura" - Imada Senbon-nishiki Hana-Yoko-Yoku - Appetizer (tofu milk soup) - Ufu mayo - Naga-imo chanja - Hakusai cumin - Blue cheese ham cutlet - Shrimp and coriander tartare - Shirako carpaccio - Oyster and coconut milk - Roasted duck - Shirako and karasumi risotto There is a wide variety of sake, and the dishes that go well with sake are also impressive. The famous Ufu mayo sauce and blue cheese ham cutlet were amazing, and the shirako carpaccio was a particular hit that day. There are many types of sake not listed on the menu, and the "Life Ku - Coconut Milk-kun" (an original sake developed by Raifuku Shuzo and Mariko) that I had with the oyster and coconut milk had an interesting taste that I had never experienced before. It's fun to choose your own sake, but asking for recommendations from the staff at EUREKA! will definitely make your experience more enjoyable. Mariko actively engages in external activities to promote the charm of sake to people from overseas. On this day, there were regular customers dining alone, groups of women, and couples on dates. There are still many types of sake and dishes that I'm curious about, and just writing this review makes me want to go back already. This is a place where sake lovers and even those who don't usually drink sake can enjoy. Thank you for the delicious meal!

◆Changing a great dish into a jet black ufu mayo ♥, the richness of the egg yolk combined with the intense blackness of squid ink mayonnaise creates a wickedly layered taste. The tuna and avocado tartare is a smooth and sweet blend of tuna and avocado, with the crunch of passion fruit seeds and the nuttiness of pistachios adding a nice touch. The corn tempura has a crunchy texture and a sweet, hot corn flavor, with a spicy kick from the garam masala salt. The blue cheese ham cutlet offers a crispy outer layer with a sinful melty core of strong blue cheese flavor. Every dish is delicious and perfect for stealing sips of sake. It's a place where you can eat and drink to your heart's content, enjoying a happy and indulgent experience. ◆Menu for this visit: Appetizer: Edamame puree ufu mayo ♥ Nagaimo chanja Tuna and avocado tartare Blue cheese ham cutlet Fig and prosciutto salad Corn tempura Uni squid pressed sushi Lamb mince cutlet sandwich + 1 beer, 4 glasses of sake (night) Price: 11,000 yen per person ◆How to enjoy this restaurant: ＜Profile＞ A sake bar run by the sake charismatic Mari Chiba, who previously worked at GEM by moto in Ebisu. Opened in November 2022. ＜Ordering＞ Order items individually. Drinks range from craft beer starting at 700 yen, to sake by the glass (90ml) starting at 700 yen. ＜Atmosphere＞ A cozy atmosphere typical of Nishi-Azabu. The curved counter made of Yoshino cedar resembling a wooden tub, and the cool neon sign of "Strawberry Meeting" inspired by the wordplay of "ichi-go ichi-e" (one time, one meeting), create a unique ambiance. ◆Source of information: 'El Gourmet' September 2023 issue "Sake Bars and Appetizers" feature Thank you for the delicious meal! 🍽️

About a minute's walk from the intersection of Nishi-Azabu towards Shibuya. So, the nearest station is technically Hiroo, but it's not that close. You can get there from Omotesando, Nogizaka, or Roppongi. It's a place that opened about six months ago, like a Japanese sake bar and restaurant. They used to operate near Ebisu, but they renovated and opened here. They probably only open at night on weekdays, but on holidays, they open from lunchtime. I made a reservation for 2 pm on a Sunday and visited. The building looks like it's definitely closed, but it's actually open on the 2nd floor. Inside the store, there's a stylish, cute atmosphere with a round counter like a trendy cafe. I thought they only had Japanese sake, but they also had beer, doburoku, mead, and more. There's only about one type of each drink other than Japanese sake. They also have various types of Japanese sake not listed on the menu. The food menu all looked delicious. There are quite a few dishes combining fruits, which is interesting. I ordered Ufumayo, Nagaimo Changja, Scallop and Peach Tartare, Crab Cream Croquette, and Sansho Noodles. They were all carefully made and delicious. The Crab Cream Croquette with corn sauce underneath was delicious. The Sansho Noodles could have had a stronger Sansho flavor for a Sansho lover like me, but it might be just right as a side dish. I had Japanese sake, doburoku, and mead. The mead was quite light compared to others I've had, tasting like a honey juice, and it was delicious. It's a great space to enjoy drinks while nibbling on various dishes.

I visited a sake bar called "EUREKA!" that opened in November last year. It is located just a short walk from the Nishi-Azabu intersection on the second floor of a building. The interior of the bar is lit up with neon signs that say "Ichigo Ichie" (treasure every encounter). There are about 16 standing seats available. The place was bustling even late into the night. Of course, I had some sake. The fridge inside the bar is filled with a variety of sake bottles. When you tell the staff your preferences, they will choose the perfect sake for you. Despite being a bar, they have a wide selection of food items on the menu! They even have dishes for the end of the meal, so it's a great place for the first stop of the night. On this particular night, it was my second stop, so I ordered some quick snacks. I had uni squid, fresh seaweed with oysters, and blue cheese tsukudani. They went perfectly well with the rich sake! I also had spicy century egg tofu. It had a nice kick to it. The Wind Forest sake paired well with a juicy hamburger topped with a half-cooked egg. The meal ended with a crispy tonkatsu sandwich. The sweet sauce and fragrant bread made it delicious. If you love sake, I recommend visiting this exciting and enjoyable place at least once. Thank you for the meal!

There are many types of sake at this restaurant, and the interior is very stylish. The dishes are particularly unique and delicious, unlike anything else. There is no better place than this. The pairing options are also enjoyable, making it very nice. Also, I think the owner's personality is great.

The restaurant my colleague brought me to had a great selection of drinks, appetizers, and a sense of camaraderie among the regular customers. I am grateful for this day! We had already eaten a lot at a yakiniku restaurant for our first round, so this time we only had snacks, but they all looked so delicious. Next time, I want to enjoy the food even more!

Located in Nishi-Azabu, this is a shop run by a master of the Japanese sake world. You can enjoy a variety of dishes a la carte. They will pair each dish with sake, allowing you to truly enjoy the art of pairing. The atmosphere is lively and you can enjoy yourself even as a walk-in customer.

I finally had my EUREKA moment! I left it up to the staff to choose the pairings this time, and all 5 dishes and 5 drinks were delicious and enjoyable. There are still more drinks I haven't tried, so I want to stop by casually and have a drink. The food menu was also extensive. I want to go back again.

I was able to solve all the mysteries of which sake goes well with which dish at this restaurant in Nishi-Azabu. I was truly impressed. I want to try other dishes and sake pairings too... so I will definitely be going back!! Oh, what a restaurant I want to visit regularly♬

Chiba-san from Gem by Moto opened a new restaurant in Nishi-Azabu. I asked for a pairing with the dishes I ordered. The Japanese sake was unique and delicious as always. I wish the portion sizes of the dishes were a bit larger.

I visited GEM by moto in Ebisu once and EUREKA! Finally found it. They served unique red label sake from Mutsu Hassen, a direct-drawn dry sake from Hagi no Tsuyu, and even accommodated my request for a single serving of hot sake. It was the 170th anniversary of Shinsei Shuzo. The dishes were delicious, with cabbage combined with cumin, a flavorful sauce for cabbage and pork, and thick and tasty anpokaki. Looking forward to visiting again for the atmosphere!

Charismatic figure in the world of sake, Mari Chiba, who is passionately supported by sake fans, opened a sake bar in Nishi-Azabu after branching out from GEM by moto in Ebisu. The interior of the bar has a cool vibe with exposed concrete walls, but there is a neon sign that says "strawberry meeting" which adds a pop of color compared to GEM. The seating consists of a 12-seat counter in a 'T' shape, a private room for 4 people, and a standing space at the end of the counter. It is recommended to make a reservation as there are days when it is fully booked (I couldn't get in once due to it being full). Also, I heard that Mizunotori opened in the former GEM by moto location, which was opened by former GEM staff, and I am very curious about that as well. This place also offers a variety of dishes that go well with sake, so even if two people have completely different sake preferences, they can quickly prepare sake that suits each person's taste. The food menu is clear in terms of pricing, but the sake menu outside of the menu is not clear. I spent about 2 hours there, had a decent amount to drink, and the total bill was around 11,000 yen per person, so the pricing was very reasonable. I would highly recommend this place as a great spot for a second or first stop in Nishi-Azabu! Below is the order details: - Appetizer (tofu milk soup) - Ponkan and shungiku white miso - Chicken ham, drooling chicken style - Blue cheese ham cutlet - Buri and urui nuta - Lamb hamburger with sunny-side-up egg - Oysters and coconut milk - EUREKA! Butter chicken curry

Mari, a leading expert in Japanese sake pairing, has opened a new restaurant. Located near the Nishi-Azabu intersection close to Hobson's, the restaurant offers standing and counter seating, as well as a private room in the back. I started with Amame at the bar and left the choice of sake to Mari. The tofu and white shrimp tartare with Nara pickles was delicious, resembling meat miso. For fried dishes, we had No.6 with chicken, and I enjoyed Hanatomoe's cloudy sake while waiting for the chicken ham. The highlight was the "heretic guru" from Shinsei Shuzo, a unique sake that blossoms from -5 degrees to a soft and mellow flavor. The spicy sauce on the chicken ham paired perfectly with the doburoku. To finish, we had chicken curry with a celebratory aged sake from Usadoshi. I ended up spending more than expected due to drinking too much and making friends with the people next to me. While the prices of the sake are clear, be cautious of overindulging as the menu doesn't list the prices for the sake. Overall, a must-visit for sake enthusiasts. I will definitely be back.

EURECA! Blue cheese ham cutlet with strawberry and walnut white miso dressing. EURECA curry in Hiroo or Roppongi ☎️ Phone reservation. I went after making a reservation because I wanted to drink some sake. The price of the sake was a bit higher than I expected, but that's my fault for not comparing it to regular prices. There were many dishes that caught my eye, so I would like to go again if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal.

Reservation: Not required Wait time: None Number of visitors: 1 person Duration of stay: 2 hours Price: 6000 yen per person A new Japanese sake bar opened by the famous sake expert Mari Chiba. You can easily enjoy standing drinks without a reservation. They have a variety of rare sake, and they recommend sake to match the dishes you order. On this day, the customer next to us kindly shared some sake with us. The dishes we ordered included chicken soup (appetizer), Ufu Mayo, smoked boiled egg with squid ink mayonnaise, blue cheese ham cutlet, and lamb hamburger.

EUREKA! is a new restaurant in Nishi-Azabu run by Mariko Chiba, known for her expertise in pairing sake with food. The atmosphere is casual with standing counters and private rooms available. You can order a la carte or leave it up to the chef to decide. During my visit, I tried some light dishes before dinner. The Persian rugs at the standing counter were a nice touch. They serve beer on tap from Heiwa Craft in Wakayama, with the option to use their original glasses. The sake selection includes rare and unique options. Prices start from 700 yen per glass. Many customers seem to leave their choices up to the staff, but it might be a good idea to specify the number of glasses and budget for pairings. The snacks range from simple to original dishes like black truffle mayonnaise. I skipped the truffle mayo this time as it might leave a lingering taste. We were served a complimentary appetizer and chicken ham with spicy sauce. The space seems perfect for striking up conversations with other customers and meeting new people. I look forward to returning for a more leisurely visit. It's also convenient that they open early on weekends.

Chiba Mariee's shop, independent from JEM. The interior is cute and feminine. I visited as a standing customer this time, but reservations are required for seating. They have a wonderful lineup of Japanese sake and delicious food to pair with it. It's easy to see why it's popular. I would love to visit again.

I came to the best sake bar! The food was delicious and I drank a lot. The friendly atmosphere was great too, I will definitely go back soon!