It's a standing bar izakaya. When I went today, there were chairs. I ordered a black hoppy set for 400 yen. The shochu inside is 200 yen. I also ordered negi kakiage for 350 yen. They were showing horse racing on TV today. The negi kakiage had a good volume, with a crispy outside and fluffy inside. It was a nice place for a casual drink.

In February 2019, in Nishi-Nippori, Tokyo, there is a standing bar called "Guitto" with a casual and inviting sign. The writer was intrigued by the place and decided to enter. Inside, there was the owner and about 6-7 regular customers. Despite the sign saying it's a standing bar, there were seats available. The atmosphere was lively with older men chatting at the tables and a younger man chatting with the owner at the counter. There was even a lady sleeping in the back of the counter. The writer ordered a "Oolong Highball" for ¥400 and a "Red Wiener" for ¥300. The friendly regulars noticed it was the writer's first time and engaged in light conversation. The writer found the place to have a unique and cozy atmosphere, more like a snack bar than a traditional izakaya. The bill came out to ¥1100, making it an affordable and interesting experience.

I have been a regular customer for 15 years. It's a fun place to drink and sing.

A few years ago, when I first joined Tabelog, I came across a place called "Guu-Itto" online. For some reason, there was a picture of a scorpion, and at that time I thought it was like a "specimen". However, this time when I actually went there, it turns out they serve scorpions as a drinking snack... I was surprised. I didn't come for the scorpion dish specifically, I just wanted to take a picture thinking it was a "specimen". When I mentioned this to the lady, she showed me an article in a magazine that featured the scorpion dish. In the photo, there were several fried scorpions on a plate. As for what I ate, the "Mentaiko Omurice" was substantial. The warm mentaiko mayo sauce was like the sea with an omelet sinking in it. The "Edamame" was boiled with salt, but it lacked saltiness. For drinks, the "draft beer" was Asahi Super Dry served in a chilled mug. The "Hoppy set (white)" was a bit pricey at 450 yen. The "Shochu Naka" was reasonably priced at 150 yen each. The place used to be a small bar specializing in Western spirits, but it had a snack bar feel. As I was about to leave, a middle-aged lady who seemed like a regular customer came in, and the TV in the shop suddenly turned into a karaoke machine without warning. Surprisingly, the lady quickly selected a slow-tempo song by "Tomoyasu Hotei" and stood in front of the screen singing passionately. It was another surprise. This was my night in Kinshicho with stories of scorpions and a lady singing Hotei songs. That's all. Thank you.

When I visited Nishikicho, I happened to stop by this place. There was a middle-aged woman working alone. I was the only customer at that time, enjoying the luxury of using one of the few chairs in this standing bar. The wooden counter, the walls stained in reddish-brown, the aroma of a Showa-era alley. And yet, there was a new digital TV that seemed out of place. The place seemed quite old, but in reality, it had only been open for 20 years, although the building itself was old. Perhaps it was a second-hand store. Payment was made each time, in advance, with no cover charge. They are open every evening from early evening until the first train, and recently they have been open for lunch on holidays as well (details unclear). I had a draft beer (450 yen), plum wine (400 yen), jumbo yakitori (150 yen), and a limited edition Haskap sour (500 yen). The draft beer was nicely chilled but a bit bland. The plum wine was also a bit bland. The Haskap sour had an interesting taste, and the portion was generous. I didn't even know what Haskap was, but it tasted like a purple fruit, slightly astringent, similar to grapes, blueberries, or prunes. The jumbo yakitori was a great value for 150 yen, with a good taste. It took 20 minutes to cook, probably because they grilled it on a home grill. Despite the frustration of waiting, considering the portion, it was worth it. In conclusion, the nostalgic atmosphere made me want to accept everything served in the restaurant. I might stop by again on a whim.

Well, there's an hour until the movie starts. At times like this, standing and drinking is nice, right? I walked to Marugen, but it was full (ToT) I quickly searched for another option and found this place. The entrance has an old apartment-like door, and you can't see inside. There's a sign for a 500 yen coin set - one drink and one snack. I thought I'd start with that. I opened the door and found a counter on the right and two tables on the left. There are three seats at the counter and one at each table, a total of five seats in this small shop. I was expecting a standing bar, but there are chairs. The place is usually busy with horse racing fans on weekends, especially during the day. As it was my first time, I asked the mama about the system. She's around 50 and seems delicate. She explained that she's been working part-time for just about a year and is still learning. I asked about the payment method - later or cash on delivery. She didn't understand cash on delivery, which is unusual for a bar. She said either method was fine, so I chose cash on delivery to avoid any issues. I ordered a one coin drink - shochu on the rocks, and a plate of red and white pickled wasabi and spinach ohitashi. I also added a draft beer for 450 yen. The shochu was a bit small in quantity for the price. There are about 40 food items on the menu, mostly priced between 300-400 yen. I tried to order the jumbo grilled chicken skewer for 150 yen, but it would take about 20 minutes. They start by cutting and skewering the chicken, and it takes time to grill the jumbo size. Since I was short on time, I decided to try it next time. Instead, I ordered the homemade potato salad for 400 yen, which was delicious. The mama works until midnight, then the owner, who is the master, takes over from midnight to 6 in the morning. I heard that the master used to be a professional singer and is good at playing the guitar. There's a guitar in the shop, as well. This information was shared by other customers. The cozy atmosphere, combined with the mama's friendly demeanor, makes this place welcoming to other customers.