The quality of the appetizer was good, and the atmosphere was relaxed for Ikebukuro standards, making it a good place to drink slowly. They also have a variety of drinks that pair well with the food, making it suitable for adult gatherings. The only downside is that the food service can be a bit slow. Since the restaurant is small, it's recommended to make a reservation.

I met up with a friend who loves sake in Ikebukuro and we ended up finding a place with high-quality food and drinks. We forgot to take a photo, but the appetizer was a soup and three side dishes. Each bite was delicate and flavorful. We had sashimi, yuba, and tempura, and the chef paid attention to the seasoning and presentation, making the dishes a delight to eat. For sake, I mentioned that I like dry and crisp ones, and they first served a sparkling sake from Shizuoka, which was refreshing and delicious. Then we tried a dry sake from Miyagi called Hidashimi. The staff at the restaurant was helpful in recommending sake, as I didn't know much about them. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience and a place I would visit for a special occasion with friends.

Explored the Nishiike Valley. Located in a residential area behind Rikkyo University Building 6. It has a different vibe when entering from Yomemachi. The facade is not as down-to-earth as it seems, with an appetizer costing ¥660, but nothing is actually served? Some places don't serve anything at all. The blackboard menu seems to be recommended. Hmm, nothing really stands out... Oh, they have an appetizer platter! Here's what we ordered: - Appetizer ¥660 - Seasonal appetizer platter ¥1,980 - Setouchi Bai Zhen ¥950 - Natukoma ¥700 - Matsunoju HADE na MATSUKOTO ¥660 - Setouchi water eggplant sashimi ¥880 - Hichinanchi Iwajioyaki ¥1650 Overall, the cost performance is not great. Is the quality worth it? The biggest disappointment was the Hichinanchi chicken (tears). Setouchi water eggplant is always a good choice at this time of year, but it's three times the price... Maybe they were just too busy, seemed a bit lacking in enthusiasm. I wanted to see some smiles...

This was my second visit in a few years. I suddenly felt like eating fish, so I decided to drop by without a reservation. Since it was early, I was seated at the counter. Today's main dish was fresh oysters! I really wanted to eat oysters no matter what. They had rock oysters, so I ordered them along with an appetizer. The appetizers here are my favorite - rolled dish, chicken nanban, and simmered vegetables. They were all served cold and were excellent. The chicken nanban was incredibly tender, and the shrimp soup was amazing. I don't usually choose shrimp soup, but this one was delicious. Then the oysters arrived. This year, oysters seem to be bigger everywhere! The oysters were served neatly cut and the presentation was meticulous. The taste was just amazing - a perfect balance of sea flavor, bitterness, and umami. I wonder what's different this year? Anyway, today's oysters were to my liking. Next, my friend ordered chicken tataki with ponzu sauce. I'm not a big fan of raw chicken, but when I tried it, I was surprised by how flavorful it was. The sear was perfect. I couldn't stop eating it. I'm sure if it's from this restaurant, I can eat it, even though I wouldn't at other places. Lastly, we had a sashimi platter. They divided it neatly for two people, and each piece was served individually, which was great. Everything was fresh, especially the bream was so tender and delicious. Oh, I had a highball for drinks because I'm on a diet. It was so light that it almost tasted like oolong tea. The price was a bit higher than expected, but it's worth a visit. I will definitely come back. Thank you for the meal.

The service was slow, but all the dishes were delicious. Maybe they were serving them gradually based on the progress? There was always a small amount of food on the table, which made me feel a bit lonely as a big eater, but it also felt like they were calculating it. I was disappointed when they said the salted pork belly I ordered was sold out after a short wait. I really wanted to try it because the food here is delicious. I will definitely revisit. The Cosmo cocktail at Shinsei was too expensive at 2,500 yen per glass, I cried. However, the atmosphere here is really nice. When it comes to a light meal in Ikebukuro, this is the place to go.

All the dishes were delicious! A hidden gem in Ikebukuro!! We ordered a variety of dishes and everything was delicious. It's a place I want to come back to. The sake tasting set of 3 types for 1,300 yen is affordable and perfect for Japan enthusiasts. The seafood porridge at the end was also delicious, and the horse liver sashimi was incredibly tasty. The two appetizers, shrimp sinjo and assorted platter, were also delicious.

After leaving the Ikebukuro Art Theater and entering a narrow alley, you will find a unique atmosphere. Going down a small staircase, you will discover a cozy setting with a counter and a few tables. The menu offers fresh sashimi and creatively crafted dishes that are sure to catch your eye. The owner, who is around the same age as me, was delightful to chat with. I ended up at this restaurant because I love sake, and I started with a tasting set of three different kinds. Each one paired perfectly with the food, and they even let me choose from a selection based on my preferences. I ended up having four refills, each time with a different sake. I couldn't resist trying a drink from Ishidaya as well, just for the experience. Although I went over budget, I definitely want to visit this lovely place again.

After watching "Jane Eyre" at the Art Theater Playhouse, we went for a meal at a restaurant located just a 5-minute walk away. It's on the opposite side of the station, just a short walk across the pedestrian crossing. This restaurant is a favorite of mine and I've been here several times after watching plays. This time, I went with a friend who loves Japanese sake, so I thought they would enjoy it. The appetizers here are always amazing, and on this day, we were served a warm soup with chicken meatballs and seaweed. The broth was delicious, and we finished it all. This was followed by a platter of three different types of sushi appetizers - white fish, firefly squid, and white fish nigiri. I had been wanting to try the white fish, so it was a lucky surprise. For our main dishes, we ordered: - Foie Gras - a generous portion that I wish I could have at home! - Sashimi - a beautifully presented platter with delicious sea urchin. - Fugu Shirako Croquette - high in calories but worth it! - Persimmon Butter - Clay Pot Rice We consulted with the chef on the fish selection, and he prepared a delicious sea bream dish for us. The food was so tasty that we ended up eating a lot and feeling a bit stuffed. We had some rice balls made with the leftovers. My friend who loves Japanese sake was delighted with the sake tasting set we ordered. This restaurant is a reliable choice to take friends, and I look forward to visiting again after watching another play.

I have a weakness for izakayas with delicious appetizers, so I revisited a place I really liked last time. I called just before 8:00 PM on the weekend to confirm a seat and then went. On this day, I ordered the following: - Complimentary appetizers (grilled chicken meatball soup, grilled fish with yuzu pepper, firefly squid with vinegar miso, white fish) - Simmered bamboo shoots - Salted pork belly - Beer - Gin (from Niigata) - Barley shochu The chicken meatball appetizer had a savory saltiness that went well with alcohol. The firefly squid was from Toyama and had a nice chewiness. The appetizer set costs 880 yen, but it was worth it. It was a satisfying night with seasonal ingredients.

The food was delicious and the lineup of alcohol was good too! The dishes were a bit unique and not your typical ones, which made it enjoyable. The croquettes were especially delicious. It was a weekday but the restaurant was full! It seems to be a popular place. I think it's necessary to make a reservation in advance. Because of that, the aisle was narrow, but it was still a pleasant experience. The staff at the counter didn't respond when I tried to talk to them, so if you need anything, it's better to ask the staff in the dining area.

I visited this place for the first time because I was curious about the delicious-looking otsumami (appetizers). The otsumami for the day was shrimp shinjo, which was amazing with its flavorful broth. I was looking forward to the next dish. The dishes we ordered were: otsumami (shrimp shinjo), potato salad, and assorted sashimi. The sashimi had a variety of types and was enjoyable. Of course, it was delicious! I visited with a friend, and they served each dish separately for each of us. This is a restaurant that I absolutely love, and I would love to visit again.

Sake and creative Japanese cuisine galore. The prices are not too high and the food is delicious. They also serve small portions of sashimi for solo diners or small groups who want to enjoy drinks with a few snacks. I only visited briefly for a pre-drinks gathering before another event, but I definitely want to come back to try more of their menu next time.

I tried the daily special at Gomae for 1,100 yen, which came with rice topped with sweet bean sauce and egg. The contents of the dish were fairly average, but the combination of teriyaki and mixed rice was excellent. Japanese cuisine is generally known for its delicious broth. It's a lunch that can put you in a good mood.

It's an elegant restaurant where you can feel the chef's care in each dish, located an 8-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station West Exit! The quality is excellent for both lunch and dinner set meals. The interior is a calm space that feels like home. I enjoyed dishes like seafood hitsumabushi, medium-sized rolls, and seasonal appetizers. I definitely want to come back!

An underground Japanese-style izakaya with a small counter and table seating. All the rice dishes were delicious. The chilled tomato oden was interesting. The mountain vegetable tempura had a unique bitterness to it. The tamagoyaki with karasumi sauce was tasty. Among the various drinks, the Toyo Bijin sake was delicious. It was nice to have the option to compare different drinks. The Shinsei sake had a strong acidity and was not as good. It was a bit crowded, so the service was a bit slow, which was a shame. The bill was surprisingly reasonable.

I had always been curious about this restaurant. I visited for lunch on a weekday. It is a small restaurant located in a back alley with a counter and one table. I tried the daily special set meal limited to 10 servings ❤️ The appetizer was delicious zucchini chawanmushi. The set meal included fried local chicken, assorted fresh fish from Miura Peninsula, mackerel nanbanzuke, simmered squid and daikon, boiled watercress, fish broth rice cooked in a clay pot, pickles, and soup. It was nice to be able to try a variety of dishes in small portions. Each dish was carefully prepared and delicious. The daily special set meal is definitely worth it in terms of cost performance. The service was also polite and pleasant (^-^)

Hidden gem izakaya in the narrow back alleys of Nishi-Ikebukuro. It looks quite suspicious, and the underground location adds to the mystery. I saw their lunch set on Instagram, and it turned out to be surprisingly amazing in terms of both quantity and quality. Each dish was meticulously prepared and incredibly delicious.

I wanted to try a Japanese lunch and visited this place for the first time. The entrance was down a suspicious staircase and had a slightly intimidating atmosphere. The inside of the restaurant was dimly lit. Despite the shady appearance, I ordered the daily special set meal that caught my interest online. A hot towel and tea were brought to me as I waited for the food to arrive. The towel had a pleasant hinoki-like scent, which made me feel comfortable. Restaurants that pay attention to details like this usually deliver great food, so my expectations were high. The first dish that arrived was a small chawanmushi, and after one bite, I thought, "This place is a hit!" Next came the main set meal, and the care put into the lunch was impressive. From the sashimi, simmered dish, stir-fried dish, salad, soup, to rice, everything was really delicious. I thought it was perfect until I noticed a fatal flaw... As I was eating in the back seat, I glanced at the wall and saw something moving! There was a cockroach! I wonder if the hygiene here is okay? If it wasn't for that, I would give it a 4.0 rating, but now it's a 3.1. I hope they improve, and I will visit again.

I had the daily set meal for 1000 yen. Today's dishes included deep-fried tofu and eggplant, tuna fry with tartar sauce, assorted fresh fish from Miura Peninsula, simmered jade eggplant with yuba sauce, stir-fried turnip greens and salmon, boiled minari flower, fish broth clay pot rice, assorted pickles, and today's soup. Overall, the meal was light and delicious with a Kansai-style taste.

I went out for lunch! I was aiming for the beef tongue set meal, but couldn't get it... Instead, I had the daily special set meal, which was elegant and each dish had a very delicate flavor. I really want to go back next time to try the beef tongue set meal...!!