In front of the Godzilla movie theater in Shinjuku, there is a restaurant called "Ikkyu-san" where you can become a member and enjoy discounted prices. I went there after a long time since I had a membership card. When I went up to the second floor in the elevator, there were many people waiting in the elevator hall. I had to wait for 30 minutes before finally being seated. I decided to skip alcohol and ordered mainly rice dishes. The first dish I ordered was the chicken gizzard a la plancha, which was served on a hot iron plate. I also ordered curry and potato fries. It was a satisfying meal.

In February 2019, I went to Yamanashi to meet up with a friend. After enjoying delicious sake at the sake stand "Toki," we headed to an izakaya called "Ikkyu" that we used to frequent over 20 years ago during our student days. The location had changed since then, and we had a bit of trouble finding it. The atmosphere inside the restaurant and the demeanor of the staff remained the same as it was 20 years ago. We were able to get a significant discount by signing up for a membership card, so we quickly got one. The red card design hadn't changed at all. Apparently, this year, 2019, is a special "Ikkyu Year" that only comes once every hundred years. Many of the staff were foreigners, but they were proficient in Japanese, so communication was not a problem. It seemed like the majority of the customers were young people, and the tables were quite narrow, typical of Shinjuku izakayas. It brought back memories of our student days when we used to get kicked out in 90 minutes on Saturdays. Now, they seem to allow 2 hours during peak times. The service might be a bit slow after pressing the table call button, but with half-price drinks, 20% off food, and 190 yen for draft beer, it was worth the wait. We ordered the "Torikago," a mountain of fried chicken, which was of great quality and reminded us of the past. We used to order it every time back then. It was a nostalgic experience. We spent about an hour there and paid a little over 3000 yen for the two of us, which was incredibly cheap. It's a great deal for young people. After that, we went for ramen at Hayashida, just like we used to do in our student days, and then said goodbye to my friend. It used to be a tradition to go to Katsura for ramen, but times have changed. It was a fulfilling day, and I ended up walking 27,000 steps. My muscles are sore now.

Visited for dinner. No wait. An izakaya located right across from TOHO Cinemas in Kabukicho. First time at a super cheap izakaya, was shocked by the prices on the menu. Was worried about the taste, but when I tried it, it was actually pretty good. Very cheap and good value for money, great for drinking and having fun with friends!

I ate too much karaage and decided to look for a casual izakaya. I ended up at Ikkyu-san and was surprised by how cheap it was, even though I ate a lot.

It's super cheap but you can make it at home. It's like a college student trying to act cool and going to see a kabuki show without money, so they watch a video at home instead.

I went to the izakaya "Ikkyu" in Kabukicho, Shinjuku! I decided to have a drink after work. Since I had already been to most of the chain restaurants in Kabukicho, I asked if there was any good place to go, and was recommended "Ikkyu Izakaya." It seems to be a membership-based izakaya, and becoming a member makes it much cheaper! However, even if you are not a member, it seems to be reasonably priced! So, I visited close to the last order time. The dishes I ordered were: - GIGA Pork Steak 699 yen → 499 yen - Ikkyu Hamburger 799 yen → 499 yen - Ikkyu Roast Beef 699 yen → 399 yen For drinks, I had The Malt 290 yen → 190 yen and a Highball 438 yen. I started with a draft beer and a highball. The Malt was refreshing as I had never tried it before. The first dish that arrived was the Ikkyu Roast Beef. The quality of the meat was good for the price. Next came the Ikkyu Hamburger, which was quite delicious with a sweet and sour tomato sauce that I personally enjoyed. Lastly, the GIGA Pork Steak arrived, which was flavorful and satisfying. Since we had mostly meat dishes, I wanted something refreshing, so I added the July limited Okra Ohitashi 198 yen → 199 yen. It was light and a good way to finish the meal. The okra was large and had a great texture. Before the last order, I added another The Malt and Highball, and that concluded our meal. Since I became a member, I would like to visit again. Thank you for the meal!

It's a cool evening and I want to enjoy a beer. It's only just past 4 pm, but I'm looking for a place that's open at this time. I found a cheap izakaya in the heart of Kabukicho, claiming to be the best and cheapest in Tokyo. They offered me a membership card, which would give me discounts on drinks. However, there was a membership fee and it needed to be renewed every year. The beer was cheap for members, but the food was mediocre, especially the tuna sashimi. The prices advertised as member discounts were actually just the half-price deals on certain days. Overall, despite claiming to be the cheapest in Tokyo, the place wasn't very crowded even at a good time.

It seems like it's a good idea to make a member card... Three people who visited became members. Overall, I think it's a cost-effective restaurant. The staff is also energetic~. However, when asked if I would repeat as a regular customer... it's a bit iffy. It's a hassle because the person you bring along also has to register as a member... That's troublesome. (^_^;) I'll keep the member card in my wallet just in case~

It's a cheap and very good restaurant!

Great value for money!