I wanted to go to Imanaka Saketen, but I ran out of time and had to give up. So I headed to Tech Heaven to meet up with Yukari-chan. We briefly met before, but couldn't chat, so I was looking forward to our second meeting. Even though I was already full, I ordered something because we were going to have hot pot later and I knew you must be hungry after work. I pushed the dish towards you! The berry chu-hi we drank was delicious. Sorry, that's all I remember, maybe I was nervous? No, that's not it! Haha. I would like to try the popular meat dishes at this restaurant someday.

On Monday, a business traveler from Tokyo suggested visiting a restaurant in Juso where a classmate from junior high school runs a shop. Four middle-aged men visited the restaurant around 6:30 pm. It was only a few minutes' walk from Hankyu Juso Station. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was stylish, with tables for two in the front, a counter, and a larger table for six at the back. We were seated at the back table. The restaurant was managed by the owner and a female manager (who was a former classmate of our colleague from junior high school and was the ace of the basketball team back then). We started with a toast with draft beer. The menu mainly featured pizza, pasta, and dishes that go well with wine. However, one of our group members preferred sake, so we switched to sake from the second round. The octopus carpaccio had a nice crunchy texture from the fresh octopus. The diced steak was tender, and the sautéed squid liver had a rich flavor that paired well with sake. As more regular customers arrived, the atmosphere became lively, with familiar faces chatting at the counter. The cold tofu from Shibahata Tofu Shop, which was the owner's son's shop, had a firm texture and also went well with sake. After drinking three rounds of sake, we decided to switch to highballs to avoid getting too drunk. In the end, we still ended up getting tipsy. The salt-grilled mackerel had juicy and delicious flesh. We wrapped up around 8 pm. This restaurant seemed to attract a younger crowd, and we look forward to trying their wine with pizza or pasta on our next visit.

I had arranged to meet at thirteen, and arrived a little early so I decided to stop by on my own for a quick drink before the main event. The area around the shopping street had a lot of chain stores, making it hard to find a place to enter alone, and I only had about 30 minutes so I visited this place instead. I asked if it was okay to stay just a little while, and the friendly master happily agreed. I sat at the counter and ordered a beer. There were various affordable menu items listed on the chalkboard. It was a standing bar, but there were seats available. It seemed like a place where regulars gathered, but they were friendly and even chatted with me, a first-time visitor. If I had more time, I would have liked to try more dishes. The assorted sashimi was delicious. Later, the wife also arrived, and the couple ran the place together. They were both very kind. There were menu items like green pasta and green bucket that I would like to try next time if I have the chance to visit again.

The dishes are a bit small in portion, but all of them are delicious. I especially love the hamburger.

When the store opened in October 2016, there was only a standing counter space, but now there are chairs at both the counter and table seats. I have been coming here occasionally since the opening, and last month, a group of about 10 of us visited and sat on the second floor, ordering the chef's choice. Everything was delicious, but the portions were so generous that we couldn't finish it all... (laughs) However, my daughter and her husband, who arrived later, quickly polished off the leftovers, so we didn't need to take any home. They were so impressed by the food that they ended up ordering more. Unfortunately, my phone ran out of battery that day, so I couldn't take any pictures, which was a shame. The other kids also loved the food and praised everything they ate. The menu here is extensive and reasonably priced. There is also a wide variety of alcohol, making it a great place for a casual drink alone or for a lively gathering with friends. The attached photos are from when I visited with my friends and daughters.

Today, I gathered with friends I've known for 20 years at a standing bar in Juso for a drinking party. Despite being a standing bar, they offer a variety of delicious dishes such as fatty tuna and whale sashimi. The quality is so good that you wouldn't think it's a standing bar. The owner used to be a meat wholesaler, so the meat dishes are excellent. The voluminous steak cubes are reasonably priced and the stewed hamburger is as powerful as you would expect from a Western restaurant. The demi-glace sauce is well-seasoned and mouth-watering. As a winter tradition at standing bars, they offer "kasujiru" as the final dish. When I asked if they had noodles like udon, they mentioned they had yakisoba noodles, and they even added them to the kasujiru, leaving me feeling full.

The place in question is always referred to as "in front of the former Yodogawa Ward Office" when locals talk about it, and that description may be appropriate. The access from the station is very convenient, as it only takes about 2-3 minutes to walk from the east exit of Hankyu Juso Station. However, it may take a bit of time to explain the route if you have to go out to Yodogawa Street and walk about 25 meters. Nowadays, with smartphones and various maps, it should be easy to find without much explanation by simply showing the store name or address. Apologies, but it took me over two months to remember the name of the place, so "in front of the former ward office" was the common reference. Finally, I engraved the name "Luck Heaven" in my mind and was truly impressed by its quality in the latter half of November. The glass-front entrance may seem easy to enter, but also a bit intimidating with its bright and pop-like interior. However, once I was led inside by a family member, I was amazed by the delicious food prepared by the owner and the wide selection of dishes available at reasonable prices. Whether you want a quick bite or a full meal, this place is perfect. It's not easy to come across such a unique restaurant. They promote standing drinking, but there is also seating available for 4-5 people at the counter and larger tables for up to 8 people at the back for parties. A truly impressive place near Juso Station.