An izakaya located just south of Daikokucho intersection. Upon entering the restaurant, the staff greeted us warmly with a smile despite the chilly weather. We were recommended the homemade tofu, macro sashimi, and secret sauce fried chicken, so we ordered those along with a vegetable salad, a dish packed with spring flavors, and small shrimp fry with tartar sauce. The homemade tofu was served warm and tasted delicious with Kochi salt. The macro sashimi was like medium fatty tuna and paired well with Ogasawara salt. The shrimp fry was larger than expected and went perfectly with the tartar sauce. The dish packed with spring flavors arrived with rapeseed blossoms, firefly squid, and sautéed shrimp. The shrimp was juicy and the firefly squid had a rich flavor, making it a great accompaniment to drinks. The fried chicken was large and juicy, with a sauce similar to chicken nanban. We enjoyed three highballs and one draft beer for a total of around 2500 yen per person, which was very affordable. The staff were very friendly and attentive, making the dining experience pleasant. We will definitely visit again. Thank you for the meal.

Homemade tofu is delicious. The sashimi is quite good too. It's described as sukiyaki-style, but it's really tasty. The restaurant is small, but always quite full. The staff often checks on the tables. It's a pleasant place to eat.

Budget around 3000 yen, featuring fresh tuna sashimi, tuna and avocado carpaccio, conger eel sashimi, Harukas strawberry chu-hai, sudachi chu-hai, secret recipe fried chicken, homemade tofu, etc. A visit to an izakaya in Daikokucho Station for the first time. The variety of alcohol options includes sake, shochu, and more, but the recommendation is the chu-hai made with fresh fruits sourced from contracted farmers. I chose the strawberry flavor since it's the season, and was surprised by the presentation in a cylinder glass with a large frozen strawberry inside. The strawberry used is a premium brand from Kagawa, called Sanuki Hime, known for its sweetness and aroma. Despite the price of 1200 yen, the chu-hai was delicious and worth every sip. Popular food items include the fresh tuna sashimi, fried chicken, and homemade tofu. The tuna sashimi was rich in fat and melted in the mouth when paired with salt and wasabi. The tuna and avocado carpaccio had a perfect combination of flavors. The conger eel sashimi was even better than the one tried in Fukuoka, with a tender texture and intense taste. The homemade tofu was simple yet flavorful, and the fried chicken with its sweet and savory sauce was addictive. The cozy atmosphere of the izakaya in the downtown area was delightful, and it made me realize that there are still hidden gems waiting to be discovered. I would love to revisit this place when I'm in Namba or Tennoji area next time!

The sashimi was great! Due to COVID, the restaurant closes early so you have to eat quickly, which doesn't allow for savoring the flavors. The assorted sashimi plate was excellent! I enjoyed the bluefin tuna with Ogasawara salt and wasabi. Delicious! The pork-wrapped mozzarella was also good. The mapo tofu had a nice punch to it.

The sashimi was delicious this time, unlike last time. Especially the flounder was fatty and had a nice crunchy texture. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't have high expectations since it's close by, but the sashimi platter was really good. I was a bit hesitant to order again because of my past experience, but my son kept ordering different things so I got to try a variety of dishes. The mozuku tempura was also delicious. The tofu, which is the number one recommendation, had a rich flavor and I definitely want to eat it again.

The requests are amazing at this small personal restaurant. They can accommodate requests for pasta or Chinese dishes when they have free time, and it's much better than other specialty stores. Maybe because it's mainly in Nagoya? The intense flavors of the requested dishes are the best, even better than the regular menu with mild flavors. Garlic and spicy dishes are also great. If you love intense flavors, become a regular and try making requests. Chinese and pasta dishes are great as appetizers or main dishes. The mapo tofu was so good that I couldn't help but ask for seconds! They only accommodate requests when they have free time, so please keep that in mind.

After moving to Oguni Town and living there for a month, I found myself frequenting the izakaya under the nearby apartment building quite often. But now that I'm starting to get used to the area, I feel like it's time to expand my horizons a bit. If I'm going to make a regular spot in the neighborhood for the next year, I think a small, independent restaurant would be best. Independent restaurants tend to have a good amount of local information. I've been looking at Tabelog every day and trying out various places. Some seemed promising but were already closed, while others had a slightly different vibe. But finally, I found it! The restaurant I've been looking for! Based on what I saw on Tabelog, it seems to be run by a young couple with decent ratings above 3. The seating consists of 4 counter seats and 7 table seats or tatami rooms for larger parties. The menu has been around for about 1400 days since opening. I wonder what it's been like fighting in a competitive area for the past 4 years? I can't wait to find out. I started with a draft beer and the recommended homemade tofu and tuna sashimi. You can choose a half portion for the sashimi, which is a nice touch. The draft beer arrived promptly and it was ice cold, a perfect start. Next, the homemade tofu arrived, still warm, with condiments like wasabi, coarse salt, and your choice of delicious soy sauce. And then the half portion of tuna sashimi. It seemed like a good cut, maybe not o-toro but closer to chu-toro? The portion was quite generous even for a half serving. With some wasabi, soy sauce, it was quite delicious. They seem to source their fish from the nearby Kizu Market, so if you prefer chu-toro over akami, you might be quite satisfied with the quality at this price. I also decided to try the recommended grilled beef tongue. It was grilled nicely on the mesh, better than your average yakiniku place? I felt like I could become a regular here... but then a regular customer who came alone behind me ordered, "One hour of all-you-can-drink! Highball, strong." The staff replied, "One hour of all-you-can-drink coming right up!" What?! They offer all-you-can-drink for one person at a personal restaurant? I did notice a sign at the entrance saying, "We've started one-hour all-you-can-drink!" but I thought it was for 2 or 3 people... I asked the staff and they explained that it starts at 980 yen for one person for 1 hour, with additional 30-minute increments. Looking at the menu, they offer not only beer but also sake (room temperature or hot), and even wine... sometimes there's an extra charge for sake or wine, but it's essentially all-you-can-drink. "This is too good to be true..." I couldn't help but think of Amuro's famous line. The next day, I found myself coming back again... Sitting at the counter like yesterday, I looked at the menu and thought, "This place is doing it again!" My favorite bonito tataki was on the menu! It stole my heart. The master said, "We have it on Fridays." I ordered it immediately. Of course, I also ordered the one-hour all-you-can-drink with a strong highball. They were properly searing it in the kitchen! When they brought it out, there were ginger, green onion, and thinly sliced garlic as condiments, along with salt and ponzu. Even though I've eaten all over the country, it's rare to get all of these condiments in such small portions. They can recommend how to eat it, but not forcing it on you and letting you enjoy it in your own way is a sign of the master's skill and the staff's attitude. The taste was very satisfying. I'm definitely a regular now. The master and the staff are all friendly, making it a great place to gather local information. On weekends, there are many big parties, couples, foreigners, and families, but it also feels like a place where solo diners and women can easily walk in.

I stopped by a shop in Daikoku-cho. The most popular items are "handmade tofu" in first place, "fried chicken" in second place, and "fresh tuna" in third place. I ordered the handmade tofu and fresh tuna, and also added some fresh bonito. First, the tofu arrived. It was served with condiments and salt, and eating warm tofu with salt was a new experience for me. It was incredibly delicious! I understand why it's their specialty! The salt goes well with it. The fresh tuna and bonito were served together. I'm sorry, I forgot to take a picture... The tuna and bonito had beautiful colors! The tuna was recommended to eat with salt and wasabi. It was delicious! Salt makes everything taste good! The bonito was fresh. It was not seared, which was even better! It's a shame that the female staff member had no hospitality, but the owner was very friendly and likable. I will visit again when I'm nearby.

Finally found the restaurant on Tabelog! It was hard to find and couldn't post a review haha. Seems like an acquaintance of a friend. It's far away, so I don't know the person. It's just a regular izakaya. They're doing their best! The taste is not bad. Maybe better than the nearby Yo sushi? There are many menu options, so you can enjoy a variety of dishes.

It's a small shop located a little away from the station, but the staff are very friendly and the atmosphere is nice. All the dishes were incredibly delicious! They also offer all-you-can-drink alcohol!

Next is the mapo tofu!!

Be sure to try the tofu, it's delicious. The fish is fresh and they have seasonal dishes that are enjoyable. Even when busy, the staff always provide detailed and lovely explanations about the dishes.

You can't miss the deliciousness of the sashimi set meal even at lunch.

It's still a new restaurant. Nearby, there is the wildly popular Muteppou Ramen with its long lines as usual. As you pass by, you'll find this new restaurant. Upon entering, you'll see a black-themed interior, with a young couple running the place. It was a Sunday, so there were families dining as well. The menu is just your typical izakaya fare, with a decent selection of alcoholic beverages. Since it was our second stop, we only ordered a few dishes: tuna sashimi, homemade tofu, and dashimaki tamago. The tuna sashimi came in a half portion option, which was perfect for me dining alone and priced at 500 yen. It was close to medium fatty tuna, and definitely a good deal. The rest of the dishes were average. The female staff was cheerful and provided good service. Despite being a young and new restaurant, their hard work and dedication were evident, and I could see the potential for them to become a popular spot in the neighborhood with more interesting and delicious dishes in the future. I wish them the best of luck. Thank you for the meal.

Today, I went to Naniwa Ward, Osaka City, Ro Hommachi. The rain that had been falling since last night continued until about noon, but fortunately it stopped around lunchtime. I decided to try having champon at "Kutemitei Honten" near Daikokucho Station, but to my surprise, "Chikuden Soba" was no longer there, and in its place was a new izakaya called "Arakawa-ya Izakaya Hana." Since they were open for lunch, I decided to give it a try. I arrived around 1:00 PM. The atmosphere was similar to the previous restaurant, with three staff members working. I was the only guest and I sat at a two-person table in the back. I later found out that they opened on December 8th last year. I didn't notice it for over half a year. I still have a lot to learn about exploring the city. Looking at the menu, they offered set meals and rice bowls starting from 600 yen for lunch. While there were dishes like fried chicken, tonkatsu, and ginger pork, I decided to try something unique - the "Tofu Cutlet and Egg on Rice Set." The dish arrived in about 10 minutes. It looked like tonkatsu with plenty of mitsuba on top. Inside the crispy coating was tofu. The sauce was quite rich and flavorful, making the rice taste even better. A wooden spoon was also provided, so after finishing the tofu cutlet, I added the remaining onions and other ingredients to the rice and enjoyed it. It was a delightful meal. They also offered free rice refills, but I was already quite full. I would like to try other dishes in the future. Once again, my hunger was satisfied happily today. I am truly grateful. Thank you for the meal.