The other day, I went on a sake bar tour in Sakai, and the first place I visited was a collaboration with Ojiro, a sake brewery from Omi. They served Ojiro Junmai sake, which was fire-heated, as well as a complimentary dish of warm egg tofu with sesame topping for 500 yen. They also offered Ojiro Junmai nama sake for 500 yen, which had a refreshing taste. The sesame tofu was a great accompaniment to the sake. It was a delicious experience. Thank you very much. Sake Bar LARGO 072-222-2123 Grace Building 1F, 2-2-11 Kitagawamachi, Sakai, Osaka.

There is a shop in Sakai Higashi that serves delicious hot sake. It is located across the famous ramen restaurant (Menza Gin). The shop has about 7 counter seats and two large tables. It seems to be run by a young couple, and their attentive and friendly service, as well as their dishes, are very likable. The space, whether at the counter or at the tables, has a nice size and atmosphere. It's a comfortable place to enjoy a drink alone. Some recommended sake and food items include the Chicken with Sake Kasu Miso Yaki, which goes well with sake. They offer Bamboo Spring Nigori, Namazake Dobu, and a unique 17BY from Kinko, which is rich and delicious. There were about 7 types of hot sake available. They also serve cold sake in wine glasses, which adds a touch of elegance.

Sakai Higashi, the second stop from the versatile standing bar Sakaeya. What kind of sake will we encounter today? As expected, it was packed on the weekend, but we managed to secure two seats at the counter. The master recommended Torigaizan for me and Tengumai for my friend. Just the right amount of weight for a start. And the dish we ordered was daikon, konjac, and tendon oden. I'm sorry, there are no photos. I unconsciously ate while talking and was surprised at how delicious it was. I finished it in no time. The dashi was truly indescribable, and the daikon maintained its shape while releasing a juicy flavor with each bite. The master's cooking is the best in Japan. Thank you for the meal.

The 6th stop on the Osaka Sake Go-Around 2019 was Largo, a place I had been wanting to visit for a while. It was also very crowded, but luckily there was a spot open at the counter, so I decided to check it out. I saw some familiar faces from the previous place and exchanged greetings. They had a collaboration with Takesen, and I think the appetizer was eel tempura, but my memory is a bit fuzzy. They served Takesen sake in a special bottle, and I also remember having some hot sake. Overall, it was probably delicious.

Every time I visit, the type of alcohol changes a little bit, and it's always exciting. The wall at the end of the shop has the brand, place of origin, and a brief explanation written in large letters, making it easy to understand. No matter which alcohol I choose, there is never a disappointment, so I'm sure the compatibility is great and I'm happy. ❤️ The food menu that goes well with alcohol is also extensive, and everything is very good. Watching the handsome master cooking is elegant and makes the alcohol go down smoothly. Today's dish was cream cheese with pickled radish. Thank you for the meal. (^^)

I have a little errand to run, so I'll have a quick drink before heading home. Although I've been to Gashibaru a few times, it's my first time trying their Japanese sake. I started at 4 pm, which is a convenient time for early drinking. There were various types of Japanese sake available, but I chose the Yamahoji Junmai Namazake Bakurai Karakuchi. This sake from Yamagata has a sake meter value of +28, making it extremely dry. It is a Junmai sake with a polishing ratio of 70%. Being a Namazake, it has an alcohol content of 18%. As soon as I took a sip, I could taste the richness of the rice, with a refreshing citrus-like aroma lingering in the aftertaste. It has a strong attack characteristic of Junmai Namazake, leaving a lasting impression. Since the flavor is robust, I decided to pair it with the Grilled Mackerel with Pickled Radish, which costs 380 yen. It is a flavorful dish with a matching aroma that complements the sake well. The grated daikon radish adds to the texture of the dish. It was a perfect accompaniment to the sake. The meal was delicious. Thank you for the meal!

Second visit. The fig cream was delicious. The shrimp bread was also reliably tasty. I will definitely go again.

Ideal for a second drink. The shrimp bread is delicious. Perfect for just drinking alcohol. The atmosphere is nice.

Discovered a great restaurant!! Good sake, good food, good atmosphere - everything is great!

The shop had a lot of sake, and the staff were very friendly.

I went again. I ate delicious dishes as usual, such as fresh oysters in this season. The marinated fish was also very delicious (^^)

The ambiance of the Sakai Higashi Quality sake bar is unfortunately not very relaxing... but the food and sake are decent, I suppose...

They served delicious sake and the food was also tasty. Just wish they had my favorite sake...

Gashibaru:

Is 550 yen for 5 servings of local sake expensive?

Enjoying Japanese Sake at Sake LARGO in Sakai East Sake LARGO Information LARGO's Sake Menu Kaze no Mori Rumiko's Sake Heartland LARGO's Appetizer Menu Grilled Yellowtail Fried Eggplant Simmered in Sauce Pickled Shallots Salad with Whitebait and Water Eggplant Hot Tofu with Mushrooms Access to Sake LARGO Information Just a few minutes' walk from Sakai East Station, I discovered this restaurant while exploring new places in the neighborhood after a long time. Since then, it has become a favorite spot of mine. Previously known as "Kanade," the restaurant has changed managers and expanded its menu, which has led to its prosperity. I often visit the area where my office is located, and ever since we all built a home bar during a DIY project, I have been enjoying "home drinking" in Sakai and rarely go out to other places apart from my regular spots. With a variety of sake that pairs perfectly with appetizers, LARGO offers a higher level of enjoyment compared to the standing bars and casual izakayas in Sakai East. I highly recommend LARGO. LARGO's Sake Menu Various carefully selected sake from different regions are available, but in addition to sake, there is also a good selection of sweet potato and barley shochu. Kaze no Mori I often drink Kaze no Mori at Tenma. It never disappoints. Rumiko's Sake Rumiko's Sake from Mie Prefecture, with a cute label designed by Akira Ose, the author of the sake-drinking manga "Natsuko no Sake." Despite the cute label, the sake itself has a strong and rich flavor, which surprised me. I started with a cold glass and then switched to warm sake for the refill. It's a solid and versatile sake that can be enjoyed both cold and warm. They use a traditional method to warm up the sake for refills. Heartland By the way, for the first toast, I always go for a glass of Heartland draft beer. LARGO's Appetizer Menu The appetizers at LARGO are a delight for sake drinkers. Each dish is prepared with care. Grilled Yellowtail The perfectly seasoned grilled yellowtail is a great match for sake. It comes with smoked burdock root, pickled daikon, and Iburi Gakko (smoked pickles). Fried Eggplant Simmered in Sauce This type of dish is perfect for enjoying with sake or shochu, making the drinks go down smoothly. Pickled Shallots A must-order dish is the pickled shallots. These are shallots from southern islands like Okinawa, which, if not prepared properly, can be too spicy. Some people prefer the spicy taste, but the pickled shallots at LARGO allow you to fully enjoy the flavor without being overwhelmed by the heat. Salad with Whitebait and Water Eggplant Among the various salads available, my favorite is the water eggplant salad. Hot Tofu with Mushrooms If you're looking for something more substantial, hot tofu with mushrooms is a good choice to complement your drinks. Access Located at the back of the building where Sabasix Noodle Factory Sakai East is, look for the entrance with a cozy atmosphere.

Visited for the first time on Thursday, December 29, 2016. I arrived around 8:00 pm and there were two groups of customers already there. The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice, with all seats being chairs. The owner, who seemed to be in his 40s, was knowledgeable about sake and provided great service. I ordered: - Tasting set (1000 yen) - Sashimi of natural flounder (850 yen) For the tasting set, you could choose specific brands, but since I'm not familiar with sake other than local ones, I asked for "chef's choice". The three different types of sake were: 1. Yamamoto Midnight Blue Label from Akita, a junmai ginjo nama-zake 2. Otoko-yama from Hokkaido, a junmai nama-zake 3. Omusubi from Hiroshima, a yamahai-shikomi nama-zake They were all very unique and delicious. The handwritten labels showing the sake names, types, and regions were very helpful. The flounder sashimi was thick and tasty. The restaurant is specialized in sake, more like a bar than an izakaya, but they also have a proper food menu so it's suitable for casual dining as well. It's a great place to discover various types of sake. I ended with one more drink before leaving. Thank you for the wonderful experience!