I visited the branch because the main location in Asakusa was fully booked. I made a reservation for a private room. Since there were only two of us, the room was a bit cramped and had a traditional tatami setup. I wished it had been a sunken hearth type. The food was nothing special, just average. It was disappointing that many menu items were out of stock since it was Saturday. However, the fried horse mackerel was delicious.

I visited ASA Torai, which was selected as one of the top 100 restaurants. Everything I ate was delicious, just like the main branch. The grilled fish, kinki, was very fatty and quite large. I thought the price of 2,500 yen was reasonable! The grilled squid was also very tender and tasty. I really wanted to eat sea urchin and salmon roe, so I made a special request for a sashimi platter with an additional charge to make it luxurious. The staff's service was excellent, and I was able to relax and enjoy my meal. Thank you very much! I definitely want to visit again (*^^*)

The sashimi was extremely delicious! I also ordered a few kinds of sake to go with it, and the pairing was excellent. The nameko was also tasty, with a strong flavor of ginger. The food arrived quickly after I placed my order! I plan to go back to enjoy more delicious sake and sashimi.

The appetizer was good, but the slices of sashimi were a bit thin. The fried oysters and the pickled plum cucumber rolls were great. The fried chicken had a crispy skin and was juicy, which was very delicious. I also thought the ginger placed on top of the tomatoes was a nice touch. I feel that choosing a course would be a better value and allow for a more relaxed dining experience.

The ASA Tiger restaurant on the list of top 100 eateries was crowded, so I came to this second location that was recommended. Generally, the restaurants on the top 100 list are highly impressive, so I had high expectations for this second branch. However, it felt like just an ordinary izakaya. I wonder if the taste is different at the main store? The simmered octopus was very delicious. Thank you for the meal! (*^^*)

Since I couldn't get into the main store, I visited the second location for the first time. It's a nice distance for a stroll from Asakusa. The main store is often hard to get into, so this one is relatively easier and more convenient to access. However, I feel the taste and service are better at the main store. I'm a 30-something gourmet enthusiast who loves wine, sake, and whiskey. I adore yakitori, sushi, and Italian food. I'm always up for trying delicious food no matter where it is!

On this day, I visited Asakusa, specifically ASA Tora Kai, which is just a short walk from Tawaramachi Station! It just opened in August this year, so the interior is very clean! I had visited when it was a different establishment before, but it seems to have a similar layout. When I arrived, it appeared there was a party going on, as the atmosphere was quite lively (・∀・) There are counter seats extending from the entrance to the back, and there were group seating areas in the back, leaving only three seats available in front for us. Since it was my first visit to this place, I was unsure what to order… and when the drink order was taken, I ended up ordering a shochu highball and a sashimi platter. They first asked for drinks only, and it seemed like the staff was a bit flustered while operating the handheld device, which made me feel a bit apologetic. The group behind us appeared to be doing a drink-all-you-can plan, quickly ordering refills, so they must have been quite busy. It looked like there were a few more seats in the back, but including us and the group, there were only a couple of other parties inside. For appetizers, we had: ⚫︎ Sashimi platter with three kinds ⚫︎ Aji namerou (minced horse mackerel) ⚫︎ Torikawa (chicken sashimi), among others. The appetizer was a warm daikon simmered in sauce, which was comforting. It’s the kind of appetizer I really enjoy (・∀・) The aji namerou was delicious wrapped in seaweed, and the plate was lovely, which really elevated the experience! Thank you for the great meal!・X (formerly Twitter) https://twitter.com/bi_mi1・Instagram https://instagram.com/bi_mi_1

A second branch of ASA Tora, called ASA Tora Kai, has opened in Tawaramachi, where you can enjoy proper sushi and izakaya-style dishes. The operations still feel a bit unsteady, with the staff members learning as they go. I ordered a soda mixed with barley shochu called Ichibansatsu (580 yen). The dishes were served in the order they were prepared, starting with Katsuo Tataki Ponzu (900 yen), which had a slightly sweet ponzu sauce. It tasted like returning Katsuo, and it was delicious. The oshōu (400 yen) was amusingly slow to arrive. The tender octopus simmered in soy sauce (1100 yen) was thinly sliced but cooked beautifully. The Asa Tora specialty, fried horse mackerel (700 yen), was rare and light, making it delicious. I ordered the Omakase Sushi (10 pieces for 3300 yen), which included medium fatty tuna, red shellfish, seared barracuda, sea urchin, engawa, sardine, horse mackerel, flatfish, striped horse mackerel, and eel. Unlike Asa Tora, which serves sushi in several rounds, here all the pieces were served at once. While Asa Tora presented beautifully crafted sushi, here the pieces were smaller, resembling bite-sized sushi balls. I was surprised by the high level of sushi at ASA Tora, but considering the difficulty of finding that standard in an izakaya, it's probably unfair to expect the same level at the second branch. However, as a place where you can enjoy both sushi and izakaya-style dishes, it does quite well.

Before heading back to the hotel, I thought I’d have a quick drink, so I visited this place that I had reserved in advance. Various dishes arrived, and even though I had already eaten dinner, everything was surprisingly delicious, and I found myself ordering more and more. I also had my first sanma sashimi of the year, which made me very happy!

I made a reservation for the evening and visited the restaurant, which is located underground. Around 8 PM, more customers started to come in. We ordered various dishes, including a sashimi platter and crab cream croquettes. Some of the sashimi had a strong fishy smell, and we ended up leaving some of it uneaten. I won't be returning.

In August 2024, I visited a restaurant called "ASA Tora Kai," located in the basement of a building just a short walk from Exit 2 of the Tawaramachi station on the Tokyo Metro. This restaurant opened its doors on August 17, 2024. It is known for its proximity to Tawaramachi station, serving seasonal fish and a weekly selection of about 10 kinds of reasonably priced sake. Their menu features fresh seafood prepared using various cooking methods, and you can enjoy beautifully presented sashimi and crispy tempura, celebrating the flavors of each season. The white-themed Japanese interior is welcoming for dates, group gatherings, or private parties. You can even reserve the entire place for up to 20 people, so feel free to inquire! I made a reservation through the Tabelog reservation service and sat at the counter. I enjoyed a medium-sized Asahi beer for 600 yen (including tax) while sampling the following dishes: 1. An appetizer of sweet potato simmered in syrup for 400 yen. 2. Squid salted with 500 yen. Personally, I didn't find the handmade feel very strong in this dish. 3. Mackerel namero for 850 yen. I felt it could use a bit more miso flavor, but it was enjoyable wrapped in seaweed, enhancing the taste while sipping on my drink. Next, I tried a lemon sour for 500 yen. 4. ASA Tora's signature fried mackerel for 700 yen. It had a light coating that was crispy, with the inside fried to a super rare perfection; I enjoyed it with salt and chopped wasabi. 5. A set of five pieces of sushi for 1,600 yen, including flatfish engawa, mackerel, tuna, golden eye snapper, and squid, though I was not given much information besides being told flatfish. I thoroughly enjoyed them! I also had a glass of "Yuki no Bousha" sake for 900 yen. When I checked the bill at home, I noticed a charge for a jasmine highball (500 yen) that I didn’t order or consume, bringing the total to 6,550 yen. It felt a bit off.

I have visited the Asakusa main store several times. I went to check out the new location in Tawaramachi, but the time it took to receive my food was far too long. While the food was delicious, I felt disappointed because of the slow service. I was a bit let down.

I enjoyed delicious food in a private room. However, it was unfortunate that there was a smoker at the table, and the air was not well-ventilated in the underground area, which made it quite uncomfortable.

The fried horse mackerel is extraordinary!

After all, fried mackerel is the best!

The restaurant was new and clean. The sashimi was delicious, and the other dishes were tasty as well. The portions are on the smaller side, so I think it's great for going with a small group.

The sashimi was delicious. It would have been better if it had been served a little faster.

The food is delicious, and the prices are reasonable, making it highly recommended.

The cost performance of the food is excellent!