Zaby
Choi, a standing bar in Sumikawa, was the second stop for a casual drink. I arrived around 4:30 PM, and to my surprise, there were only three customers, all solo drinkers. The staff, a friendly and handsome man in his 30s, asked if we needed ashtrays, and the lady next to me (later found out she was a mother of four) assured us it was fine to smoke. I ordered a highball for 400 yen and a giant corn snack for 200 yen. The food menu had a slight Italian influence with items like nuts, snacks, pickles, liver pate, pizza, cheese, and jamon serrano. Despite a few more customers coming and going, the conversation never stopped, and before I knew it, I had spent an hour and a half without realizing it. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the next planned stop due to the unexpected long stay. I had another highball and the total bill came to 1,000 yen. The attentive and kind service from the staff, even to first-time customers, made the experience enjoyable. If you're looking to start your Sumikawa drinking adventure, Choi is a great place to begin, just be mindful of unintentionally staying longer than planned. I ended the night with soba noodles. Thank you for the meal. *The way they poured the beer looked skillful and appealing.