"Rikujoki"☎️ → 03-3228-1230 Reservation→ Only for 2-3 people Location→ 5-59-3 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo ⏰Business Hours→ [Mon-Fri] 11:30-13:00 for lunch, 16:00-22:00 for dinner [Sat-Sun-Holidays] 16:00-22:00 Closed→ Obon, New Year's holidays Payment→ Credit card, cash Price range→ 5,310 yen This time, I visited a cozy izakaya in Nakano that was listed in the top 100 izakayas in 2021. I had been curious about this place for a while. The reason being that the interior is centered around an irori (traditional sunken hearth), and they use it to cook grilled dishes. It's a wonderful place where you can feel the wabi-sabi aesthetic of old Japan. I arrived right at the opening time on a Wednesday at 4 pm, and there were already four groups waiting in line! I ordered the half body of snow crab for 1,000 yen and grilled mackerel with eggplant for 1,000 yen. I wanted to eat more fish, but as usual, I was already full from my previous stops. This was my third stop of the day, so I need to learn my stomach's capacity. Isn't it amazing that you can get this amount of snow crab for 1,000 yen? By the way, this was a limited edition item not listed on the menu that day! They also had other tempting fish dishes like thinly sliced flounder, grilled alfonsino, and grilled sweetfish. I regret not being able to try them all! The staff members were lovely, and when I asked if I could take a video of them pouring sake, they enthusiastically agreed. They even managed to keep the sake cup from overflowing onto the saucer using surface tension. They had a cute expression on their face like, "Oops, I overdid it ☺️," which made me smile. There were more senior customers than young ones, and it made me realize that this place is indeed popular. I recommend this place for those who want to enjoy a relaxed atmosphere and take their time. Thank you for reading my post! Please like, save, and follow for more recommendations of great places to eat and drink. #drinkingnurse #sake #whiskey #foodie #casualdrinking #Tokyo #Nakano #izakaya #sakepouring #JapaneseSake

In Nakano, there are not many places that open early, especially in the 4 o'clock hour. One of the rare places that opens early is the popular "Rikujouki" where you can enjoy delicious charcoal-grilled dishes. I recommend sitting at the counter on the 1st floor where you can watch the charcoal grill in action. Even though the 2nd floor is nice, you can't see the dynamic charcoal grill unless you look down from above, so the counter seats are the best. I ordered sashimi and grilled sardines, and surprisingly had some dry sake even though it was early. This place just makes you want to drink sake. It has that kind of atmosphere.

It's Friday, but because of the typhoon, I thought I could definitely go. I visited right after the opening. I always imagined that I couldn't get in because of the long lines, but it was just as I expected - very crowded. I ended up entering around 11:45, with only about 4 seats left. At the entrance, you can choose the fish you want right away. They only accept cash. You can have unlimited rice, miso soup, and pickles. The fish had a crispy surface and tender flesh, with a nice charcoal aroma. The rice was delicious on its own, and the miso soup had a rich flavor from the fish broth. This is the kind of place I like.

This is a reservation-only restaurant, but we were seated at a cozy table on the second floor at just the right time! The eggplant miso and deep-fried tofu were delicious. However, the main dish of grilled fish was a bit dry and lacking in flavor. The rice balls were surprisingly large, but they were cut into smaller pieces for sharing, which was fun. The seaweed miso soup was also tasty. Thank you for the meal!

I visited this restaurant recommended by a friend for the first time, and it had a traditional atmosphere from the outside, with a cute model train at the entrance. Inside, there was a hearth in the middle of the first floor where lots of fish were being grilled, which looked fun to watch. I went up to the second floor while thinking how enjoyable it was. The sashimi, grilled mackerel, shishamo, deep-fried tofu, mozuku seaweed, and edamame were all delicious. The grilled mackerel was especially amazing, with rich flavor and tender meat. The sashimi portion was generous for the price of 2980 yen, and I was very satisfied with it. The shishamo were neatly lined up one by one, looking cute. When I entered, the staff explained the daily recommended fish that was not on the menu, but I didn't order it this time. I wanted to try the nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch)… I'll have to try it next time. The sake menu was also extensive, so I thought it would be nice to sip on sake while enjoying various fish dishes. Everything was delicious!

I arrived at the restaurant around 11:15 on Monday and was the 13th person in line. They started letting people in at 11:20, and I was able to get in on the first round. By this time, there were about 15 more people lined up behind me. I ordered the Ako-dai set meal with grated yam and rolled omelette as additional toppings. The meat was very juicy and cooked perfectly. It was quite thick but not tough, so it was delicious all the way through. The miso soup was average. If you don't order any side dishes, you only get rice, miso soup, pickles, and the main dish, so it might feel a bit lacking. By the time I left, there were about 20 more people waiting to be seated. Considering the current high prices, I can see why this place is so popular with a meal of this quality for under 1000 yen.

Nakano is not a place I often visit, but I was brought here by a friend. At first, I wondered why we were here among the bustling shops in Nakano, but once I stepped inside, I found it quite interesting. In the center, there is a large charcoal grill where fish are continuously being skewered and grilled. Just watching the bright red charcoal burning is enjoyable, even though it's a bit hot. Of course, you have to order grilled fish here. I started with silver cod, a large piece that was tender and delicious. The sashimi platter had a luxurious selection, including crunchy whelk, tender shrimp, and squid. The tuna was like fatty tuna, and they even had swordfish. They must be using high-quality ingredients. The prices are a bit high, but the food is worth it.

In front of Nakano Station, there are plenty of izakayas and drinking spots, but the lunch options are also great. I visited a recommended restaurant by my work colleagues. The name of the place is "Rikujouki," which might be a reference to steam locomotives. Upon entering the restaurant, you purchase ticket-like food vouchers at a ticket counter that resembles a train station ticket booth. There is always a staff member at the counter, showing their unique attention to detail. I couldn't decide between the grilled salmon and rockfish, but ended up choosing the grilled mackerel. The restaurant only has counter seating, and it was crowded during lunchtime, so I had to wait in the waiting area (seats) for my turn. Despite the many seats, the wait wasn't as long as I expected. In the center of the restaurant, there is a hearth where fish skewers are grilled one by one. Once seated, rice, miso soup, and pickles were served, followed shortly by the grilled mackerel. It was cooked perfectly over charcoal, juicy, and incredibly delicious. The rice was also amazingly tasty. I was thrilled to learn that I could have seconds of rice, miso soup, and pickles. Of course, I had another serving of rice. If a restaurant like this was in my neighborhood, I would definitely become a regular. There were many regular customers, and the taste, portion size, and atmosphere were all fantastic! The cost performance was excellent. It was a highly satisfying lunchtime. Thank you for the delicious meal. I will definitely come back again.

One of the representative restaurants in Nakano. There are counter seats on the first floor and table seats on the second floor, but if you come to this restaurant, it's a waste not to sit at the counter seat around the hearth. On this day, I ordered hokke, shrimp, and mackerel. The sea urchin sashimi was also delicious! I also recommend the country-style musubi as a finishing touch. Since one piece is big, it's just right to share it with two people. If you ask, they will serve it cut in half.

The restaurant was fantastic as the reviews said! The charcoal grill produces far infrared rays, which was amazing to experience. Although I didn't take a photo of the fish, everything was cooked perfectly. The rice ball at the end was like an explosion in my mouth. The sushi was a half of a large salmon grilled on the charcoal grill. It was incredibly delicious!

Review of the popular restaurant Mizu Steam: Arrived on a weekday at 11:15 with a group of about 20 people. After some hesitation, decided to line up. The restaurant opened at 11:25 and we were able to enter smoothly. We paid first and then chose our fish. The system of selecting fish was quite efficient. The meal included unlimited rice, miso soup, and pickles, which were all delicious. We enjoyed our meal.

When you feel like eating fish, places like Koko and Daini Rikishuzo in Nakano are the go-to spots. It's nice to drink while watching your ordered fish being grilled right in front of you. This time I had hokke, but ayu and kinki also seemed good.

The Okimeda was excellent. Not only was the fish delicious, but I also had a good impression of the staff. They were attentive in various ways, like offering more rice when I thought about getting seconds. I enjoyed the lunch set, and I'd like to try dinner there as well.

As soon as the store opened at 4:00 pm, I entered and was overwhelmed by the large hearth in the center of the first floor. I sat at a large table in the shape of a "Co" and asked for today's recommendations. I tried the recommended flounder sashimi, sweetfish, and grilled trout. I enjoyed the delicacies with sake while watching the fish being grilled in front of me. After about 20 minutes of waiting, the grilled fish was incredibly delicious. The staff was friendly and engaged in conversation, and I ended up spending over two hours there, having a great time. It was a highly-rated restaurant that definitely made me want to visit again.

We couldn't make a reservation in advance for two people, so we decided to try our luck and were able to get a table! The entrance had a fun, stationmaster-like checkout area and playful decor. The food, on the other hand, was seriously delicious. I highly recommend the grilled fish cooked on the hearth. We had the silver cod and it was indeed tasty! The menu isn't extensive, but the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant was just right for a leisurely meal. The spacious layout allowed us to unwind comfortably. (I forgot to take photos, but the edamame, assorted delicacies, and appetizers were all delicious.)

I had a drinking party near Nakano Station. Nakano has many casual restaurants, making it a great place to relax and drink. Among them, there is a charming house-style izakaya that catches the eye. The name of the restaurant is "Rikujoki." Rikujoki refers to a steam locomotive compared to a steamship. The name of the restaurant is quite stylish. The restaurant has a large hearth on the first floor surrounded by counter seats and table seats on the second and third floors. Reservations seem to be only available for the second and third floors. If you become a regular, you may be able to reserve the first floor as well, but this is unconfirmed. First, let's toast with beer. Oh, the glass also has the logo of "Rikujoki," which is cool. The beer is Sapporo Black Label. Now, what should we have as a side dish? Check the menu. The restaurant mainly focuses on seafood. While confirming the volume of a dish with the staff, I ordered a sashimi assortment and thinly sliced flounder. As a snack that is served immediately, I also ordered boiled broad beans and fried octopus legs. The broad beans are cooked so that you can eat them with the skin. Delicious. It is excellent as a sake appetizer. The fried octopus legs are also good. They are always a top-ranking supporting role in izakaya menus. The sashimi assortment and thinly sliced flounder are served. They look good and become the highlight of the day. Enjoy them with sake. Afterwards, I tasted several dishes such as grilled fish. Every dish was of high quality, beautiful, and delicious. Satisfied! Thank you for the feast!

Today's lunchtime adventure with my father took us to "Rikujouki," a cozy restaurant near Nakano Broadway known for its delicious seafood grilled on a traditional hearth. We indulged in the Akoudai and mackerel salt-grilled set meals, which were absolutely mouthwatering! The rice was cooked to perfection, and I couldn't resist getting seconds of the miso soup. The Akoudai was tender and flavorful, with just the right amount of fat. It's rare to find restaurants with traditional hearths like this nowadays, but the benefits are undeniable - the far-infrared rays cook the fish slowly, excess fat drips away, and the flavors of the different fish meld together beautifully. Rikujouki is a spacious restaurant with seating on the second and third floors, and it's so popular for dinner that reservations are required for groups of three or more. What surprises first-time visitors is the ticket booth at the entrance, where you purchase food tickets before being seated. It's a unique experience that adds to the charm of this hidden gem in Nakano.

Visited the restaurant before a farewell party for a pre-party. The place was empty as it was from 4 pm. The staff was friendly - one even helped carry my heavy bags upstairs. They were very friendly and asked where I came from with such big bags. The appetizers were delicious and the octopus tempura, edamame, and sashimi were all fresh and tasty. The sashimi was especially good, with the tuna almost melting in my mouth. The prices were a bit high, but the quality justified it. It's definitely a place for adults. I heard their lunch fish dishes are delicious too. I'll have to try that next time!

June 15th, first visit at 12:05. Upon entering the restaurant, I quickly decided on the fish I wanted, but they were out of aodai (horse mackerel) in front of me. When I tried to order tamagoyaki (grilled egg), they were sold out for the day. I held a fish ticket and joined the waiting line inside the restaurant, which had about 10 people waiting. The restaurant had a large open space with a big U-shaped counter that could seat around 30 people. In the center, there was a hearth where fish on skewers were waiting to be grilled. After purchasing the food ticket, I was seated within 10 minutes and immediately served rice, miso soup, and pickles. A minute later, the main dish was served. I ordered the "Okime-dai" (1,100 yen) without knowing what it was, but I was impressed! The miso soup and pickles were average. The fish, grilled over charcoal with far infrared rays (probably), was delicious, and the sauce enhanced its flavor. I was surprised by the amazing taste, though the visual presentation was ordinary. The rice, though slightly cold due to the timing of serving, was still very tasty. When I asked for seconds, the warm rice was even more delicious. Rice, miso soup, and pickles were all-you-can-eat. I understand why this place is so popular. Thank you for the meal.