Located just off the main street of Akihabara, this restaurant has the appearance of an old inn. The interior is a quiet space, far removed from the hustle and bustle outside. Around 5 pm on a weekday, entering the restaurant with a friend, we found the counter and tables almost 80% full. We started with a "draft beer" (650 yen), "Black Nikka Highball" (500 yen), and "simmered chicken giblets" (880 yen). The appetizer that arrived (450 yen per person) was a simmered dish of squid and daikon. Despite the small portion, the flavor was well-crafted, showing the attention to detail in the menu. The chicken giblets were made with chicken giblets, which was unusual. The rich flavor of the chicken giblets and the depth of the soup made it delicious. We also ordered "smelt tempura" (950 yen), "young bamboo shoot simmered dish" (990 yen), and "gin and soda" (600 yen). The smelt tempura had tender smelt with a hint of bitterness, and the mountain vegetable tempura was excellent. The young bamboo shoot simmered dish had a strong dashi flavor, with a balance of sweetness and gentle bitterness. Everything we ate was delicious, and we couldn't help but order "potato salad" (850 yen), "conger eel Yanagawa hot pot" (1260 yen), and "shochu highball" (600 yen). The potato salad had tender firefly squid, and the way it came together was exquisite. The conger eel Yanagawa hot pot had chewy conger eel, with a satisfying texture. All the dishes we had that day were carefully crafted, full of umami. The slightly higher price range may explain why the majority of customers in the quiet restaurant were older. The serene atmosphere, with customers gathered around the beautiful wooden counter, was reminiscent of a high-class izakaya in Kyoto. Spending time enjoying delicious snacks and drinks in such a tranquil setting felt like a world away. The total bill of 8280 yen felt like a bargain considering the value we received.

From the exterior to the interior, this izakaya is enveloped in the nostalgic atmosphere of the Showa era, truly transporting you back in time. As you step inside, you'll be greeted by a retro ambiance with a U-shaped counter and wooden tables reminiscent of the Showa period. The lighting and decor also evoke the era, with classic counter seats that have appeared in TV shows and dramas, creating a charming atmosphere. The dishes perfectly complement this ambiance, with flavorful appetizers and traditional Japanese flavors that pair well with drinks. Specialties like grilled octopus, tuna, and broiled conger eel are meticulously prepared, offering a delightful umami with each bite. The sake selection is abundant, featuring various types like Ichinokura Junmai and Tsukasa Botan Junmai Karakuchi. With a variety of other drinks available, you can enjoy pairing your favorite drink with the delicious dishes. The lively atmosphere inside, filled with smiling customers enjoying conversations and laughter, enhances the tranquil Showa vibe. Whether alone or with company, you can relax and savor a heartwarming moment with the perfect blend of Showa ambiance, tasty food, and a wide selection of drinks. Be sure to visit and experience this delightful time.

I visited Akatsuka in Akihabara, known for its unique atmosphere, in the scorching heat that exceeded body temperature. I ordered the fried chicken lunch set for 900 yen as they are famous for their seafood in the evening. The chicken was tender and perfectly fried, with just the right seasoning. The miso soup with bean sprouts and tofu also had a rich flavor. Thank you for the meal. Next time, I will try the seafood. Oh, but before that, I will visit for the main event in the evening. However, there are only a few seats at the counter, so I hope I can get a spot at the right time...

Recently, the opportunities for dining out have become rare, so whenever I have a chance to go out and it ends around 4 pm, I get very excited. This is because I can stop for a drink and snack on the way home. This time was no exception. After finishing up in Suidobashi, I debated whether to go to Akihabara, Yaesu, Kanda, or Asakusa. I finally decided to go to Akatsuka in Akihabara. It was my second time visiting. The first time was during Golden Week this year. I remembered the delicious food and drinks from that visit, which led me to choose this place again. One person cannot make a reservation. And it seems that the only available seats for walk-ins are at the counter. So you have to arrive shortly after opening to secure a spot. On this day, I arrived a little after 5 pm and was the first customer. I was seated at the corner of the counter, just like last time. I ordered a small draft beer as soon as I sat down. The appetizer and beer arrived in front of me. I started with the beer. While nibbling on the appetizer, I thought about what else to order... Sashimi was a must. I also considered something cooked, and what to have as a finale... as I pondered, a solo drinking party began. The first dish was sashimi. There were about three options on the menu. After some hesitation, I chose something called "sanoji" which I don't recall having before. I was told it's a type of sea bream. The flesh was tender, sweet, and delicious. It made me want to drink sake. I decided to have Kikumasamune warm sake. Although they had local sake and cold sake available, I prefer Kikumasamune warm sake even on hot days. However, I thought maybe it's okay to have it chilled (at room temperature) on this day, so I started sipping it slowly. The TV was showing the evening news and such. I was leisurely watching while enjoying delicious snacks and drinks. This is the kind of time I enjoy. The restaurant gradually started to fill up. The counter seats were filled quickly that day. I seemed to be the first customer, and soon the two seats to my left were occupied by office workers, and the two seats to my right were taken by two working women. I could hear work-related conversations coming from both sides... or perhaps some complaints about work. It felt distant from me, but I found myself listening somewhat. It's a common occurrence at a drinking party for the conversation to turn into complaints about the boss. The dishes started to become warm. The first one was deep-fried eggplant and "mejina" (I think). The eggplant was delicious. The mejina was quite popular too. The surroundings remained lively with conversations. While watching TV, drinking sake, and enjoying delicious snacks, I was getting pleasantly tipsy. And then one more dish... the final snack was simmered conger eel. The flavor had seeped well into the daikon radish, young corn of the season, and the burdock root essential for eel stew, and they were all delicious. Of course, the eel itself was tender and tasty as expected. By this point, I had ordered three dishes and two bottles of sake. Now, what to do... I would usually order another drink and perhaps one more dish, but this time I decided to stop here. I hadn't had much to eat for lunch, so my stomach wasn't very empty. Nevertheless, I wanted something to finish off the meal, so I chose a rice ball with pickled plum. It was soft, plump, and delicious. It had been about an hour since I started drinking. The customers on both sides were still lively with work-related conversations. The counter was almost full, and it seemed that walk-in customers without a reservation would have a hard time getting in. It's best to arrive on time, I thought as I got up, settled the bill, and left. It was lucky that the next solo customer could sit right after me. When will be the next visit? Thank you for the meal.

In front of the store, there was a shop that I had passed by many times but never entered. That shop is "Akatsuka". I was craving for tuna, so I searched and found out that I could have it here. I took immediate action because it was close to the end of lunchtime, and there were only about 3 people inside. I sat down and immediately ordered the "Seared tuna and negitoro bowl + beer". After a while, it arrived! The visual presentation was excellent. Now, how does it taste? Well, it was delicious! The careful presentation was also reflected in the taste. I finished it in no time! Thank you for the meal! I wonder why I didn't come here earlier? I will definitely visit again soon!

The saltiness of the white-grilled conger eel is exquisite. I visited the restaurant as soon as it opened at 5:00 pm on weekends. The place was fully packed in just 15 minutes. It is a long-established restaurant that has been in business before Akihabara became an otaku town. I tried the flying fish cheese sandwich, deep-fried conger eel, chicken and pork stew, and white-grilled conger eel. I also had a bottle of Maruei's draft beer. Instead of going to weird chain restaurants, you should come here. Oh, I should have ordered the grilled ayu fish as well. I'll definitely come back next time.

I visited a quiet restaurant around noon, feeling hesitant as I couldn't see inside. It had an atmosphere like an old-fashioned soba noodle shop. Luckily, there were a few empty seats at the counter. I decided to order the fried chicken set meal without any prior knowledge of the menu. The restaurant quickly filled up, and I realized I should have ordered the fish set meal, which had sold out earlier. The fried chicken arrived promptly and was incredibly crispy with tender meat. I enjoyed it with salad, soba noodles, and other side dishes. Despite my initial doubts, I was completely satisfied with the meal and even considered becoming a disciple of the chef. Later, I realized I had prepared fried chicken for dinner, but it didn't matter as the lunch was so delicious.

It was a shop with a wonderful atmosphere that you wouldn't think was in Akihabara! I want to go again. We barely made it in because we arrived early, but after that they were only accepting reservations. This time we only ordered the standard menu items, but I would like to try other dishes as well.

This is an izakaya located in Sotokanda. It is a precious shop that retains the Showa era atmosphere in the electric town. They offer affordable lunches during the day and drinks with small dishes at night. Their fish dishes are highly recommended. The restaurant opened in April 1954 and the name comes from the first owner, Mr. Akatsuka. The current owner, Mr. Teratani, is the third generation owner, who is the grandson of the second generation owner. The location is about a 3-minute walk from Akihabara Station Electric Town Exit, and about a 7-minute walk from Suehirocho Station Exit 3. It is located on a corner surrounded by Chuo Street and Kanda Myojin Street, in a white-walled old folk house. I visited during lunchtime. The interior of the restaurant has a warm and nostalgic atmosphere with a lot of seating, including an L-shaped counter and table seats on the first floor, as well as table seats on the second floor. I was seated at the counter and the service was efficient and friendly. The lunch menu includes the following items (prices include tax): - Today's grilled fish set meal (1,000 yen) with side dishes, pickles, rice, and miso soup. On this day, it was "grilled saury". - Today's simmered fish set meal (1,000 yen) with side dishes, pickles, rice, and miso soup. On this day, it was "simmered cod". - Chicken and egg on rice set meal (950 yen) with side dishes, pickles, rice, and miso soup. - Deep-fried chicken set meal (900 yen) with side dishes, pickles, rice, and miso soup. - Tempura set meal (1,300 yen) with side dishes, pickles, rice, and miso soup. - Seared tuna and minced tuna bowl (1,150 yen) with pickles and miso soup. - Special Hayashi rice (1,000 yen) with salad and miso soup. The Today's grilled fish set meal and Today's simmered fish set meal are limited in quantity and were sold out by around 12:20. I ordered the following: - Today's simmered fish set meal (1,000 yen) with simmered cod, side dishes, pickles, rice, and miso soup. The simmered cod was delicious with a flavorful broth and the side dishes were tasty. The portion was generous and the flavors were just right. The stay time was about 20 minutes. The main fish dish was large, and the set meal with two side dishes was a great value. The popularity of this place is understandable. The menu for the evening, displayed on the wall, is also extensive and appealing. I would like to visit again at night if I have the chance.

This is a long-established Japanese restaurant. Each dish is delicate and carefully made, showcasing the skill of the chefs. The first floor has a counter seating arrangement, while the second floor has private rooms with a cozy, traditional Japanese house atmosphere. However, there is one drawback - there seems to be a difference in the service provided by the staff. It felt like some of them may have been long-time employees, as there was a noticeable variation in their attitudes towards customers. Additionally, they didn't say "sorry for the wait" or similar phrases when serving dishes or drinks, which was a bit surprising. Despite this, the food is delicious, and I would like to visit again. I am also curious about trying their lunch menu.

I was invited to visit an izakaya that a senpai who I haven't seen in a while often goes to. It was located near Akihabara where there were maids promoting a maid cafe. The izakaya felt like a time slip back to the Showa era. The braised pork belly was just right, not falling apart. The meat and potato stew had a great flavor soaked into it. The deep-fried tofu had a perfect taste and texture. The simmered tripe dish was so good I could drink the soup all day. The skewered cutlets had an exquisite balance and were piping hot. All the dishes were delicious and the atmosphere of the restaurant was very nice. The staff were attentive and I highly recommend this place. The ambiance, atmosphere, taste of the food, and the smell of the restaurant all had a Showa-era feel. I would love to go back again if the opportunity arises! Thank you for the meal.

On Saturday night, we made a last-minute reservation by phone and were able to slip in right at the opening. It was a good thing we called ahead because there was a waiting list without reservations after we arrived. It was a bit disappointing that they didn't have a counter seating, but we'll try again next time. The simmered fish and dried conger eel served at the beginning were delicious! They went well with beer, and we enjoyed the luxury of being able to drink in the bright daylight on a Saturday. It was a satisfying experience.

I used this restaurant for a company gathering with my colleagues. I was worried about being able to make a reservation at this popular long-established izakaya, but I was able to smoothly make a reservation via email two weeks in advance. The atmosphere of the restaurant is great, with a historical feel both on the outside and inside. We started with a toast with Sapporo Red Star beer. The classic dishes like nikujaga (meat and potato stew) and simmered chicken were all delicious. We also enjoyed drinking sake afterwards. Despite drinking quite a bit, the total cost was less than 5000 yen, so it was a great value for money.

Last time I visited, I almost missed it by a hair's breadth. This time, I was determined to get in, so I arrived right after the opening. It was a little after 5 PM. At this time, there were still few customers. There was one person at the counter and one group at a table. I was seated in the left corner of the counter and immediately ordered a draft beer. The appetizer was potato salad. Now, what should I order for food... I decided to start with sashimi. I chose striped jack sashimi. It was delicious with a good amount of fat. The alcohol was going down smoothly. So, I had Kikumasamune warm sake. I ended up having three bottles that day. Kikumasamune is great. It doesn't interfere with the taste of the food. A delicious Japanese sake. Next, I moved on to warm dishes with simmered chicken giblets. It had a light miso flavor. The dish included various parts of chicken giblets, konjac, and tofu. The tofu was delicious. I should try eating it cold next time with cold tofu. Then, I had broiled conger eel. The salty taste was perfect for a drinking snack. It had a nice accent. The last dish of the day was rolled omelet. It was hot and had just the right amount of sweetness. I drizzled soy sauce on it and enjoyed the exquisite harmony of sweetness and soy sauce. Before I knew it, the restaurant was almost full of customers. The staff were bustling around efficiently. Their movements were impressive. The atmosphere was great, making the alcohol taste even better. I spent nearly two hours at Akitsu-ka in Akihabara, enjoying the alcohol, food, and the ambiance of the restaurant. Everything was satisfying. Such places make you want to come back again. I wonder when I'll visit next. Looking forward to it. Thank you for the meal.

In the middle of Akihabara Electric Town, there is a space that feels like it has slipped back in time to the Showa era. After drinking too much at the first place, at our second stop, we ordered just one glass of draft beer and bonito sashimi. Great atmosphere, great taste, great crowd. When you step outside the shop, you're immediately pulled back to the usual Akihabara with maid cafes trying to catch your attention. The contrast is just irresistible.

Revisited. Second time. Located in the middle of the bustling district of Akihabara, this long-established izakaya feels like time has stopped only here. About 10 years ago, there were several long-standing eateries in the area, but one by one they closed down, leaving only this one. Visited at night. Ordered the "Bamboo Shoot and Shrimp Tempura" (1,100 yen), "Chicken Offal Stew" (880 yen), and appetizer (450 yen), along with a bottle of beer (750 yen). The total bill was 3,180 yen. The quality of the food is amazing, surpassing what you would expect from a traditional izakaya. As the correct name "Seasonal Cuisine Akatsu-ka" suggests, this is more of a seasonal cuisine restaurant rather than an izakaya. Both dishes I tried were crafted with great skill. Especially the "Chicken Offal Stew" was exquisite, with no trace of the usual odor of offal. The harmony with the stew was superb, and you can easily finish the broth without any stress. Although the prices are a bit high, the portions are generous, so you don't need to order a lot of dishes, keeping the total bill reasonable. A meal-like amount with a bit of drinking (one bottle of beer) cost just under 3,000 yen this time. It's a perfect amount for a casual evening drink that is satisfying. I would choose this over other flashy places any day. I will definitely go back again.

Instagram: @debs_foods - Recommended dish: Nikujaga (meat and potato stew) ¥880 - Recommended drink: Sekisho Lager ¥750 - Date of visit: March 24, 2023 (Friday) Cloudy weather - Location: Akatsuka, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo - Closest station: Akihabara Station - Closed on: Sundays, public holidays, every other Saturday - Established in: 1954 - Food blog rating: 3.50 (as of posting date) Tabelog Top 100 Restaurants 2022 (Izakaya category): 5/100 Tabelog Top 100 Restaurants 2021 (Izakaya category): 20/100 Hashtags: Izakaya, Beer, Highball, Drinking party, Instafood, Drinking alone, Bar, Local bar, Standing bar, Tokyo Izakaya, Shochu, Wine, Senbero (cheap drinks and food for 1000 yen), Day drinking, Chinese-style pub, Chu-hi (shochu highball), Drinking tagram, Bar hopping, Let's drink at a Chinese-style pub, L-shaped counter, Izakaya guide, Akatsuka, Akihabara

Located in a back alley off the street lined with maid cafes parallel to Akihabara's Chuo-dori, this Japanese restaurant was chosen for lunch on a rainy day. Despite it not being yet noon, the restaurant was quite busy, with the lunch menu offering a variety of options including grilled fish, simmered fish, mountain vegetable rice bowl, and tempura rice bowl. Opting for the grilled fish, the meal arrived in about 5-6 minutes, indicating that some preparation had been done in advance. While the rice was mediocre, the miso soup with beaten egg was quite tasty. The main dish of grilled fish was likely marinated in sake lees and cooked to perfection, with a deliciously firm texture. Despite the rice being a bit of a letdown, this restaurant is a good choice for those looking to enjoy fish dishes.