Visited the restaurant with colleagues. Second visit in a few years. Seated at the table furthest back. Spacious and relaxing seating. Surrounded by office worker-type customers, business seems to be thriving. All dishes are delicious. Prices are reasonable. Alcohol is at a normal price. The standout feature of this place is probably the highball. They serve a bottle of Black Nikka highball, about 200ml I think? You can order the soda water separately. I wonder if the ice is free? You can make your drink to your liking. I wish they offered a regular-sized bottle of Black Nikka. (laughs) But that might not be profitable for the restaurant. Had a lot to drink, enjoyed the food, and the bill came out to 3,500 yen per person. Will probably visit again.

There is also a second floor with a large number of seats. The menu includes fried eggs and natto, making it truly a "popular izakaya". I don't mind the casual service from the staff. The salt-grilled saury and tuna belly are cheap, but a fried egg costs around 380 yen? Maybe they are trying to balance it out. The bacon potato dish has a sweet aroma, but it's a good snack that goes well with alcohol. Crispy potatoes are always a strong companion to beer.

Recently, I couldn't get into the main store at the west exit, so I visited Mikuni Koji after 8 months on the weekend just before Golden Week. It was almost full, with many groups of two or more waiting. I ordered a Black Hoppy set with a sashimi platter. The appetizer was simmered okra. I finally tried the Green Bottle shochu that I've been curious about, which turned out to be Asahi Shochu Goro. It was 290 yen for 180ml. The sashimi platter had 4 different kinds, a good deal. The homemade macaroni salad had just the right amount of mayo flavor. I added lemon soda to the Green Bottle shochu, while the Mix Fry had plenty of seafood - shrimp, squid, megochi, and kisu. I also added shikuwasa soda as a chaser. The yakisoba at the end was a generous portion. I drank and ate everything, it was a delicious meal.

The other day, I decided to drink in Ikebukuro and found a nice izakaya in a street lined with small bars. The interior was spacious and calm, with a wide variety of menu options. I will definitely visit again!

Today, I came to this place. I have been to the shops on the east side many times, but this is my first time here. When I entered the store and told them the number of people, I was guided to the second-floor seats. "Please choose your favorite seat," they said. First, cheers with a draft beer! So tasty! The appetizer was lotus root. Nice! For snacks... boiled edamame, chicken cartilage karaage - a classic and good snack, amberjack sashimi - surprisingly delicious sashimi, hoppy set with white hoppy please, meat tofu - flavorful and delicious, tongue salt grilled - surprisingly substantial and tasty, and fried chikuwa with seaweed - I've been eating this a lot lately. Overall... it's completely different from the east side and doesn't have that sleazy feeling (laughs). The store is very clean and the atmosphere is not bad at all. It's a good restaurant. Thank you for the meal.

Today's dinner was at Ikebukuro Higashi-guchi "Izakaya Fukuro Mikuni Koji Store". I visited for a pre-drinking gathering before the drinking party. The "Bottled Beer - Large (560 yen)" is cheap. I also chose the "Chilled Tofu (330 yen)" at the same time. The tofu is a whole block and very voluminous. I enjoy it by sprinkling soy sauce on it. This alone is enough as a side dish.

Accompanied by a colleague for my first visit to the company. Couldn't tell the atmosphere from the outside, but once inside, both the first and second floors were bustling on a Friday night. The price per drink was reasonable, and the beer was delicious, served in a chilled glass. The menu was more friendly than fancy, which I liked! I will definitely visit again if I have the chance. I heard there is also a branch on the opposite side, so I hope to visit early next time to enjoy a drink. There is a smoking room on the second floor.

Today's dinner was at Ikebukuro Higashi-guchi "Taishu Sakaba Fukuro Mikuni Koji-ten". This is a branch of the "Sakaba Fukuro" located in front of Ikebukuro Nishiguchi station. The main store is famous for being a place where you can drink from the morning, but it can be difficult because smoking is allowed. In that regard, this branch is very comfortable with a strict no-smoking policy. In the deep zone of the bustling area of the East exit, there is a place called "Mikuni Koji" that remains. Just like Memory Lane in Shinjuku, Tanuki Koji in Yokohama, or Konan Shotengai in Shinagawa, for some reason, there are gray areas where redevelopment is not progressing in prime locations near the station. Such places that are like the Showa era, no, like pre-war times are really enjoyable. I would like to become a regular at a small bar run by an individual, but it's impossible for someone like me who wants to visit various places. However, the BGM at this store is somehow The Beatles. A pub with The Beatles. Is it good or bad? The gap is amazing. First, I chose the usual "Black Hoppy (price unknown)" and "Macaroni Salad (380 yen)". Is it an appetizer? "Hijiki simmered" was served. As I enjoyed my first drink, the macaroni salad was served. It's a considerable amount. It's neither delicious nor bad. It's just a normal macaroni salad. It's great as a snack with alcohol. I sprinkled shichimi on it and enjoyed it. When I finished my third glass of Hoppy, I ran out of snacks. I wanted to order "Mixed Fry (580 yen)", but it's not good to have fried food with only one glass of Hoppy left. So, I chugged the fourth glass of Hoppy and left. In the end, when I settled the bill, it was around 1,380 yen. Cheap.

The annual year-end party with my student part-time job colleagues and seniors is always held at "Fukuro Mikuni Koji Store." We used to have our year-end party in Shinjuku at Omoide Yokocho, but we moved it here in 2007 or 2008, so it's been over 10 years now. The neighboring "Hagure" still has the noren with the signature of the late actor Makoto Fujiwara, also known as Detective Shunsuke Kamoshita, hanging. We entered the store and ordered black Hoppy, just like during the preview, and when the group gathered, we switched to whiskey and various dishes were served as usual. We ended the night with kimchi hot pot, as requested by Oggi-san. It was revealed that there was a hidden Kirishima among the members. This year, the party was held a week earlier, so it hasn't quite sunk in yet, but another year is coming to an end.

At the end of the year, I have been having a year-end party with my former part-time job friends from my student days for over 10 years now. As part of our tradition, my friend Takao and I do a "pre-visit" that is no longer necessary or meaningful. When this day comes, I realize that December has arrived. By the way, the gate at Mikuni Koji looks a bit more pop now. I arrived first and started with a black Hoppy, then checked the handwritten menu board for today's recommendations. Oh, I'm glad to see the "Hatata Karaage" that I haven't had in a while. I confirmed that the cartilage part is from the knee, so let's also order the "Chicken Knee Karaage." I asked for mayonnaise on the side, which my daughter also likes, making it a family favorite bar menu for generations. When Takao joins us, the "Macaroni Salad" and "Bacon and Eggs" will be our regulars for over 10 years. Today's black Hoppy feels a bit light, so I'll switch to whiskey (I'm such a fool). Even though I hadn't really felt the end-of-year mood until today, it's starting to get me excited for the year-end festivities.

The first stop in Ikebukuro is here. It had been a while since my last visit. The restaurant was quite empty as it had just opened. We were seated on the second floor, which was spacious and clean. I tried the green bottle drink after a long time, and it was still delicious. We had about 8 bottles between the two of us. I was surprised to find out that the restaurant had become non-smoking.

[Ikebukuro Exploration Adventure Part 40] Today is Monday, perfect for "Monday late-night TV"! I haven't been watching the show lately, haha. The first stop today is a branch of a place I've visited several times, "Fukuro," called "Fukuro Mikuni Koji Store." We arrived at 5:50 PM. The first floor has a counter and about 5-6 tables, while the second floor seems to host banquets. The first floor had a few people at the counter, with occasional customers coming in later. We looked at the menu and ordered the following: [Menu] - Large bottled beer: 560 yen - Hoppy (with extra): 260 yen x 2 - Shochu (180ml): 290 yen x 2 - Otoshi (appetizer): 250 yen x 2 - Macaroni salad: 380 yen - Menchi katsu simmered: 480 yen - Hatahata fried: 430 yen - Green tomato pickles: 330 yen My acquaintance had beer, while I started with hoppy. We cheers to a hard day's work and began as usual. The hoppy was generously served with 180ml, so I had 3 glasses of hoppy and 3 extra for a total of 550 yen. What a deal, haha! [Macaroni Salad] A simple taste with no strong flavors, but you can tell it's handmade with cucumber and carrot pieces. A simple but best macaroni salad. [Menchi Katsu Simmered] When you want to eat pork cutlet but worry about your health, this menu item is a lifesaver! Menchi katsu simmered, which I've never seen before. The sauce is a bit light, and the menchi katsu is already soft since it's simmered. The onions, red carrots, and green bell peppers add color. An interesting concept. [Hatahata Fried] Dried fish with the head and innards removed, deep-fried. The natural umami and saltiness of the hatahata are delicious. I personally like it when the head is left on. It's also good dipped in the menchi katsu broth. [Green Tomato Pickles] I couldn't imagine what it would taste like, so I ordered it. Green tomatoes, roughly cut, appeared! I tried one, and it was delicious! It had the texture of watermelon rind or firm avocado, with a hint of tomato flavor and the umami of the pickling liquid. I'd like to make this at home if green tomatoes are sold! [Editor's Note] - The green tomato pickles were the highlight! - The dishes were well thought out. - There's a relaxed atmosphere compared to the restaurants in Nishi-guchi. - The female staff on the first floor (and possibly upstairs) was working hard alone. - There seemed to be many salarymen. [Ratings] Overall: 3.8 Taste: 4 Service: 3 Atmosphere: 3.5 Value: 3.5 Drinks: 4.5 Thank you for the delicious food. Until next time, let's try the sashimi here! Off to the next place!

I came back to Fukuro once again. I visited the cool interior of the restaurant with the purpose of escaping the summer heat. There was only one other customer there (the usual person). I started with a large bottle of Super Dry beer. For snacks, I had the usual macaroni with sauce. The recommended menu item was ginkgo nuts! What? Already? It's still August. Are they frying last year's ginkgo nuts? I wondered. What came out was salt-roasted ginkgo nuts (from Aichi prefecture). The inside was a light green color. 12 nuts for 430 yen is cheap. You crack open the hot shells and eat the nuts inside. I also ordered a Hoppy set and a hot pot. The pork and lettuce shabu-shabu (530 yen) came with plenty of ponzu sauce and sesame sauce. The lettuce and pork were decent. Since they used solid fuel, we had to eat quickly. It was a quiet atmosphere in the restaurant, and I felt the arrival of autumn through the meal. Each time I go, the amount of snacks decreases and the amount of alcohol increases. I will visit again.

=R4.8=I revisited the restaurant on the last Friday of August. I ordered a black hoppy drink and the bonito sashimi from the board menu for 580 yen. The appetizer was imitation crab sticks. I chose the bonito sashimi from the recommended menu on the board. For another dish, I had a savory green onion and egg omelette with freshly grated daikon on top. The restaurant always seems crowded, but it was a bit quieter this time due to heavy rain during the day.

Located about 7 minutes from Ikebukuro East Exit, I stopped by here after buying squid ink at MUJI to cool off. I had never visited before because it was either empty, closed, or the opening hours were unclear. When I entered the restaurant, there were 7 solo customers and 2 pairs of customers, making it quiet. The restaurant has spacious table seating. Ah, it's cool here. My sweat is gradually drying. First, I ordered a large bottle of beer (Super Dry) for 540 yen including tax, which is cheap. The glass was at room temperature. The appetizer (250 yen including tax) was white menma. I then had the classic macaroni (380 yen including tax) with sauce on the table. It tasted as usual. The umeshu cocktail (330 yen including tax) was a nice palate cleanser. The stir-fried pork tongue with vegetables (480 yen including tax) had 8 pieces, quite a generous portion. I also tried the recommended dish, deep-fried sandfish (430 yen including tax), which was small but tasty with mayonnaise. The water dumplings (380 yen including tax) were juicy and delicious with ponzu sauce. I had a black hoppy set and a grapefruit set. I also ordered an additional small bottle of shochu (270 yen including tax). It was light and seemed to have a low alcohol content. After us, more and more customers arrived, including couples and groups, heading to the spacious second floor. There are separate restrooms for men and women on the first floor, and a smoking area on the second floor. It's cool, clean, and they have a point card system, so I'll definitely come back. After having a few drinks, I moved on to the next restaurant.

It has been 6 years since I revisited this restaurant after the renovation. A few years ago, the owner of the now closed ST across the street mentioned that this place was renovating to add a second floor seating area. I sat at the end of the counter, with a direct view of the staircase leading to the second floor, creating a lively atmosphere. I ordered a set of black Hoppy, served with an ice pail, and was served pickled vegetables as a starter. I then ordered macaroni salad and, with a delay, the recommended curry spring rolls from the specials board. I also ordered a mixed vegetable tempura assortment. Since it was after the renovation, the air conditioning was excellent. I noticed someone across from me ordered Fuji mineral water, so I decided to order that along with my Fukuro shochu. The vegetable tempura consisted of 5 types of vegetables, including 2 green beans, eggplant, lotus root, pumpkin, and onion, served with grated radish and ginger in a beautiful tempura dipping sauce. Finally, I ordered another dish, Nira-tamago-don. It was a comfortable and leisurely dining experience. Thank you for the delicious meal.

After leaving "Zubora" in Ikebukuro East Exit, the group walked down the nostalgic "Mikuni Koji" street and entered a bar. The "Fukuro" bar, a familiar spot for drinkers in Ikebukuro, has branches on both the west and east sides. The west branch, established in 1953, is quite a longstanding establishment. This time, they visited the Mikuni Koji branch, which had a calm atmosphere. The group ordered Hoppy, a popular drink, with a side of shochu. The prices were reasonable, with 180ml of shochu costing 270 yen. With Hoppy costing 240 yen, the total came to 510 yen. The group enjoyed various dishes and drinks, including ham cutlet, grilled beef tongue, bonito sashimi, yakisoba, and different types of egg dishes. The Mikuni Koji branch offers two types of "niratama" (egg with leeks) dishes, which are unique. After the meal, when it was time to pay, one of the group members realized that their wallet was missing. They rushed back to "Zubora" and thankfully found the wallet there. The relief was palpable, and the tense situation turned into a humorous anecdote.

I was thinking of trying out a restaurant in Ikebukuro, but it was fully booked, and this happened at two places in a row. I ended up at this other place that caught my eye. It was a branch of a popular restaurant near the west exit. I sat at the counter and it had a nice, relaxed atmosphere compared to the west exit location. I ordered a Poppy Set, macaroni salad, and bacon and eggs. They brought a shochu in a transparent pitcher with ice. Just like the west exit location, I could have 4 drinks for 470 yen. The appetizers arrived, and the macaroni salad was a bit salty, but it was fine when eaten with the shredded cabbage that came with the bacon and eggs. After finishing my 4 drinks as planned, I'm ready to move on to the next place.

This day has come again this year as well, and I got off at Ikebukuro with a feeling of nostalgia. Compared to last year, the situation with the coronavirus seems to have calmed down, so the streets are crowded with people like before the pandemic. The year-end party held at "Fukuro" on Mikuni-koji is an annual event that has been going on for a long time. Last year, it was the smallest ever with only 4 people. This year, people gathered in groups around 5 pm, and eventually the number increased to a considerable amount. We started off with the usual black Hoppy and ordered popular dishes and recommendations, but with more people, preferences and orders varied. We ended the night with the traditional hotpot. By the way, this party has always been held on the last Saturday of the year, but it seems that there is a hidden Christian among the members, so from next year, it will be moved one week earlier to avoid overlapping with Christmas. Well, another year is coming to an end.

Every year on the last Saturday of December, my friend Takao and I have a tradition of doing unnecessary and meaningless "previews" for the year-end party held at this restaurant. It's been about 4 years since we last did this, due to the 2-year break when I was in Nagoya. After a recent blackout incident at "Fukuro" in Nishiguchi, I decided to stick to black Hoppy tonight and avoid the risky Whiskey Hoppy. The handwritten menu on the wall of the newly opened second floor seems to serve as today's recommended specials. I can't miss the classic regulars like "Bacon and Eggs" and "Macaroni Salad". Although it's not very cold this year, drinking here brings out the year-end vibe. This year, turning 60 and experiencing significant changes in my finances, as well as undergoing several MRI scans at the neurosurgery department, made it a tough year. But with the new year, hopefully, I'll finally be out of my bad luck phase. I'll be surpassing my late father's age, and I hope next year will be a good one.