#Wadaya (Hamadayama) #Hamadayama Station tour, the third stop after renovation, visited in June. Even though I had never been there before the renovation, I wanted to check it out. The interior of the restaurant was very clean and beautiful. The dishes matched the elegant atmosphere, and the edamame was delicious. We enjoyed a relaxing time with some tea cocktails. After that, we went to Eifukucho to visit a bar. It was my first time exploring the Hamadayama area and it was a lot of fun. Although it's not easy to visit this area often, I would like to plan another bar-hopping tour soon. #Hamadayama Wadaya

I revisited Wadaya on the Emperor's Birthday, 2/23, for the second time since the change of ownership. Luckily, my friend and I were able to enter as soon as the restaurant opened. It seems that they are fully booked until the end of February. Wadaya has been loved for many years, and it appears that many people are visiting to cherish the memories. The owner mentioned that there might be a chance to get a table around 9 pm when the early reservations leave, but with only 4 days left, I doubt people will leave after just two hours. If you plan to visit Wadaya, I recommend calling ahead to check for availability. The cream croquettes at Wadaya are amazing. If you manage to get a table, be sure to try them. I really want to eat them again before the change of ownership. I am truly grateful to Wadaya for satisfying my hunger for many years. Thank you so much.

I went to a shop in Hamatayama that I knew. Before going, I researched it in advance. It seems to be run by a couple with an old-fashioned atmosphere. I planned to have just a light drink, so I told them in advance and sat at the counter. First, I ordered a shochu highball. For food, I had fried squid legs. I think the fried squid legs were in the 300 yen range, but they were quite voluminous and I really liked the size and crispiness of the legs. I ordered another shochu highball and then asked for the bill. It was only 1000 yen, which was surprisingly cheap! Older shops tend to be unexpectedly expensive, but this place seemed to be loved by the locals with many regular customers. When I asked my friend who lives in the area later, they all knew about it. If this place was in Shinbashi, I would definitely become a regular customer.

I went to the newly opened store. The fish is incredibly delicious.

To all fans of Wadaya across the country, I recently visited Wadaya after two years and enjoyed a delicious meal. The interior of the restaurant is as clean and tidy as ever, with a sense of cleanliness. The large number of signs inside the store is still there. It seems that the son will take over from the parents and they will retire at the end of February 2023. The store will undergo renovations by the end of February 2023. For all the Wadaya fans scattered across the country, the current Wadaya will be until the end of February 2023. I'm looking forward to the son's new store opening after renovations in April.

Whenever I go, it's always the best◎ A renowned restaurant in Hamadayama. Thank you always.

Dinner on April 8, 2018 (Sunday) with my partner. We went to Hamadayama on the Inokashira Line for dinner over the weekend. Following last week, we decided to try Akachochin tonight. The sign said "Yakiton Wadaya." We sat at the counter seat with Showa era songs playing in the background. When we entered, Alice's "Listening to the Whistle from Afar" was playing (laughs). We ordered a draft beer and chose two pieces each of liver and heart yakiton (100 yen each) with salt, as well as squid somen (450 yen), meat jagarico (380 yen), and fried horse mackerel (480 yen). After that, we also ordered cream croquette (400 yen) and spring rolls (400 yen) to eat. The food was not exceptionally delicious, more like decent, but there were no issues, it was sufficient. What really stood out was the cozy atmosphere. I love this type of restaurant. If there was one near my home, I would definitely be a regular customer. In that sense, it's the type of place that has disappeared from Kichijoji. I had another glass of draft beer, and the total bill was only 3950 yen, very affordable. As we left the restaurant, "Gakuseigai no Kissaten" by Galo was playing (laughs).

Wada-ya is a modest and reasonably priced restaurant, but it seemed to be even more delicious in the past. I visited Wada-ya on January 8, 2018 after a long time. I used to go occasionally when I lived nearby, but recently I had drifted away, so I was pleased to see that it was still open. Wada-ya is known for its yakidon, a popular menu item at this casual izakaya, but actually, the fried food is delicious too, so I started with the fried horse mackerel. It wasn't as good as I had hoped, and I was disappointed. It didn't have as much volume, and the crispy texture wasn't quite there... I had a mixed feeling while eating it, but the last bite was incredibly delicious, so that made up for it.

Found a izakaya in the Hamadayama area. I thought it was a yakitori specialty shop, but the yakitori options were all priced at 100 yen each - chicken cartilage, gizzards, tongue, heart, liver. They also had a variety of other dishes, giving off a typical, old-fashioned izakaya vibe. I had gizzards, tongue, and heart with a lemon sour for a light evening drink. The overall grilling was a bit intense, probably cooked quickly over high heat. The meat was on the smaller side and looked kind of meager. The seasoning was on the light side. The tongue had a normal texture and taste. The heart had a good chewy texture with a bit of umami when chewed. The gizzards were tough and required some effort to eat. They didn't serve any appetizers, so the total cost of what you eat and drink is what you pay. Simple and easy to understand.

Second installment of Bocchi no Mi, in the midst of the Bon Festival, I pondered where to go in the empty streets of Tokyo. I decided to check out Wadaya in Hamadayama, a place I had been wanting to visit. I couldn't see inside the restaurant from the outside, so I was a bit worried about it being full, but luckily, being in Tokyo during Obon, there were plenty of seats available. The lady in charge of the hall showed me to a seat at the counter. There were a few table seats, but they were all taken by regular customers. The number of items on the menu was overwhelming. I ordered a draft beer, the specialty simmered dish, grilled pork skewers, potato salad, and fried sweet potato. I could see the kitchen from the counter, and it seemed like they pre-made and froze portions to handle the large menu. Dishes like nikujaga seemed to be thawed and served after being microwaved. The interior was filled with music from the Showa era. This kind of place really suits the atmosphere of the Showa period. There were quite a few songs I didn't know, and the lady at the restaurant kindly introduced me to them - from Nishiki Hori Eiji, Sawada Kenji, Mushu Kamayatsu, Kitahara Takao, Matsuda Seiko, Nakamori Akina, to Off Course... I found myself getting lost in the music. The simmered dish was a bit too greasy for my liking. The potato salad and fried sweet potato were delicious. Overall, the snacks were quite cheap. As it started pouring rain halfway through, more and more customers came in seeking shelter from the rain. I couldn't leave until the rain stopped, so I ordered a lemon chu-hi and passed the time sipping on it. Payment was cash only, and the total came to 2780 yen. A bargain, indeed. This place is perfect for a quick drink on the way home from work, loved by the common people. Overall rating: 3.2, with Showa songs accompanying the meal: 3.0, menu and taste: 3.0, service: 3.0, atmosphere: 3.0, value for money: 4.0, price: 3.0, lineup of drinks: 3.0.

On this day, we visited this restaurant as our second dining spot. It is a popular local pub known as "Nanpakyu Fuyukyu-sama" among reviewers, with regular customers like Pumpkin Winter Melon and veteran reviewers from the neighborhood often visiting for meetups. It is a well-known casual pub where some food bloggers gather. When I asked my wife, "It's just a casual pub, but shall we go?" she agreed. However, when we stood in front of the entrance, she seemed a bit uneasy, saying, "Is this the place? Really?" But the moment we opened the door, a rush of heat hit us. It wasn't as noisy as the izakayas in Shibuya or Shinjuku, more like lively. The interior space was much more spacious than we imagined before entering, and my wife seemed relieved. Later, she said, "I was imagining a narrow, dirty, drunken, and smoky space, but it turned out to be different" (laughs). We sat side by side at the counter in the back right corner, and toasted with Hoppy and Sour for the second time that day. The small horse mackerel nanban, leek tamago, garlic tempura... all didn't look very appealing, but they were delicious and reassuringly common dishes. Especially the leek tamago. What's this!? This broth is amazing! I didn't order leek tamago soup! And in a plate! I thought, but the broth was so good that I couldn't help but laugh (o´艸) The yakiton seemed to be popular, and when we tried to order various items, the lady said, "○○ and ○○ are already sold out!" So we ordered something else, but it was also delicious enough. Oh no, I quickly understood that the stability of these dishes is one of the reasons for its popularity. We had a few more drinks each (I only had Nakadake though ^^), and after enjoying the last grilled rice ball and delicious white miso soup, the bill was less than 5000 yen. Around 2000 yen per person. It was much cheaper than the first bistro we visited earlier. (Of course) Could this affordability be the secret to this restaurant's popularity? Looking back, there were families having dinner together when we entered, and even couples dressed as if they had just come out of the bath. There is a public bath called Hamano-yu in Hamadayama, so maybe they were on their way back from there. (*´ー｀*) Wearing a red hand towel scarf~♪ We went to the alley together~♪ Oh, this place brings back distant memories of when I used to chase after Kaguya-hime. I like this kind of atmosphere. If I have the chance, I would love to visit again. Thank you for the meal.

"Wada-ya Hamadayama Shop Located close to a residential area, the red lanterns shining in front of the shop give off a nice traditional atmosphere. As we entered the shop, we found three tables put together near the entrance, set up for a banquet. With everyone gathered, we raised our glasses and cheered. Cheers! Everyone seems to enjoy the same hoppy drink. - Potato Salad: A delightful surprise with apple in it. The chance of finding apple in potato salad is about 5%. - Negi-tama (Green Onion and Egg): I always order this since I'm a Negi-tama reviewer. This one is a soupy type, unlike the grilled version I had at Wada-ya Shinbashi Shop last month. It's fun to see how the same menu item can have different preparations at different branches. - Tuna Sashimi: A combination of medium fatty tuna and lean tuna. The medium fatty tuna melts in your mouth instantly. - Beef Tripe Stew: Mainly made with beef tripe, simmered until soft and flavorful. Simple yet rich in taste. - Horse Mackerel Fry: Deep-fried horse mackerel fillets, a rare type without the tail attached. - Chicken Karaage: Someone must have eaten it before I could take a photo. I don't remember eating karaage. The atmosphere at this Wada-ya shop is calm and pleasant, loved by local regulars. I also like Kaga-ya, a branch of the Wai-gaya series that expanded its number of shops through the same method of splitting the business. But I love the homely atmosphere of Wada-ya shops. Thank you, organizer Kabotou-san, for taking care of everything on the day. Thanks to you, we had a very enjoyable time. Please continue to plan and organize drinking parties in Hamadayama in the future. Now, what about the erotic reviewers and their erotic talk? Well, none of them talked about anything erotic at all. Despite writing such wild comments in the comment section, they were like borrowed cats that day... Could it be that they were all wearing a mask that day?"

I love small chain restaurants (noren wake) so I formed the TWD (Team Wada-ya) group (laughs). Wada-ya is a restaurant in Azabu-Juban where people who trained there have opened their own shops through noren wake. The original Wada-ya was founded in 1920 and operated for 85 years before closing down in 2005. There are currently 8 registered shops in the Wada-ya association: Jujo, Nishi-Ogikubo, Ekoda, Hamadayama, Asagaya, Gotanda, Shinbashi, and Koenji. I have visited 7 of these shops, with only Asagaya remaining! Directions from the station: When you exit Hamadayama Station, turn right and walk towards the Mitsubishi Tokyo UFJ Bank. Turn right before the bank and cross the railroad crossing. The restaurant will be on your left after a short walk. It's about a 2-3 minute walk from the station. What I ordered: - Beef tripe stew ¥450 - Chives and konjac stew ¥380 - Potato salad ¥300 - Horse mackerel fry ¥480 - Chicken karaage ¥400 - Tuna sashimi ¥800 - Bean sprout kimchi (price unknown) - Complimentary edamame - Sanbo bottle ¥1800 The restaurant offers a variety of homemade dishes, and the menu is extensive. The atmosphere is welcoming, with both counter and table seating available. I had a great time chatting with the owner, who kindly shared information about the shop and even provided complimentary edamame. It's a lovely place to enjoy authentic homemade dishes, and I highly recommend it for both solo diners and groups. The only regret I have is missing out on the beef tripe skewers!

It's been a while since I joined Team Wadaya (TWD). This time, our target is the Hamadayama store in Suginami-ku. What is your impression of Hamadayama? For me, it's the neighborhood where Kimutaku and the Yokozuna brothers used to be close. However, I found an article online that said, "Hamadayama, the town where Porsches are the most popular in Japan." It seems like even luxury apartments are selling well there. It's a high-end residential area, so public urination is definitely out of the question (laughs). Jokes aside, we gathered at Wadaya, the friend of the common people who can't afford Porsches or luxury apartments. The location is great, just a 2-3 minute walk from the underground exit of the Inokashira Line. The interior of the restaurant is spacious with mostly counter seats, welcoming solo diners. On this day, there were 10 of us from TWD and the Suginami South & Setagaya North Reviewer Union. We pushed some tables together for a fun feast. Here's what we ordered: Beef tripe stew, leek and egg, potato salad, horse mackerel fry, chicken karaage, tuna sashimi, and bean sprout kimchi. It was a hoppy-only party from start to finish (laughs). Everyone who joined this time loves hoppy. With the number of people, both the shochu bottles and hoppy disappeared at an incredible speed (laughs). The stew, potato salad, horse mackerel fry, and chicken karaage were delicious. The stew was rich and tasty, I thought it was pork but it turned out to be beef tripe. The horse mackerel fry was crispy and easy to eat as it was fried in three pieces. The chicken karaage had a strong flavor, with juicy and tender chicken thigh meat. Hoppy goes well with fried foods. It was around 9 pm, time to close the first place. It was a pleasure to meet everyone for the first time and join the enjoyable feast with TWD members. A special thanks to the organizer who generously contributed a bottle of shochu out of their own pocket. Thank you very much. Now, with our engines running at full throttle, the 10 of us, some stumbling (just me?), headed to the next place. Thank you for the meal.

I usually read the "Shukan Bunshun" magazine, and there is an essay by Jun Miura titled "Life is Erotic" that starts with "Two-thirds of my life have been spent thinking about dirty things." It seems that not everyone is like that. However, birds of a feather flock together, and people with similar interests can find each other in this world. Life is fun. A gathering is planned at TWD (Team Wadaya) in Hamadayama, with Caboto-san, Papi-san, and Raa-san being invited. Another essential member, Heavy Chin Raa-san, is sent a threatening message to join. Miura-san, a mutual acquaintance and mahjong friend, is also invited. The night begins with a pre-party at Mata Tabi House before heading to Wadaya. The group is almost complete when they arrive. Along with familiar faces, new members Caboto-san, Raa-san, and Torokichi-san are also present. Torokichi-san's presence is felt strongly, and the group raises a toast to celebrate the meeting. The small restaurant struggles to keep up with the large group of ten. Caboto-san takes charge as the host for the night, handling everything smoothly, even managing to discuss erotic topics calmly. Raa-san, on the other hand, finds himself in a tough spot in front of Torokichi-san, who can outwit him easily. The food ordered includes beef tripe stew, leek and egg, potato salad, horse mackerel fry, chicken karaage, tuna sashimi, bean sprout kimchi, and complimentary edamame. The reviewer admits to not remembering much about the food or even what he ate, but he assumes it was delicious. The group enjoys shochu prepared by Caboto-san, who also gifts a bottle of local shochu. The night ends with a lively atmosphere, and the group decides to move on to the next restaurant.

TWD is not a pro wrestling organization, but rather a team called Team Wadaya. Tonight, they made an appearance in Hamadayama. A local celebrity was in charge of organizing the event. The restaurant was long and narrow, with three tables pushed together. We enjoyed a toast with hoppy. The homemade potato salad was delicious. The tuna sashimi was standard and easy to eat. The aji fry was possibly not tried by everyone. The verdict on the negi tamago is eagerly awaited. The generous amount of negi suggests it may be authentic. There was also chicken karaage available. I struggle with reviewing during gatherings as I get caught up in conversation and forget about the food. The background music started with "The Savage" and continued with nostalgic tunes, which was enjoyable. The host diligently poured drinks and I'm curious about their risque jokes. Thank you very much to the host and everyone who joined. And thank you to the restaurant. Bon appétit.