[Ikebukuro Exploration Adventure Part 92] (Navigating through unavoidable shops, leading to a detour. 1/2) Today, I went on an adventure in Ikebukuro with my acquaintance senior as usual. My acquaintance senior was searching on YouTube, while I was using Tabelog to find a shop with Hoppy, which my acquaintance senior was eager to visit. We had visited some well-known and highly rated restaurants in Ikebukuro. However, there was one shop where a blunt old man was calling out customers in front of the shop, which I found a bit unpleasant. Despite trying to avoid it, the shop had surprisingly high ratings on Tabelog. So, we finally decided to visit "Benkei." We arrived at the shop at 17:45 and were greeted by another old man who seemed to take credit for bringing us in. We ignored the calling and were seated at the counter. We ordered the following items: - Hoppy Set x2 - Hoppy Naka x2 - Otoshi x2 - Grilled Squid x1 - Beef Tendon Stew Hot Pot x1 - Thick Fried Tofu Skewer x1 - Pork Belly with Garlic Miso Sauce Skewer x1 We started with a toast with white and black Hoppy. The refill of Hoppy Naka seemed a bit expensive. The portion was a bit small, maybe equivalent to one or two drinks. As the shop got busier, we finished the Hoppy and decided to end with a shochu. The Grilled Squid was delicious, especially the boiled one which was tender and flavorful. The Beef Tendon Stew Hot Pot was the highlight of the meal, tasting like Sukiyaki with tender beef tendon and vegetables. The Thick Fried Tofu Skewer was simple but tasty with salt. The Pork Belly with Garlic Miso Sauce Skewer had a nice combination of flavors. The Otoshi, a pickled vegetable appetizer, was a nice addition to the meal. My recommendation would be the Beef Tendon Stew Hot Pot, a must-try dish. Overall, the food was delicious. [Review Summary] - Tabelog Score: 3.26 - Smoking: Allowed - Paid by card this time. - The female staff on the floor was a bit blunt. - The loud laughter from the adults at the back table was a bit annoying. - The old man who called customers in seemed effective in bringing people into the shop. - The food was indeed delicious. [Rating] Overall: 3.2 Taste: 4 Service: 3 Atmosphere: 2.5]

The beer is served in a large glass, almost like a medium-sized pitcher. It's great for beer lovers! The menu also has a lot of dishes that seem perfect for those who enjoy drinking, and on this day, I had yakitori, firefly squid, and tuna. The service from the foreign staff is a bit intense, but it somehow adds to the experience! I will definitely go back!

I had a specific place in mind, but it was fully booked so I had to give up... However, Ikebukuro is a great place with lots of wonderful shops ⸜( ´ ꒳ ` )⸝♡︎ I decided to visit here on a whim ♡ ◉Food I had◉ - Mushroom tofu - Grilled chicken skewers set - Squid sashimi - Edamame - Horse sashimi - Potato foil bake - Potato fries - Dried pufferfish - Grilled rice ball The atmosphere inside the restaurant was very lively and casual, with friendly staff. I ordered the simple mushroom tofu with ponzu sauce and it was delicious! The grilled chicken skewers were cooked perfectly over charcoal, giving them a nice smoky flavor. The horse sashimi was lean and paired well with the crunchy onions. The dried pufferfish had a unique texture and intense flavor, which I found addictive. The grilled rice ball was crispy and tasty. Overall, even though it was a last-minute choice, I had a great time at this restaurant in Ikebukuro. Thank you for the meal! ( ⸝⸝•ᴗ•⸝⸝ )੭⁾⁾

Benkei. The name may sound high-class, but it's actually a favorite casual pub. I don't go every time, but I like to visit during their happy hour. Draft beer and sours are only 200 yen! I think there's a limit of 2 drinks per person. This time, I tried something rare - "Iwashitadami." I mistakenly thought it was some kind of tataki, but it's actually dried young fish served with ginger soy sauce. It's a crispy and unique delicacy. I also had green onions and salted cabbage, along with my beer. Thank you for the meal.

The conversation about going for drinks with a customer led to the idea of a popular izakaya in Tokyo. We were discussing how there aren't many affordable options when suddenly we noticed a place advertising 200 yen for a draft beer. We decided to go there, and it turned out to be a great choice. We sat at the back and ordered three draft beers, which came with dried radish appetizers. We ordered various dishes, including shishito peppers, horse sashimi, yakitori, negima skewers, fish collar, and squid legs. We must have ordered more, but I don't remember. We also had highball drinks throughout the night. The bill came out to just over 20,000 yen. I wonder how much we actually drank that night.

I was looking for a restaurant in Ikebukuro, but couldn't find one. Then I happened to peek into Benkei and saw that the counter seats were available, so I entered and was seated. It made me think that the god of izakaya was watching over. There were four young men at a table in front of me, two of them smoking, and the smoke was bothering the women sitting in front of them. I almost wanted to leave before ordering. Finally, a middle-aged woman came to take our order, looking very irritated due to the busy crowd. I ordered a draft beer, but she asked, "What size?" and seemed annoyed when I asked for clarification. I ordered a small draft beer and today's appetizer, but I was surprised to find out that the advertised beer for 200 yen was actually for a small size. The small appetizer and probably not chilled small draft beer were served, making me feel uneasy. Then an older man was seated next to me, and I felt disappointed being sandwiched between him and the smokers. The smokers accidentally broke a bottle of shichimi spice, causing a mess on the floor. The middle-aged woman scolded the young customers, saying, "Don't make more work for me when I'm busy." The mess was quickly cleaned up, but it made me question the hygiene of the place. When I asked for the bill, I was charged 2,000 yen for the mediocre food and poorly poured beer. I wanted to question the bill, but I was afraid of a confrontation. It's a shame because this used to be a good restaurant where I enjoyed delicious yakitori courses in the past, but in recent years, it has turned into a disappointing place with no spirit. Very disappointing.

There is a street with many restaurants lined up when you come out of the west exit of Ikebukuro and head towards the north exit. I think this is the most prosperous restaurant street in Ikebukuro. On this day, I walked around looking for a place without a specific destination in mind. As I passed by this particular restaurant, I saw a sign that said "200 yen draft beer". Without checking how many drinks I needed to order with food, I decided to enter. The atmosphere of the place was very traditional and cozy, which I liked. I sat at a table and ordered the 200 yen draft beer. It was served in a slightly smaller glass than a regular draft beer, but for 200 yen, it was a great deal! I enjoyed the cold beer while eating dishes like simmered food and mozuku seaweed, which were light and tasty. The food was also quite delicious. The 200 yen draft beer was limited to 2 glasses, so I ordered a regular draft beer afterwards. The prices of the dishes seemed a bit high considering the retro Showa era atmosphere, but the casual vibe made it worth it. I spent a little over an hour drinking and left feeling satisfied.

I visited for a quick 30-minute meal. The appetizer was shredded yam. The Motsuni (simmered pork offal) was priced at 580 yen, and the assorted pickles were priced at 480 yen. The shredded yam with wasabi and soy sauce was a great combination. The Motsuni contained pork offal, daikon radish, carrots, konjac, burdock root, and leeks - a typical mix. The offal was well simmered and had a strong soy sauce flavor. It was a bit disappointing that it was served cold. The assorted pickles included turnip, cucumber, carrot, Q-chan (a type of radish), and tsukemono (pickled vegetables). The turnip was sweet, the cucumber was a bit too salty from the pickling liquid. The carrot had just the right amount of pickling. Q-chan was lightly salty with a hint of spiciness. The tsukemono had a delicious smoked flavor. Despite only spending 30 minutes and 2200 yen, the meal was well-prepared. Good job to the chef!

I discovered a delicious izakaya in the drinking district near Ikebukuro West Exit! The homemade pickles were particularly outstanding, I finished them in an instant. The specialty yakitori is served in a mini-course style and is reasonably priced. I also had the sashimi, which included flounder and tuna, both of which were delicious. If you are looking for a comprehensive izakaya in Ikebukuro, this is a must-visit. Highly recommended. Thank you for the meal!

A nostalgic restaurant with a retro feel, run by an older couple and their staff. The menu offers traditional dishes like yakitori, simmered dishes, and horse sashimi. The food is average in taste and the prices are not particularly cheap. The clientele is mostly elderly. It's a place where you can experience a sense of nostalgia. However, I wonder how they will adapt to changing customer preferences in the future.

Met up with a drinking buddy for a casual catch-up at this authentic pub near Ikebukuro West Exit. It had been about 10 years since we last saw each other. We started off with a refreshing glass of draft beer - cheers! The appetizers we ordered included crab miso, dried fish, and simmered dish. The crab miso came with cucumber bruschetta, a simple but enjoyable combination. It wasn't high-end crab miso, but it was good enough to savor without worries. We quickly finished our beers and switched to Hoppy. The dried fish was a unique offering that you don't see often. It had a crispy texture and rich flavor. The simmered dish was light and the radish soaked up the flavors nicely. Thank you for the meal. This place is a gem for authentic and affordable pub dining in Ikebukuro West Exit!

The female staff, who are like mothers in aprons, work here. The miso soup was made from scratch and tasted really good. It felt like coming to a lively izakaya. It was crowded but had a great atmosphere. I would like to go again.

A shop suitable for quickly having a drink in a short time. Smoking is allowed, so the inside of the shop is smokey. Thank you for the meal.

Sashimi assortment on August 9, 2021 ⭐︎3.6. I visited around 2:20 PM on a holiday Monday. It's a grateful restaurant that still serves alcohol during the pandemic. The prices are a bit high, but I guess it's because it's in Ikebukuro. The sashimi assortment included chopped tuna (with some medium fatty tuna), squid sashimi, and fresh bonito. The fresh bonito was quite delicious.

Smokers seem to feel relieved in this kind of shop. "You can smoke at your table."

The work is done properly, okay. The prices are set relatively high. I was lured by the service drink. It might be good for killing time. You have to mention the service drink first, otherwise the old lady pretends not to know and charges you. Be careful, it's dangerous.

At night, beer and sour drinks are only 200 yen! This cozy restaurant offers good value for money, delicious food, and a friendly atmosphere. It's a place I'd like to come back to with close friends.

- Kirin Ichiban Shibori draft beer is quite delicious. I felt a lingering aroma that chases after the bitterness of the beer. It seems like the beer here is well preserved or the beer tap is cleaned properly, unlike in some other places where the beer might taste bad due to neglecting the cleaning of the tap.