Rumors abound about a certain izakaya where the owner trained, but it's hard to believe in many ways. The independent castle they run with their spouse is a cozy izakaya with a counter and standing room. It's located near Tobu Asakusa Station, and getting off the bus from there might be confusing if you're not familiar with the area. The neighborhood is unfamiliar to me, and I might pass by without knowing it's a drinking spot. The new building looks clean and fresh, and I hesitated before entering. I ordered some dishes and drinks, and they were all amazing. The fried horse mackerel was fried with its tail intact to maintain freshness, and it was delicious. The oyster fry used coarse breadcrumbs to lock in the flavor of the large oysters. The skewered cutlets were bite-sized and visually appealing. The thickly sliced bonito sashimi was tender and flavorful. The daily seafood recommendations were carefully selected and not your typical sashimi platter. The chicken hot pot was a hearty dish to enjoy between sips of sake. The master's wife's friendly service made me feel at home, and the master's skill as a craftsman was evident. I only visited once, but I'm already hooked. It's one of the best izakayas I've been to in recent years, with many regular customers. It's a local spot that tourists may overlook, so those who appreciate the limited but delicious menu will enjoy it. I have a few favorite spots, but this one stands out.

I visited this place before the Sumida River Fireworks Festival for a bite to eat! I enjoyed delicious snacks, beer, and freshly fried skewers, and I was very satisfied. The interior of the restaurant is small with a counter and standing seats. The friendly atmosphere of the staff is very comforting.

On a regular evening, my partner and I visited "Kanokozato" for the first time. The restaurant is located near the OK Hashiba store, and I had been curious about it every time I passed by. It was around 7:00 PM when we arrived, and the restaurant was almost full. Luckily, a table became available right after we entered, so we quickly took seats at the counter near the entrance. We started with drinks - I ordered a highball (440 yen) and my partner got a bottle of Sapporo Lager beer (550 yen). For food, we decided to go with the chef's choice sashimi platter (650 yen). The sashimi arrived promptly and was fresh and delicious. We also ordered a variety of deep-fried items which included shrimp, shiitake mushrooms, quail, pork belly, and horse mackerel. Everything was tasty, especially the shiitake mushrooms. Feeling hungry, we also ordered pickled ginger, lotus root, and additional vegetables. The atmosphere in the restaurant was lively, with many regular customers chatting like old friends. We eventually ran out of drinks and ordered a tomato highball (440 yen) for me and a draft beer for my partner (500 yen). We also ordered more vegetables and pickles to enjoy with our drinks. The tomato highball was rich and flavorful, and I enjoyed it so much that I started making it at home. The fried items, especially the leeks and garlic, were delicious. We left the restaurant feeling satisfied and happy, and we definitely plan to visit again. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I came across this restaurant while walking around the neighborhood looking to buy kimchi. It seems to be a pub specializing in deep-fried skewers. I decided to come here with my husband, who had just finished kendo practice and needed to be picked up from Tokyo Station and wanted to have a light drink. The area of Hashiba is like a remote island in the middle of the 23 wards of Tokyo with poor transportation access. You basically have to take a bus to get there. It's a place that my grandmother used to warn me not to go to when I had just gotten my driver's license, similar to the nearby Yamaya. Despite its location, the restaurant is clean and new. As seen on the menu, the prices are very affordable. The deep-fried skewers are nothing out of the ordinary, but the batter is very thin and the sauce is refreshingly not too sweet. There are some Kansai-style restaurants that use a sauce with licorice for sweetness, but I personally don't like that. The place is always busy, with customers constantly coming and going, and it's almost always full. However, there is no information about it online. If this was in Setagaya or Suginami, it would have been registered online a long time ago. Just a typical thing you find in downtown Tokyo.

I visited this restaurant twice. It seemed to have many regular customers due to its local atmosphere, and although I was a bit nervous at first, the place was actually very welcoming and easy to relax in. The deep-fried skewers were delicious, and although I initially ordered just three skewers, I ended up ordering more as I ate. Personally, I especially enjoyed the blue fish, oysters, and camembert tomato skewers. The batter was light, so I didn't feel heavy afterwards like I do at other skewer restaurants. They also had a variety of daily specials, sashimi, and a good selection of sake. Considering the taste for the price, I plan to visit this place regularly in the future.