Went to Ichinomiya with friends for a year-end party. The must-try dish here is the makacon! We also ordered various skewers, all of which were delicious. Finished off with soba noodles. Thank you so much for the feast!ありがとうございます☆

Today's drinking party: What was supposed to be a casual drink with drinking buddies on the weekend turned into more than expected. Our target was the second bar, "Torikoya," but before that, we decided to have a light drink at this nearby shop near Tonjo Station. - Three-color Namul (385 yen): Carrot, bean sprouts, and spinach namul. Lightly seasoned with Korean seaweed sprinkled on top. - Motsu Nabe (605 yen): A stew of intestines, konjac, and tofu in a soy sauce base. The flavors were well infused and delicious. - Boiled egg and char siu (418 yen): A snack similar to ramen toppings. Lightly seasoned and tasty. - Grilled salted tongue skewers x2 (330 yen): Crispy texture with a good match of salted green onion sauce. - Otoshi (275 yen): You can choose from two types, so we tried both. It was macaroni salad and konjac. - Red Star large bottle beer (660 yen) and Vice sour (set 670 yen, medium 253 yen). - My drinking buddies had Shari Kin Hoppy (473 yen) and Mega Square Highball (638 yen). The menu is extensive, and I thought it was a great izakaya where even one person or a few people can enjoy. Thank you for the meal.

I visited the popular izakaya "Ichinomiya" located along the main street (Hongou Akabane Line) about a 2-minute walk from the north exit of JR Sakikyo Line Jujo Station in late November. The restaurant has a total of 40 seats, including counter seats and table seats. I chose to sit at the end of the counter. I started with an "Ulong High" (380 yen) and ordered the stew as the otoshi. However, it seemed like they forgot about me sitting at the end, as the otoshi did not come and my order was not taken until about 10 minutes later. The stew was well-cooked and the meat was tender, but it was a bit salty for my taste. For snacks, I ordered "tongue," "cartilage," and "heart" (each 120 yen) for grilling. They were all delicious and cost-effective. The food was so tasty that it made me drink more, and I ended up having a second Ulong High. Next, I ordered the "beef harami" (280 yen) for grilling, which had a delicious aroma of garlic soy sauce. It was also very delicious and I finished it quickly. I ended the meal with the "Lemon Sour" (380 yen) from the specialty izakaya menu. Overall, it was a satisfying meal. Thank you.

I arrived a little after 8:30 PM on Wednesday. I stopped by this place while passing by for a second drink. I ordered three lemon sours and some negima skewers. The lemon sours were served in glasses that kept them nice and cold. The skewers were delicious too. It's also easy on the wallet. This is a great place!

The restaurant was bustling with locals, with some individuals arriving early and groups coming in later, adding to the lively atmosphere. We were greeted warmly and seated by a friendly customer at the counter. The drink menu was diverse, offering rare Japanese sake, shochu, original sours, and even Beaujolais. I ordered a barley lemon drink, which was generously poured with plenty of ice, perfect for someone like me who is not used to strong alcohol. The duck appetizer was a great start, setting high expectations for the rest of the meal. The grilled gizzard sashimi was a delightful combination of flavors, while the bell pepper and whitebait stir-fry was a refreshing dish. The raw liver was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and the cartilage skewer had a nice crunchy texture. The pea shoot salad was a standout, with a delicious sesame oil dressing. Unfortunately, the grilled gizzard with leek and lemon did not meet my expectations, as it was not a stir-fry dish as I had anticipated. The tripe hot pot, however, was overflowing with tender tripe in a flavorful and refreshing broth. The chef seemed to be working alone, which resulted in some delays in food preparation, but added to the authentic atmosphere of the place. The owner, although quiet, seemed dedicated to his craft.

I fell in love with the addictive taste of the macaroni and corned beef. Everything I ordered was delicious, but I couldn't resist going back for 3 helpings of the macaroni and corned beef at the end. It was that good!

The atmosphere was like that of an izakaya. It was great that the food was served quickly.

After leaving "Motsuyaki Goen," I wandered around the station front in Oji until I stumbled upon this place! The red lantern of "Hoppy" caught my eye, so I quietly opened the door and entered. The atmosphere inside was lively, with some party guests present. A lady carrying a child came to take our order. I started with a "Hoppy White" for 430 yen and the menu featured "Kinmiya" shochu. The appetizer was "Mekabu Hiya Yakko," a simple dish of tofu topped with seaweed and bonito flakes. It was delicious and seemed like it had a little extra effort put into it. While enjoying the appetizer, I decided to try the recommended "Firefly Squid Pickled in Seawater" for 300 yen. It was a normal dish of firefly squid with plenty of grated radish underneath. The salty taste of the squid paired well with the mildness of the radish. I also ordered the "Yakiton Assorted 5 Skewers" for 580 yen, which included skewers of tsukune, cartilage, chicken thigh, chicken neck, and tongue. Each skewer was cooked to perfection and had a light, fluffy texture. Even the tsukune, which was pre-made, tasted surprisingly delicious. I also had a refill of "Kinmiya" for 230 yen, which was a generous pour. Kinmiya offers both a sharp and mellow version, so you can choose according to your preference. Overall, it was a satisfying meal. Thank you for the delicious food.

I visited a yakitori restaurant with a sign girl near the west exit of Jujo Station, walking towards Ikebukuro and crossing the main street. It was around 9 pm on a weekday. The restaurant was about 70% full with customers. The staff were all young and there were many of them. They were also kind to the elderly. I started with a beer, which was Asahi. They also had Hoppy with shochu. The dishes were quite elaborate. The appetizer was black soybean miso, which was delicious. The gatsu sashimi was shiny and plump, with a strong sesame oil aroma and vinegar miso sauce, which was very good. The kobukuro was chewy, while the shiro was thick and old-fashioned, making it hard to chew. They were both delicious. The nankotsu was carefully prepared with the cartilage removed, making it easy to eat. It was a very polite and delicious restaurant. I watch Kitaro's show, but I didn't know this place was featured. I wanted to meet Nishijima-san.

Opened in 2014, this yakitori and yakiton izakaya is located in the same place where there used to be Donsan Musume Ramen, near both the Minami and Kita exits of Jūjō Station, about the same distance from both exits. I heard that they serve "Sharikin" here, so I decided to visit. When it was Donsan Musume, the entrance was narrow and it was hard to see inside, but now there is a kitchen and counter seats on the right side, and table seats on the left side. There are also table seats at the back right, which you can't see from outside, making the place surprisingly spacious. I visited around 6 pm on a weekday. About 20% of the seats were already taken, but being a Friday, it quickly became almost full. On this day, I had: - Otoshi (appetizer) x3 250 yen each - Macaroni Corned Beef 300 yen - Mentaiko Potato Cheese Yaki 450 yen - Yakitori and Yakitori (total of 6 pieces) ? - Motsu Nabe 550 yen - Miso Kyu 350 yen - Mapo Tofu ? - Shirokoro Hormone Yaki 480 yen - Niku Tataki Kushi 250 yen - Draft Beer (Premium Malt) 480 yen - Sharikin Vice Sour Set 380 yen each - Sharikin Lemon Sour Set 380 yen each - Umeboshi Sour 480 yen - Kanamiyaki Shochu bottle - Green Tea (with Gyokuro) 250 yen (for Shochu mix) I might have ordered more, but I got drunk halfway through and my memory is fuzzy. "Sharikin" is frozen Kinmiya shochu mixed with other drinks. Since the shochu itself is frozen, unlike regular sours, the drink doesn't get diluted by ice and the glass is filled with the drink, making it a somewhat frightening drink. Sharikin comes in three flavors: Vice, Lemon, and Umeboshi. The Vice and Lemon mixers are called Kodama Sour. Although there were options for Nak (shochu ice) and Soto (mixer), I ordered the set as it was easier. It was very easy to drink, and I lost track of how many I had. The appetizer was a choice between oden and fried liver. The oden was a bit light in flavor, but the liver was tender and tasty. The Niku Tataki Kushi looked like meatballs, but they were made from roughly chopped meat, giving them a unique texture. The Mapo Tofu was not on the menu, but it was recommended by the staff. It was more like tofu with a sauce than traditional mapo tofu, with a spicy kick from the chili pepper. The dishes overall were slightly underseasoned, but I preferred that to overly strong flavors. Despite the lively atmosphere, the staff were friendly and the service was good. I ended up drinking too much with my friend, and when another friend joined us later and ordered a bottle, I completely overdid it and wasted the next day. The restaurant was busy but had a pleasant atmosphere. Thank you for the meal.

September 2015 - I'm not sure how many times I've visited, but it had been about a year since my last visit. I had the grilled pork here again after a long time, and I must say it was delicious. Since then, I have been coming here every week and even bought a bottle. The recent hit dish is the "Grilled Pork with Soy Sauce". The texture and the savory burnt soy sauce flavor make it a heavenly taste. I also really enjoy the simmered dishes. Even the half size is enough for one person, and I like that it's not too heavy and has just the right amount of vegetables. I highly recommend trying the signature "Shiro Soy Sauce" skewers. October 2014 - This restaurant used to operate in Itabashi, but it has relocated to Jujo and reopened with a new look. (The restaurant was highly rated in Itabashi, so I think it's beneficial for both the restaurant and users of food review websites to update the relocation information as soon as possible.) Unfortunately, I couldn't visit the Itabashi location (it was closed right after the move), but I visited the newly reopened Jujo store for the first time. The interior is new and clean, which feels refreshing. The counter is cozy and welcoming, which I like. The place was packed with customers enjoying their meals. However, the staff seemed a bit inexperienced and unreliable, but it's understandable. As for the grilled offal, it was cooked just right, and I had no complaints, just like the reviews from the Itabashi days. The side dishes are also varied and tasty. However, the prices in Jujo seem a bit higher, and there are fewer options for HOPPY. After ordering Set 1, I ended up ordering 4 extra glasses of HOPPY. There was a mistake in the bill, as the HOPPY Set is ¥430, but they calculated it as HOPPY Outside ¥250 + Inside ¥230 = ¥470. This is not acceptable. The bill should be checked by the owner or someone experienced. I hope to see improvements in the future.

Summary: A yakitori restaurant in Jujo that showcases exceptional talent, comparable to Akimoto-ya. Their Shari Kin Lemon for under 400 yen is rare! Must-try dishes include macaroni corned beef, white soy sauce, and meat tataki skewers. For me, Jujo Station used to be just a transit point on my way to Saitama-ya in Higashi-Jujo. While most people take the route via Akabane to transfer to the Keihin-Tohoku Line to get to Higashi-Jujo Station from Ikebukuro, I do things differently. When heading to Saitama-ya, I don't go all the way to Akabane. I get off at Jujo Station and walk to Saitama-ya. It may require a bit of walking and energy, but the time taken is similar and the train fare is slightly cheaper. In the vicinity of Jujo Station, there was a remarkable restaurant. I regret not discovering it sooner. In conclusion, while their skewers may slightly fall short compared to Akimoto-ya, when considering drinks and side dishes, this restaurant competes well with Akimoto-ya. The reviews and reputation of this restaurant have not done justice to its true capabilities. It's a shame. Jujo's "Ichinomiya" is a gem I found after a long time apart from the Akimoto-ya chain. It's conveniently located within a 5-minute walk from Jujo Station. The interior is clean and tidy, with a standard izakaya layout. The counter seats around 10, and there are table seats for about 30, accommodating around 40 people in total. The atmosphere is bright with strong lighting. The operation is handled by the owner and 3 staff members, with the owner being a skilled craftsman. The service is appreciable, though the staff's proficiency is still developing. Their lemon sour and Shari Kin Lemon are well-prepared. The restaurant also offers a variety of sake, including Dassai, which is a first for me in a yakitori place. The simmered tripe, available in half portions, was a bit bland and watery. The macaroni corned beef was delicious, with a perfect blend of flavors. The miso-mayo cabbage appetizer was refreshing. Overall, Ichinomiya in Jujo is a standout restaurant with great potential, despite being underrated compared to Akimoto-ya.

A relatively new restaurant that has opened recently, located near "Nonoya" and right next to the chain restaurant "Kaburaya" across the railroad crossing. Further down the line, there is "Wadaya" (which doesn't seem to focus on yakiton much), and in East Jujyo within walking distance, there are many yakiton restaurants lined up, making it a fierce battleground for yakiton similar to Higashi-Matsuyama. I entered as the first customer with my mouth watering. The appetizer included cabbage and simmered motsu. I wanted to try a little bit, and it's just right for drinking alone! The seasoning is similar to Kaga-ya, with a salty taste that goes well with alcohol. I ordered a Hoppy set for 430 yen and a refill for 230 yen. Recently, the price of Hoppy has been increasing rapidly. It used to be a drink for the common people... I want to show respect to the restaurants that still offer it in the 300 yen range. There was a daily special menu item, octopus and nanohana with spicy dressing (300 yen). As I'm getting older, I'm starting to appreciate vegetables like nanohana. I love octopus, so I'll snack on this while waiting for the grilled skewers. Enjoying the taste of spring with nanohana, and refreshing my palate with alcohol and mustard. The flow is nice, even though the taste is nothing special. The grilled skewers are priced at 120 yen each, which feels a bit expensive as I've gotten used to 90 yen or 100 yen prices. Nowadays, most places like "Akimoto-ya" offer skewers at 120 yen. Among them, I found a set of five skewers for 580 yen, so I ordered it. Sets are a good deal and allow you to appreciate the restaurant's sense. If it suits me, I'll be happy and come back again. I was surprised when five skewers were served at once. I can't eat five at once when I'm alone, so it was actually nice when they were served one by one. I'm being selfish, aren't I! The shiro and tsukune skewers were in sauce, while the cartilage and chicken neck with leek were salt-seasoned. All of them were well grilled. A small dish of mustard is served on the side, and like in Higashi-Matsuyama, miso is also available on the table. It's nice to be able to enjoy various variations. The tsukune was clearly a pre-made product, but overall, it was well done. But still, 120 yen... hmm. Although it wasn't on the menu, I found out from a wall poster that they also serve shari-kin (shark fin). Oops! I changed to shari-kin from the second glass. It became much richer! When I looked at the sashimi menu, there was liver sashimi for 430 yen, which was cheap, but it was chewy and had a strong "su" taste, with numerous holes like Emmental cheese (although not as big). Maybe it's because of the sesame oil that's poured all over it. I was impressed once again by the high quality of "Sumibi-ya". Well, maybe it's unavoidable due to procurement reasons. But I think I'll pass on the liver sashimi at this restaurant. I ordered a refill of shari-kin, and added salt-seasoned tongue and tomato rolls. The tomato rolls are wrapped with cherry tomatoes. It's a bit lacking in volume. The tongue was good, but 100 yen is the right price. Still, the shari-kin was so rich and flavorful. It was delicious, but in a fierce battleground, I want a bit more impact. The location attracted customers, but there were quite a few noisy ones. Maybe it was just a coincidence. I started to miss the quiet atmosphere of "Nonoya". It's nice to drink alone there, reading manga under the counter.

I visited a restaurant near a crossroads close to a station with my younger brother a while ago. Personally, I don't like going to chain izakayas. I prefer drinking at home over going to a chain izakaya. The restaurant was bright and clean, with friendly staff. We were seated and first ordered drinks. I've recently been into sake. My brother mentioned that this place has a wide variety of sake, and even if you don't know much about sake like me, the staff will help you choose based on your preferences. I like dry sake and dislike sweet sake and sake lees. Looking back, my order was quite nonsensical. For the first drink, I had Hidamari from Miyagi. It was delicious. For food, we had tongue sashimi and tsukune (chicken meatballs). The photo is of tongue sashimi, which was surprisingly good, even though I usually don't like liver. For the second drink, I had Yui no Yume from Ibaraki, which I also enjoyed. There are still many menu items I haven't tried, so I want to visit again soon. Next time, I want to bring my wife along.

I have been using Ichinomiya, which moved from Itabashi to Jujo, many times. I went there this time for the delicious skewers and variety of side dishes. When we arrived at the restaurant, we first ordered drinks. I had green tea, while my friend who loves sake got a recommendation from the owner and enjoyed a glass. The wide selection of sake makes it fun to try different kinds each time. The appetizer this time was spicy bean sprouts, but you can also choose cabbage or tomato soup. Then we had liver skewers and tongue sashimi, seasoned with sesame oil, salt, ginger, and garlic. It was delicious, especially when the tongue skin was grilled as a bonus. We also had a mixed skewer set with beef tendons, green onions, chicken meatballs, and white sauce. The beef harami skewers with a secret sauce are a must-try. I always order the macaroni corned beef side dish, and this time we had pasta as a finale - I chose the Neapolitan style. The al dente pasta and spicy Neapolitan sauce were a great combination. I wanted to have another drink even though it was the end of the meal. It was a fun and delicious experience once again. I ate too much, but I can't wait to come back with more people and try the beef tripe stew next time!

I have been curious for a while, and finally tried it out. I ordered a variety of skewers, motsunabe (tripe hot pot), and various a la carte dishes. The skewers were all delicious. The grilled shiso leaf was refreshing and new. While chicken breast and plum is a common combination, I was surprised by how well pork belly and plum went together. The grilling was also done perfectly. The motsunabe came in a huge portion, enough to satisfy two people with a mountain of ingredients in the pot! The a la carte dishes were all tasty as well. The macaroni corned beef had a rich flavor that I enjoyed. The meat sashimi dishes were also very delicious. I tried liver and tongue sashimi, and they were both extremely tasty. I would like to try different sashimi dishes next time. The selection of sake was also good, and I think the cost performance is high. This is a restaurant that I will definitely visit many times.