Izakaya restaurants in Tokyo
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A
Tetsugen Nikusho
There's no shortage of bizarre (at least to a Western palate) delicacies on offer at Tetsugen Nikusho, which offers refined rustic yet sophisticated ambience in the heart of Tokyo. Depending on how brave (or drunk) you're feeling, you can sample a whole range of traditional Japanese meats including rabbit, boar, deer, horse and frog as well as a whole bunch of sea critter parts that don't really translate into English.
Sadly, there isn't an English menu on offer, though sometimes it's better not to know what you're eating.
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B
Toki-No-Ma
True to the Ebisu spirit, this izakaya is a class act. For your drinking pleasure, the attentive staff can recommend any number of limited-edition sakes, which change constantly depending on the season. For your eating pleasure, the attentive staff can recommend any number of unique dishes including satusma-ryouri (Kyūshū-style cuisine), wild game birds and a full assortment of seafood delicacies. Although there is no English menu, set courses are available if you can't speak Japanese.
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C
Hayashi
Ensconce yourself in your hori-kotatsu or on a log bench, drape a napkin made of kimono fabric over your lap, and pretend you’re somewhere in the Japan Alps. Kindly staff grill yakitori over irori (hearths) set into your table and serve it on rustic pottery while you swig shōchū from Kyūshū. It’s a great place to observe local salarymen and the occasional actor from the theatre down the street. It’s upstairs from Lotus Palace.
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D
Okinawa
If you’ve never been to the far-flung tropical islands of Okinawa, then this speciality izakaya will have you racing to the travel agent. Start things off with a cold Orion beer or a potent glass of awamori (Okinawan-style shōchū ), and then jump right into Okinawan staples such as gōya chanpū (sautéed bitter melon and egg), mimiga (pig ears), sōki-soba (Okinawan-style soba ) and rafutē (stewed pork belly with brown sugar).
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E
Seigetsu
Located in a district increasingly becoming dominated by chain pubs, this traditional izakaya is perfect for all of your dining and drinking needs, especially since there are on-call shōchū consultants to help you match your meal to your booze. Although there isn’t an English menu, the speciality here is charcoal-grilled meats and seasonal vegetables…not so difficult. It’s across the street from Café de Crie.
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F
Yappari Tako
Although Yappari Tako serves up the full complement of your standard izakaya offerings, the real reason you're here is to sample their speciality tako (たこ; octopus) dishes. If you're having hesitations about sucking down a few plates of tentacled titbits, the attentive staff will offer you a glass of the shōchū of the day in order to ease your inhibitions and relax your throat.
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G
Inakaya
You’re bombarded with greetings at the door, and the action doesn’t stop at this old-guard robatayaki (a place that grills vegetables, fish and meat to go beautifully with booze). It’s a party, it’s joyous, it’s boisterous – and that goes for the profusion of toothsome dishes as well as the attitude one must have when the bill arrives. Live large!
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H
Sakana-Tei
This unpretentious but slightly posh izakaya is a sake specialist much sought after by connoisseurs, and is good value for the quality. Though there's no English menu, you can point to dishes displayed on the counter, and start with a sampler set of sake. Call ahead for reservations, but turn off your mobile phone once you're in-house rules.
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I
Gompachi
The Glien Passage theme-park is home to every conceivable type of restaurant, though this traditional izakaya gets top marks for its sweeping views and delicious robatayaki (grilled skewers). There is an English menu here, though with wafting aromas of roasting meats, chickens, fish and seafood filling the air, it's not necessary to look at a menu to figure out what you want to eat.
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