Hyperlocal Tokyo

This izakaya is located in a building directly connected to Toyosu Station. I stopped by for a drink late one night. I was seated at a table. First, I had a draft beer. Since it was just a quick drink for two, we ordered two appetizers: dried mackerel and bonito sashimi. The bonito sashimi came out first. I don't usually order sashimi at izakayas, but this one was surprisingly delicious. It was served with garlic slices and soy sauce. It went well with the beer. Then came the dried mackerel. It was a large mackerel, and it was also quite tasty. Even though it was just a quick drink, I was able to enjoy some really good food.

As I glanced up at the intersection in Toyosu, I saw the words "Toyosu Sake Bar." This piqued my interest, so I wandered in. The interior was larger than I expected, and it was fairly lively. I managed to secure a table in the back with a sunken seating area. The selection of sake was decent, and the other sours were the usual lineup. However, what was interesting about this place was the wide variety of dishes. They had Chinese, Japanese, and other standard menu items, as well as a mix of Western and Japanese dishes. The taste was okay, nothing special, but the tables were spaced well apart, making it a comfortable place to relax. Overall, I think it's a good place to unwind.

Visited for lunch on a weekday. I had the seafood bowl for ¥1200 and my companion had the dan dan noodles for ¥800-900. The seafood in the bowl was of poor quality, and the dan dan noodles were on par with convenience store fare. The meals were served at an incredibly fast pace, likely to accommodate the lunch rush. Overall, it's a place for nearby salarymen who want to get their lunch over with quickly. The service was not particularly friendly, but I found it to be average. The restaurant is spacious and has a lot of sake bottles on display, which was exciting for a drinker like me.

Being one of the few izakayas in Toyosu Station, it's quite crowded even late at night. The capacity is quite large with tables and tatami seating. After your second order, you'll be asked to order via QR code on your smartphone. The menu is rich in seafood, as you'd expect from Toyosu. They have skewers and even some Chinese-inspired dishes, making it a typical izakaya chain menu. The appetizer was mozuku seaweed, and they have a good selection of sake and shochu. The deep-fried mountain yam was surprisingly delicious and went well with the drinks. The sashimi platter had fresh ingredients and was a good choice. However... the last order time is incredibly early. They took away all the food and drinks about 40 minutes before closing, and then forced us to pay within 10 minutes. We were then asked to leave about 15 minutes before closing (laughs). They don't seem to prioritize customer service. We were fine with just sitting and drinking, but honestly, we probably wouldn't go even if it were in our neighborhood. If you're lost and looking for seafood in Toyosu, it's an option.

This restaurant has some important things to note about dinner time. Initially, they only mention a 2-hour seating limit. However, in the evening, there's a ¥440 per person seating charge, and they require you to order at least one drink. You'll notice the seating charge when you order, but the drink requirement isn't explained until you're ready to order your food. (My noodles were soggy and overcooked.) Is this place even meant for dining anymore? Adding a mandatory drink after the fact is just asking for trouble. Someone could easily say, "You didn't tell me about this" or "I'm leaving." It's a shame because the food was really delicious.