Hyperlocal Tokyo

## [Restaurant Name] - [Address] **Location:** ☆☆☆ Located a 2-minute walk east from Ningyocho Station. It's on the second floor of a three-story commercial building facing the Amazake Yokocho alley. **Layout & Interior Design:** ☆☆☆ After climbing up the narrow stairs, you'll find two 4-person tables and one 2-person table on the right, a 9-seat counter on the left, and the kitchen in front of it. The interior has a retro Japanese style, creating a relaxing atmosphere. **Operation & Ambiance:** ☆☆☆ The kitchen staff consists of two male chefs with a somewhat unapproachable demeanor, a woman who seems to be the manager, overseeing both the kitchen and service, and a female server and a male server, both with a gentle approach. The restaurant was lively with a diverse range of customers of different ages. The background music was soft piano jazz. **Food:** ☆☆☆☆ Since this was our second stop, we were looking for something light. There were several delicious-sounding sake options, so we ordered one. We also ordered the wasabi dish, which is the restaurant's namesake. The appetizer was a delightful surprise, featuring three different items: shellfish, fish roe, and a fish pate? Each had a unique flavor and was delicious. The wasabi dish had a sharp, tingling sensation and a satisfyingly crunchy texture. It was a unique and enjoyable Japanese culinary experience that you wouldn't find in other dishes. We then tried to order grilled fish, but they were all sold out for the day. We looked for other options, but the main dishes, like sashimi and fried food, seemed a bit heavy for our second stop, so we opted for a simmered dish. The dish featured lightly deep-fried taro root simmered with squid. The taro root had a crispy, thin skin on the outside and a moist, soft interior, creating a perfect balance. This type of finish is not typical for taro root and squid simmered together, and this extra step was the key to its deliciousness. The squid had a chewy texture with good elasticity, providing a nice contrast to the taro root. **Value for Money:** ☆☆☆ The value for money was decent. While the approach might be a bit intimidating and the space is narrow, the atmosphere is charming, and the skilled chefs create authentic Japanese cuisine, so the slightly higher prices seem justified. The chefs' skills are worth the price, so we'd like to come back as our first stop next time and try more dishes.

This was the ultimate destination on my Ningyocho tour. While the water eggplant and tuna cutlet were decent, the homemade satsuma-age was unforgettable. It was the best satsuma-age I've had, hands down.

A traditional Japanese-style izakaya in Ningyocho. I made a reservation for Friday at 8pm, but about 30% of the menu was already sold out. There are many items on the menu, but if you want to take your time choosing, I recommend making a reservation early. The interior has a bit of a Showa era feel, and although I ordered quite a bit of food, everything was delicious and just the right amount to get a nice buzz. The stairs are steep, so be careful going down, especially on the way out! I'll definitely go back again!

Tabelog Rating: 3.66 (424 reviews) Visited on a weekday evening in December 2023. It was our second stop for the night, and when we called at 8:50 PM, they said we could come in if we were okay with ordering from the last order menu. Based on other reviews, we ordered sashimi, which was highly recommended. We also got potato salad and oyster fritters. The potato salad was a unique presentation and had a refined flavor. The sashimi was absolutely delicious! I had been wanting to enjoy fresh sashimi with sake, and finally, my wish came true. The prices might be a bit on the higher side, but the taste was definitely worth it. As we were leaving, the staff kindly said, "Sorry you couldn't stay longer." I'll definitely come back here if I'm in the area on a business trip again. (^^)