Hyperlocal Tokyo

A truly exceptional establishment where both the cuisine and service are on a whole other level! When I found myself in Kinshicho looking for a place to drink, I stumbled upon "Inonaka" after much research. It's a popular spot that requires reservations, known for its exquisite balance of sake and cuisine. This time, I opted for the "Tono-sama Gaeru Course." My reservation was for 6 PM on a Saturday. The exterior was unassuming, and upon crossing the threshold, I was immediately guided to a U-shaped counter. The walls were adorned with photos and autographed posters of celebrities, with a particularly prominent picture of Takayasuzeki. We started with a celebratory beer! The appetizer was a generous set! It included braised hijiki seaweed, dashimaki tamago (rolled omelet), simmered bamboo shoots in a citrus sauce, and kinpira gobo (burdock root stir-fry), a collection of Japanese culinary staples, each with a delicate flavor that left a lasting impression. The next course was a savory, spicy vegetable stew served as a complimentary dish. It was incredibly delicious and heightened my anticipation for the dishes to come. The fish course featured fresh sashimi. The quality of the fish was exceptional, and its rich flavor exploded in my mouth, making it a perfect pairing with sake. But the next fish dish was something special. I was a bit tipsy and can't quite remember, but it was an amazing combination of vegetables and fish. It was actually the most delicious dish, but I was too busy trying to charm the woman next to me... The main course was a roasted chicken. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and the special sauce enhanced its flavor even further. It was a truly satisfying dish on its own. The real highlight of this establishment, however, is the exceptional service. The staff possesses extensive knowledge of sake and expertly recommends the perfect pairings for each dish. The efficiency and attentiveness of the female staff were also very pleasant, making the overall service quality top-notch. Inonaka is a truly exceptional establishment where both the cuisine and service are on a whole other level. I can't wait to return with friends for a casual meal.

I made a reservation and went, but it was full as soon as it opened. I recommend making a reservation if you go. It took a while for the first drink to come out. I think it took a while because it was full as soon as it opened. The food was normally delicious, and there was a wide variety of sake. However, I felt that both the food and the drinks were overall expensive. Personally, I didn't think it was affordable.

Amazing sake and accompanying dishes. I think you can't go wrong with anything you order. The sake tasting was fantastic, every single one was delicious. The fermented mackerel was incredibly tasty. The atmosphere of the restaurant is also top-notch.

The "Amagaeru" course for 3800 yen was truly packed with food. My companion insisted on ordering the "Heshiko" as an extra, and it was fantastic. They have a wide selection of delicious sake, but there's no all-you-can-drink option. The staff were also incredibly friendly and attentive. (^^)

We made a last-minute reservation for two people at 5 PM on a weekend, as we suddenly decided to go out with friends! The restaurant has a retro vibe with a frog as its mascot? There's one table outside, and inside there are counter seats and a raised seating area with a sunken hearth. We sat at the counter. **What we ordered:** ♢ Appetizer (curry-flavored soup) - ¥550 ♢ Pickles - ¥570 ♢ Chicken Thigh with Black Pepper - ¥1,300 ♢ Baked Camembert - ¥1,370 ♢ Deep-fried Tofu - ¥700 ♢ Sake Lees Ice Cream - ¥500 ♦︎ Lemon Highball - ¥570 ♦︎ Japan Mojito - ¥750 x 2 ♦︎ Ocha Highball - ¥570 x 5 First of all, the portions were generous! We thought the prices might be a bit high, but the quality justified the cost. Even the ice cream came in two scoops per serving! We saw a customer sitting alone nearby enjoying a dashimaki tamago (rolled omelet) that looked so delicious, we excitedly wanted to order one. The kind customer offered to share half of theirs with us (tears)! It was large, moist, and full of umami, making it the perfect accompaniment to our drinks. The staff were very friendly, and before we knew it, we had been drinking from opening to closing (laughs). We ended up spending around ¥10,000 per person. It might be better to go with a group of four if you want to try a variety of dishes! My friend told me it's a sake bar, but I had already had too much to drink the night before, so I opted for other drinks. Next time, I want to enjoy some sake! Thank you for the delicious meal!◎◎◎