Top 5 Family-Friendly Izakaya in Tokyo

As with the drinks, your orders will usually be restricted to the cheaper items on the menu, although some places have tiered options. If you order anything outside the tabehōdai items, it will add extra to your bill. Waiters 多摩センター 居酒屋 at izakaya are often quite knowledgeable about the different saké and shochu options on the menu. Typically, the waiter will ask if you prefer your drinks to be amakuchi or karakuchi before giving you a recommendation.
There are many kinds of alcoholic beverages available here, but shochu is by far the best choice for pairing with the motsunabe. A Japanese-style bar with a new sensation by the Jill Group, which handles the popular restaurant "Public Bistro Jill" in Meguro. The inside of the store has a mature atmosphere, and you can enjoy a live atmosphere at the large U-shaped counter. The most popular item on the menu is the meat tofu, which is made by simmering silken tofu with Japanese black beef Akita beef for a long time.



An izakaya where you can enjoy dishes made with seasonal ingredients. They use seasonal vegetables and meat procured from specialty stores, and offer a wide variety of original dishes. The specialty, "Satsuma Chiran Chicken Goteyaki," is fragrant and juicy, and is excellent. They also have a wide variety of alcoholic beverages such as sake and shochu. A popular restaurant where you can feel the spirit of hospitality that is excellent in both taste and service. Some izakaya specialize in fish or meat while others may feature regional favorites.
Beyond the deep fried stuff, Lanterne also has beautifully plated seasonal dishes that are wholesome and flavourful in equal measure. With items like fresh-from-the-farm salads and mackerel carpaccio dressed in olive oil, this casual restaurant is one worth dressing up for. The pièce de résistance here, however, is the succulent grilled chicken leg, which the staff will slice into bite-sized pieces for you at your table. Ask the staff to take the remaining chicken and juices back to the kitchen and use them to whip up some garlic fried rice topped with spring onions to finish your meal. Hokkaido Area The island of Hokkaido is home to wide-ranging produce of the finest quality, such as rice, meat, vegetables, fish and fruit.

The chef has personally sampled and approved all the sake offered here, another contributing factor to this spot's popularity. Various local fish specialities are meticulously crafted to pair well with sake, and a particularly famous dish here is the , which must be ordered in advance. Squid and vegetables are added to a soup that utilizes a fish sauce made from squid innards. Coarsely grated daikon is also blended in for sweetness, and this dish is sure to warm you from the inside. Furthermore, the , directly delivered from Kumamoto, which is where the chef if from, has a phenomenal balance of red meat and fat.
The beef tendon nikujaga, which is also a specialty, has a rich and deep taste, with the umami of meat added to the soup stock that is added every day. One of the reasons for its popularity is the friendly service of the owner. This is a restaurant where you can enjoy local cuisine that makes the most of Kyushu ingredients.
Known for that famous Kill Bill scene, Gonpachi is a popular izakaya with surprisingly affordable prices. The Edo-era themed restaurant will take you out of the 21st century and into Japan’s aesthetic heyday, complete with lanterns, street scenes and crowds. Hopefully somewhat less eventful for your visit than the scene that made it famous, you’ll be surprised by the decent drinks prices and average to good food. Previously awarded a Bib Gourmand for its affordable but exceptional quality, Sasagin offers a variety of carefully selected nihonshu. While the sake menus are available in English, the food specials are not, but ask for the hosts for osusume and you’re sure to get something delicious. Located in Yoyogi-Uehara, you’ll escape the crowds of inner-Tokyo for a more sophisticated evening of drinking.

Izakaya often leave a running tab of the bill or some sort of token at the table. When ready to leave, take the token or the bill and go to the cash register near the exit to pay. At smaller or more traditional izakaya the tab might be kept with the staff, and they will tally your bill when you are ready to pay. At some izakaya, diners are required to remove their shoes at the entrance or near their table. If there are shoe lockers by the entrance, remove your shoes and place them into your locker of choice.
We've compiled a list of 10 of the best izakaya in Tokyo, so you can have the best izakaya experience in Tokyo. There is a wide selection of carefully curated Japanese sake as well as beer, and the drink menu is available in English. Dishes are a cut above the typical grilled or fried izakaya fare – adventurous palates will appreciate the food here. From the outside, this warmly lit izakaya in the neighbourhood of Ikejiri-Ohashi looks like it might be a traditional bistro or wine bar. Lanterne’s menu, on the other hand, is full of Japanese pub favourites like karaage chicken, gyoza dumplings and potato salad, which have been given a gourmet twist. While karaage is often served with a side of mayonnaise and a lemon wedge, Lanterne tops its fried chicken with zesty grated daikon and a dash of shoyu.

With that said, here is an introduction to 14 carefully selected izakaya in Ikebukuro. If you’re after something to eat, the food menu offers 4 courses ranging from 1,100 yen, 2,200 yen, 2,750 yen, and 4,400 yen (all tax-inclusive). The most expensive 4,400 course comes with an ‘all-you-can-drink’ service. Having a thousand izakaya to choose from in Tokyo is great in one sense, but can also feel massively overwhelming. Luckily, we have a handy guide to help you choose between the myriad options, including chains , independents and themed izakaya . To get you started, here are a few of our all-time favorites.
There is no rule to follow when it comes to ordering food, but many diners traditionally conclude the meal with a rice or noodle dish. Izakaya tend to be lively with chatter and may not be suitable for a quiet, romantic dinner. Seating is commonly provided at Western-style tables, a counter, low tables on tatami or a combination of the aforementioned. Semi-private compartments or private rooms may also be available. Some izakaya enforce a time limit for how long customers can stay when it gets crowded over the weekends, which is typically two hours. Ikebukuro, similar to Shibuya or Shinjuku, is one of the bustling hubs of Tokyo.