Super reasonably priced lunch spot in Tobitakyu. Lunch is quite filling and prices range from 700-900 yen. Had the kaki-fry (fried oysters) and came with rice, miso soup, tsukemono (pickled vegetables), cabbage and egg. A ton of food for the price and all very good.

NOTE: No or limited English at this place. Food is inexpensive and decent quality. The atmosphere is that classic old school Japanese restaurant feel. Compared to other local options, this place has charm and flavor that others lack.

This is about my ６th visit now. The reasons I keep coming back are: ①The warmth of the staff, like eating at my grandparents’ house in the countryside. ②Although it’s an izakaya, they have various set meals that really fill you up. ③Home-style flavors at low prices. (The restaurant was featured on 吉田類の酒場放浪記) Those are the reasons I keep returning. There were about 13 customers already there when I entered. (2 groups of 4, 2 groups of 2, and 1 solo customer) The owner asked, “Hungry again today? Will you have a set meal?” It really feels like being at my grandparents’ house in the countryside. Items ordered (prices before tax) ◯Lemon sour (¥400) ◯Grapefruit sour (¥400) ◯Kyoho sour (¥400) ◯Tonkatsu set meal (¥800) ◯Menchi-katsu (¥450) ◯Homemade gyoza (¥500) ◯Vinegared mozuku (¥280) Total:¥3,608 (including tax) The total seems to be 50円 (55円 including tax) too high, but sometimes in the past it has been a little lower than the total—perhaps a courtesy discount?—so I let it go. ・The various sours The usual ordinary flavors, but for some reason the grapefruit sour I had as my ２nd drink was stronger. (A welcome thoughtful touch) ◆Tonkatsu set meal ・Rice As usual, it’s piled manga-style in a large rice bowl. (A welcome thoughtful touch) It’s cooked slightly soft. Unless that has changed, the rice is from Niigata, so it’s quite tasty. I ate the remaining rice with raw egg. ・Miso soup White miso soup with a pronounced bonito stock. Plenty of wakame, long green onion, and tofu. The green onion tasted and felt as though it had been added just before the heat under the soup pot was turned off, preserving its flavor. Delicious. ・Tonkatsu It tastes like domestically raised pork. It’s not luxury pork on the level of chateaubriand, but it’s not cheap meat either—standard loin. It’s on the thin side. Spread Western mustard on top and pour on the sauce, and it has a delicious home-style flavor. (On a personal note, it tastes just like the tonkatsu my maternal grandmother made.) The shredded cabbage on the side is fresh and crisp as always, with a mayonnaise-like dressing, a generous portion, and a lovely taste. ・Pickles The ubiquitous commercial-style pickles: キュウリのキューちゃん and yellow takuan. ・Menchi-katsu This is the restaurant’s signature dish. I’ve ordered it many times before. The outside is fried crisp, while the ground meat inside is coarsely textured and contains plenty of onion. The mince inside is soft, thoroughly cooked, and brings out the savory flavor of the meat. The menchi-katsu is fairly large. Among home-style menchi-katsu, I think it’s delicious enough to rank in my top ５. The shredded cabbage has the same portion and flavor as in the tonkatsu set. ・Homemade gyoza Since the ground meat in the menchi-katsu is delicious, wouldn’t pan-fried gyoza made with ground meat be delicious too? That’s why I ordered them. The dipping sauce is chili oil, vinegar, and soy sauce. There are ５ fairly large gyoza. The surface is browned, with plenty of ground-meat filling inside. They’re carefully wrapped, with no torn wrappers. There’s plenty of garlic chive, but I don’t think there’s much garlic. The flavor holds its own against gyoza at neighborhood Chinese restaurants. They’re not bursting with meat juices, but have a straightforward, old-fashioned homemade or neighborhood Chinese pan-fried gyoza flavor. Everyone has their own gyoza preferences, but I personally find them delicious. (They resemble the pan-fried gyoza my paternal grandmother made.) Incidentally, even if a dish isn’t listed as a set meal, there’s a set option (rice, miso soup, raw egg, and pickles for ¥300), so you can combine it with your preferred side dish to make a set meal. ・Vinegared mozuku Quite ordinary vinegared mozuku, though slightly sweeter than usual. Apparently the components of vinegar become alkaline inside the body and sober you up. I ordered it thinking I might be sober by the time I took the train home, which would be just right. Payment is cash only. The total seems to be 50円 (55円 including tax) too high, but sometimes in the past it has been a little lower than the total—perhaps a courtesy discount?—so I let it go. Once again, I finished everything, full and satisfied. Thank you for the meal. Thank you very much.

+3

A beloved izakaya in Tobitakyu. Its broad menu and renowned sake catch the eye. Usually just one person handles the floor, so when it’s busy, such as on event days at Ajista, you sometimes can’t get the lady server’s attention no matter how long you wait. On weekdays, the neighborhood drinkers are usually there. It’s a relaxing place, but apparently also something of a hidden celebrity, having been used for drama and film shoots.

+1

23/11 Has the feel of a neighborhood izakaya/set-meal restaurant. Lots of objects connected to local boat racing and horse racing. Prices are affordable and the menu is extensive, so I don’t think I’d get bored. The food tasted carefully prepared and delicious. Makes me want to try other things. The server might be a family member? An older woman with a playful personality; I think the atmosphere is nice too.

+1