Hoards of drunk college students, homesick expats and longtime regulars converge at Village Yokocho, the yakitori joint that conceals one of New York’s first craft cocktail bars.
Hidden beneath a ramen joint inside of a shopping mall, the Horse’s Mouth—once discovered—is relatively straightforward. Drinks served at the long, narrow wooden bar are simple, usually fruit-focused, packed with…
Izakaya destinations run the gamut from dark, smoky joints underneath train tracks to hip, modern bars serving a mixed bunch of salarymen in suits, hipsters and old regulars. Regardless of…
Upon being seated, diners at Kudan—a favorite among sake aficionados—select a sake cup from a colorful selection of options presented in a basket. Oden, a staple winter hotpot of fish…
The skilled chef Kotaro Asakura marries seasonal seafood and sake at this upscale izakaya in Kumagaya, a residential neighborhood near Shibuya. While there are seats at the counter where Asakura works his magic, his workspace…
Yamariki, an institution dating back to 1924, is so popular that a line of hungry customers begin gathering outside about an hour before the shop opens. The signature dish here…
Down a side street and up a flight of stairs in the hipster neighborhood of Shibuya is Namikibashi Nakamura, a beacon of excellent cuisine and sake. Grab a seat at the…
Sasagin is an old-school izakaya joint popular with cigarette-smoking businessmen (a warning for any who are sensitive to smoke) nestled into bamboo-adorned space in a brick building that faces the train station.…
