Izakaya in Tokyo

10 places for Izakaya in Tokyo, picked by creators — with what they said.

• Miyazaki Shōten Annex — Japan by Food
  Famous for yakitori, but he said the fried chicken omurice served as a closer is also a signature dish, with the sweet-tangy ketchup making the perfect end to a night of drinking. He raved that the sasami with wasabi was 'tear-jerkingly good.'
  Heads up: The popular chicken breast sasami sells out fast, so you need to arrive before 5-6pm to order it. Orders are placed via QR code, and an English menu is available.
• 高丸電氣 — Paolo fromTOKYO
  Raved that the signature black vinegar oyster sauce yakitamago, with its chewy wood ear mushrooms, fluffy egg, and perfectly balanced sweet-and-sour sauce, was amazing — 'who knew an omelet could taste this good' — and also praised the crispy-outside, chewy-inside texture of the griddle-fried yakisoba.
  Heads up: There's no sign out front, making it hard to find on your first visit, and an otoshi (obligatory starter snack) is served.
• 丸鶏 るいすけ — 픽필름 pickfilm
  Said the chicken esophagus looks like tripe but is incredibly chewy and light, a must-try, and the signature charcoal-grilled whole chicken is great dipped in olive oil and shichimi.
  Heads up: Seating is limited, so by late hours only one seat might remain.
• Iroriya Higashiginzaten — Jack's Dining Room
  Raved that they pile on so much salmon roe it overflows the bowl and needs a plate underneath, and that the vibe of drinking beer while eating charcoal-grilled skewers felt like a "Japanese Oktoberfest."
  Heads up: Said the lively atmosphere of drinking beer and getting rowdy might not suit those looking for a quiet meal.
• 다루마 — 추성훈 ChooSungHoon
  Praised the overwhelming value of the massive 1.8L highball and the delicious Fukuoka-style soy sauce motsunabe and seasonal yellowtail sashimi.
  Heads up: When the restaurant is full, seating time is limited to 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Uokin Brewing — Paolo fromTOKYO
  Praised it as 'the best place for fresh fish and craft beer,' raving about the rich, clam-chowder-like croquette, the moist snow crab meat and crab paste, and the grapefruit-scented hazy IPA.
  Heads up: Advised that if you're planning to have more than two drinks, the all-you-can-drink craft beer deal for 1,500 yen per hour is a better value.
• 恵比寿横丁 — 추성훈 ChooSungHoon
  Raved that small, affordable izakayas are all packed into one building, and loved the vibe where you naturally end up sharing tables and chatting with the people next to you.
  Heads up: Said Sundays are quiet, while Friday and Saturday nights—especially around 9pm on Thursdays—are the busiest.
• 炭火焼鳥居酒屋 火乃酉（ひのとり） 新杉田本店 — 픽필름 pickfilm
  Said the prices were reasonable, the atmosphere was nice, and the owner was friendly, especially recommending adding cartilage for its great texture.
  Heads up: Seating is limited so walk-ins require luck, and ordering is done via QR code.
• 에비스노 야스베 — 픽필름 pickfilm
  Said the yakigyoza-style dumplings had an incredibly crispy texture, and with such a wide variety of side dishes, it's a great spot for a second round of drinks.
  Heads up: Said there was a 90-minute wait on Friday night, and felt it wasn't quite worth that long a wait.
• 天ぷら新宿つな八 総本店 — 나의시선
  Recommended as a go-to tempura spot he always stops by whenever he's in Shinjuku.
  Heads up: The line can get quite long, so expect to wait.

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