If you read a guidebook on Izakaya or watch one of the usual “gourmet travel” TV features, it’s very often difficult to figure out whether something is really good, rather average or not recommendable at all. The usual comments are すごい (wow !) , いいですねえ (looks good !) おいしい (delicious !). Once I had a conversation with Kazuhiko Ōta about his TV series featuring Japanese Izakaya and asked him: what would you say in front of the camera if you are served a dish which does not taste good? His answer: well, I would not comment on the food, but look around and say ”いいお店ですねえ” (Ii omise desu nē / you got a nice place here).
So, like many other things in Japan, it very much depends on how good you are in reading between the lines. Well, that may be しょうがない (you can’t help it), Japanese mentality.
At Izakayasanpo each Izakaya is evaluated according to the following categories: coziness, food (quality, presentation), drinks (quality, variety, handling) and cleanliness (shop, toilets, staff), all on a scale from 1 to 5. The price is rated, if the place is cheap, up to 2 points are added, if its expensive, up to 2 points deducted. In addition, when the Izakaya has a remarkable hospitality, a smiley mark is awarded, small (add 1 point) or large (add 2). No smiley mark at all means the place has some serious issue, refer to the “list of lemons”. An additional rating point is awarded for Izakaya offering non-smoking seats. Last not least the Eco-friendlyness of an Izakaya is rated, one additional rating point is awarded if re-usable chopsticks are used.
So the theoretical maximum rating would be 25 points, the minimum 2 points. The maximum rating achieved on my listing is currently 19 points (Sushi Katsu, Kozukue). This does not mean that I would not have fun at a place rated only 12 or 14, it depends on your mood and what you go for on a particular day, quality food with excellent sake or a bustling place with very reasonably priced food and drinks.
The rating system is not perfect, I want to mention a certain contradiction between cleanliness and coziness. An Izakaya is always a little bit messy, for me thats acceptable. The bathroom should be clean, no compromise.
The rating in detail:
居 coziness
1 drafty station concourse
2 not really cozy
3 quite ok
4 lets stay a little longer
5 thats heaven
食 food
1 何だこりゃ? (unswallowable)
2 まあまあ (so so)
3 ふつうにおいしい (good Izakaya standard)
4 とてもおいしい (delicious)
5 すごい (exceptional)
飲 drinks
1 even the beer doesn't taste
2 room for improvement
3 good Izakaya standard
4 very good selection
5 exceptional selection
清潔 cleanliness
1 きたない ! only one description possible: dirty !
2 ちょっとかたづけましょうね ! let’s clean up !
3 まあゆるしてあげましょう ! today is Saturday, acceptable !
4 きもちいい ! nice !
5 ピカピカ! spick and span !
値段 price
Average check for 1 person (me, hungry and thirsty 85kg), 2 hours. If you eat and drink like a Japanese, prices will almost half)
￥(under 3000 Yen) + 2 points
￥￥(3000 to 5000 Yen) +1 point
￥￥￥(5000 to 7000 Yen)
￥￥￥￥ (7000 to 9000 Yen) - 1 point
￥￥￥￥￥(over 9000 Yen) - 2 points
As an additional indication, the price of one bottle of beer (633ml) - if this size is available - is mentioned at the end of every Izakaya description. The pricier places often have only 500ml bottles on the menu.
スマイル smiley
awarded for hospitality and smiling staff ! For a double smiley I expect this extra kick of hospitality, this certain vibe between the master or staff and you, which makes you feel extremely welcomed and comfortable.
no smile: listed on the “list of lemons”
smile ! + 1 point
big smile ! + 2 points
ECO rating
awarded for the ECO - friendlyness of the Izakaya, namely for the use of reusable instead of disposable chopsticks, + 1 point
Smoke free Izakaya NEW
awarded for Izakaya offering non-smoking seats, + 1 point
For each Izakaya the rating is summarized in a “rating label”
