A Tokyo classic, in business since the 1950s, open from 9 in the morning ! 5 min walk from JR Akabane station, Izakaya with 鯉  (koi / carp) and うなぎ  (eel) on the menu. Double U-shaped counter and 3 tables on the first floor, tatami seating on the second, capacity about 80 persons.  Great variety of food, fish, meat, vegetables, stew, tofu, changing with the season. The raw fish is of excellent quality.  If you like it (I don’t), you can have carp sashimi (鯉の洗い / koi no arai) or すっぽん鍋 (suppon nabe / turtle soup). Recommendations: the refreshing たぬき豆腐 (tanukidōfu) (500 Yen), summer only,  馬刺 (basashi / raw horse meat) (800 Yen) and the soft, lean and juicy 豚カツ (tonkatsu / breaded pork cutlet), for 550 Yen a great value. The drink menu is standard, the cold sake, 長陵 (Chouryou), a honjouzou from Niigata is nicknamed “Usagichan” (little rabbit) (700 Yen / 300ml), quite drinkable.

The ladies behind the counter are friendly and know their stuff. When you place an order, they verbally inform the “center back” cashier, who is transmitting it to the kitchen. The cashier is literally the pillar of the entire place, keeping track of all orders by stacking small colored plastic coins on a wooden board with nails, a quite unique method and fun to watch.

The place is always crowded and you should be prepared to queue up for a while, or bigger groups of more than 3 might be sent upstairs

Beer (633ml bottle): 550 Yen