#1: Re: Ikebukuro - Japanese food Author: sanji
Akiyoshi - Yakitori ***
Address - Nishi-Ikebukuro 3-30-4.
Opening hours - 17:00-23:00 (LO)
Telephone : 03-3982-0644
Chain of restaurants specialized in yakitori (grilled chicken); they even call themselves the "yakitori university"! While the title is a little exagerated, this restaurant is a nice place to eat yakitori. Customers sit either at tables or directly on a counter around the cooking area, which occupies the middle of the restaurant. Portions are small, but for 200-400 yens, you get 2-5 sticks. Large selection of grilled stuff, with extremely low price - even with a beer, you might pay 1200 to 1500 yens for dinner! Lots of foreigners and English menu.
Yorozuya Matsukaze - Izakaya ****
Address - Nishi-Ikebukuro 1-24-5.
Opening hours - 17:00-23:30
Telephone : 03-3986-1047
This izakaya, with its characteristic wooden outside facade, is one of my favorite in Ikebukuro. The dark inside interior is quite cramped, especially the basement, and can be a little smoky. But they have excellent fish, both raw and grilled, including a great kamayaki. A lot of their dishes are seasonal, so you probably can go there a couple of times and never eat the same things. They have a large selection of nihon-shu, about 30 brands, served at very reasonnable prices. Great for small parties, but probably not for your romantic date.
Un restaurant presque entierèment boisé, avec une facade extérieure en bois également. Rez-de-chaussée et sous-sol, peut être très encombré. Sert essentiellement du poisson, avec en particulier un superbe thon grillé (kamayaki). Excellent choix de nihon-shu, avec certains crus qui sont parmi les meilleurs à mon goût.
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