Katoriya @ Jiyūgaoka

Appetiser

Cucumber

Garlic

Asparagus-bacon maki

Chicken sasami-yaki

Chicken liver and shūmai dumplings

Grilled tōfu

Shūmai dumplings

Beef and spring onion skewer

Stewed motsu

Chicken liver

Minced chicken with pepper

Katoriya is a fun little yakitori-ya known for its Shōwa era ambience and excellent cost performance.

Despite being a decades old haunt of Jiyūgaoka locals, it’s also surprisingly welcoming to the uninitiated. Much of the salty, no nonsense conviviality is due to the vim of the mistress of the house as she ensures a brisk flow of drinks, chicken skewers and customers.

The yakitori and assorted side dishes are tasty and reasonably priced, although they’re of the more traditional smaller variety, rather than more robust fare at yakitori-ya such as Toriishi and Kushiwakamaru.

Katoriya

03 3718 5505

 

Itasoba Santōkō @ Mishuku

Tai carpaccio

Iburigakko with cream cheese and fried tōfu

Nihonshu - Bakuren

Katsuo tataki salad

Dashimaki tamago

Soba (thick cut)

Tempura moriawase - shrimp

Maitake and tori shisomaki tempura moriawase

Tori shisomaki

Sister store to our all time favourite soba-ya and its Hiroshima honten, Itasoba Santōkō pulls all the same strings and ticks all the right boxes, with only minor variations on the theme.

Less rustic and less contemporary than the Ebisu and Hiroshima iterations, respectively, the low lit interior and dulcet tones of the jazz BGM create a cosy intimacy, despite the relatively spacious dining area.

The menu will feel familiar to any that have enjoyed the above restaurants; thick cut, flavoursome ‘ita soba’ noodles served in traditional wooden ‘itabako’ storage trays, supplemented with a variety of seasonal appetisers and sides, such as iburigakko with cream cheese, katsuo tataki ponzū, fluffy dashimaki-tamago, and deliciously light and crispy tempura selections.

As with the other Itasoba stores, Santōkō is extremely popular so queues are to be expected at peak dining times.

Itasoba Santōkō

03 5779 3670

 

Baijuku Maribana @ Sangenjaya

Tataki-kyūri

Hiramasa sashimi

IPA

Daikon kimchi

Ninniku-yaki

Chicken liver and tsukune

Nihonshu

Sui-gyōza

Chicken karaage

Gōya chanpurū

Iwashi fry

Rigatoni carbonara

Garlic rice

One of a small chain with three outlets (the others being located in Higashioi and Shibuya), Baijuku Maribana combines a love of craft beer and regional nihonshu with Japanese and Asian cuisines to create an enjoyable take on the ubiquitous izakaya.

The expansive menu focuses on small dishes of izakaya staples accented with a surprising variety of ethnic Asian dishes hailing from China, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Portions can be a little underwhelming as the food is intended more as an accompaniment to drinking, but the quality and flavours don’t disappoint.

The real value is in the reasonably priced beer; twelve rotating taps of regional craft brews, usually with a good showing of IPAs, that ensure a full belly.

Baijuku Maribana

03 5787 5154

 

Browns Brasserie & Bar @ Nottingham

Mushrooms on sourdough

Crispy cod cheeks

Vodka martini

Pan-seared scallops & pancetta

Salt & pepper squid

North Atlantic prawn cocktail

12oz sirloin steak on the bone

16oz chateaubriand

Whole lemon sole

7oz fillet steak & garlic butter scallops

Home-baked chocolate brownie

Vanilla crème brûlée

Browns dessert trio - vanilla crème brûlée

Browns dessert trio - mango and passion fruit torte

Since being introduced to Browns Brasserie & Bar it’s become a favourite destination when visiting our old Nottingham stomping grounds.

Positioned as an “elegant brasserie and bar experience,” it provides a pleasing mix of brasserie classics and contemporary seasonal dishes for brunch, lunch and dinner, as well as afternoon tea and surprisingly well crafted cocktails, in an atmospheric yet comfortable setting.

The depth and breadth of Browns’ various menus and specials ensure repeat visits won’t disappoint.

Browns Brasserie & Bar

0115 958 8183

 

Bar & Deli Rossello @ Gakugei-Daigaku

Mixed olives

Deep-fried spicy shrimp

Tomato toast

Iberico ham

Spanish tortilla omelette

Croquette set - parma ham, squid ink, mushroom

Mushroom ajillo

Plancha-cooked asparagusa

Rabbit paella

Rabbit Paella

Basque cheesecake

One of our favourite Tokyo Spanish restaurants, Bar & Deli Rossello offers quality Spanish cuisine in a cosy, lively bar style setting.

Supervised by a talented Spanish chef who worked at a 3-star Michelin restaurant for over 15 years, the ingredients are carefully sourced from Spain to ensure quality and authenticity.

The menu covers classic local-style dishes, from tapas to mains, incorporating traditional Basque and Catalan flavours. There are always a range of paella on the menu, such as the delicious rabbit or squid ink varieties, or the ‘Mar y Montaña’ — a Catalonian speciality combining seafood and chicken.

Bar & Deli Rossello

03 6541 0488