The fish set meal at this restaurant is always delicious. I always rely on it for lunch.

Sashimi set meal 880 yen.

Easy to use even for one person. Not bad.

I had been interested in this izakaya for a while. It is located in Jukkansakaue, which is back from Shin-Nakano. I could always see inside from outside, and it always seemed like the counter was full of people, so I never went in. Today, I was able to leave work early, so I decided to give it a try. When I peeked inside from outside, I was lucky. There was no one at the counter. I had to go in. I opened the sliding door and was greeted by a kind-looking owner and lady (maybe the landlady). I sat at the end of the counter and ordered a draft beer. It seems they don't serve appetizers here. I quickly ordered from the menu. First, sashimi. When I asked for a sashimi platter with 2 varieties, I was asked in return, "What do you want on the platter?" So, I requested mackerel and octopus. The sashimi platter that came out had thickly sliced fish, satisfying to eat and very delicious. When my beer ran out, I ordered Kikuhime. I also added grilled edamame. The edamame that came out was in 5 clusters, freshly grilled and piping hot. It was so hot that I couldn't hold it for a while, but the edamame I took out of the cluster while saying "hot, hot" made me feel the taste of summer. I added some grilled whale meat and also grilled tomato with cheese. The tomato and cheese wrapped in foil had a perfect match and were delicious. This place seems to be a popular local spot, as it was full by around 7 o'clock. Everyone seemed to be regulars. I wonder if I can become a regular like them too? Thank you for the meal.

From the intersection near Sugi-yama Park heading south on Nakano Street, on the left side just before the next intersection is "Isokoya" seafood restaurant. I tried the daily special (Sawara Saikyo Yaki) for 780 yen. There is a signboard with the lunch menu on the front of the shop, and the evening menu is also posted on the wall. At first, I thought the name was a reference to a certain manga by Hasegawa Machiko, but it seems that was not the case. Despite being a small personal shop, it has a bright and lively atmosphere. I decided to visit for lunch first. There are counter seats on the right side, and two small raised tables in the back on the left side. The petite master in the kitchen seems like a skilled craftsman. The lunch menu includes sashimi, grilled dishes, and about five other options. Since the daily special was Sawara Saikyo Yaki, I decided to try that. The dishes are served in order of ordering, so there may be a short wait. After about 15 minutes, the Saikyo Yaki was handed to me over the counter, followed by rice. A few minutes later, the wife brought over side dishes (hiyayakko), pickles, and miso soup, which seemed to be the order for everyone else as well. The Saikyo Yaki could have been a bit more grilled, but it was understandable given the busy lunchtime. The lightly sweetened flesh of the marinated Sawara was well-prepared, with all bones and fins removed. The rice was cooked perfectly, the miso soup had a refined flavor, and the side dishes were so satisfying that I almost forgot about them. I was curious about the seafood bowl and sashimi set that the customer next to me ordered, as I could sense the quality of the sashimi and the skill of the chef. I will definitely visit again to try more dishes. Thank you for the meal.

The restaurant is called a dining hall, but it also serves a variety of seafood dishes and functions as an izakaya. With its counter seating and the owner's appearance resembling a sushi chef, it gives off a sushi restaurant vibe. While there are many izakayas open late in the area, there are not many places where you can enjoy Japanese-style set meals late at night. I decided to try it as a set meal restaurant tonight, so I ordered a small bottle of beer (including tax: 500 yen) and a sashimi set meal (including tax: 990 yen). I was hoping that they would serve a small side dish or pickles with the beer, but they did not. It seems they have a system of serving everything together once the set meal is ready. The small side dishes served with rice and miso soup were spinach ohitashi and pickled daikon. They were not bad as beer snacks, but I wish they had come a few minutes earlier. The sashimi included sardines, tuna, and octopus. The sardines were fresh and plentiful, the tuna was decent, but the octopus seemed a bit lacking. I felt a bit disappointed that they included the head and legs as part of the sashimi. Overall, I would recommend using this restaurant either as an izakaya for drinking with fish dishes or as a dining hall for enjoying a set meal without drinking. It's a versatile place, but I wouldn't recommend having a full drinking session with just the set meal. It may seem trivial, but small details like serving the small side dishes with the beer can make a big difference.

Less than a 5-minute walk from Shin-Nakano Station, this small izakaya was recommended by a friend. The atmosphere inside is that of a casual local izakaya, with a cozy interior that includes both counter and tatami seating. It was quite crowded when I visited, which made it feel a bit cramped. The menu mainly consists of seafood dishes, and the prices are quite reasonable. Despite my initial expectations, the quality of the seafood was surprisingly good. I tried the seafood bowl, sashimi assortment, potato salad, and octopus with wasabi. The sashimi and seafood on the bowl were fresh and delicious, with a good variety and generous portions. Compared to other places, the seafood bowl here was affordable, tasty, and satisfying. This unpretentious and straightforward izakaya is perfect for everyday dining, which explains its popularity among customers.

Near Shin-Nakano Station on the Marunouchi Line, next to Book Off, there is a restaurant called Kuma Live Cafe Benten that serves Nagasaki champon and plate udon. It is located near places like Sphere and is a small, somewhat intimidating place with many undiscovered gems. I visited for lunch after reading a review by mashinabiru, who I believe is a local as well. We arrived around 1:30 pm and found a spacious interior with a counter seating for 10 people in an L-shape, with a kitchen in the corner. There was one customer already seated. We ordered the seafood chirashi bowl for 880 yen and the mountain tuna set meal for 780 yen. Both dishes came with a soup, tofu, and pickles. Although they offered free extra rice, they didn't ask if we wanted it. The owner was neat and seemed honest. The food was served promptly, and both dishes were delicious and filling. The seafood bowl was beautifully presented with bonito, tuna, and salmon slices, topped with green onions and diced eggs. The tuna set meal came with plenty of grated mountain yam on a separate plate. The tuna slices were thin but plentiful. The deep bowl of rice might be too much for a small eater. The counter had many bottles of sake, indicating it might be lively in the evenings. I later realized the restaurant's name sounded like a popular anime family's surname. It's probably pronounced "Isonoya."

I had been wanting to try this restaurant because there are no Japanese food places in the neighborhood. I liked the menu focused on fish. The horse mackerel sashimi was delicious with skillful knife work. The selection of alcohol was good, and the cost performance is high. Unfortunately, the dressing for salads seemed to be pre-made and not up to the standard of Japanese cuisine. Also, the service was lacking with the lack of friendliness from the owner or chef.

This restaurant specializes in sashimi and seafood dishes, with a variety of delicious appetizers. The place has around 10 counter seats and two private tatami rooms for four people each. The owner, along with another female staff member, runs the place. They offer seasonal sashimi and hot pot dishes in winter, all of which are tasty. The drink menu includes beer, highball, and shochu, all reasonably priced. While the regular customers are mostly locals, the atmosphere is welcoming to all. The owner may not be talkative, but is not off-putting. Overall, it's a casual and satisfying dining experience at a good restaurant.

Walking about 10 meters north from "Ko" (a shop), there is a restaurant. On a certain day, I decided to visit this Japanese restaurant on a street I don't usually go to. The restaurant had a U-shaped counter and a raised tatami seating area. I sat at the right end of the counter where I could see the kitchen and ordered a bottle of beer. Looking through the menu, I found various dishes. The TV was playing anime, but no one was watching it. I ordered the grilled sweet potato tempura, which was delicious. Next, I tried the tomato cheese bake, which was half a tomato topped with melted cheese and baked in a toaster oven. Drizzling olive oil and adding black pepper made it even tastier. I then ordered the seafood bowl, which was carefully prepared by the honest owner. Tuna, salmon, and octopus were placed on top of the rice, along with a side of miso soup and pickles. I vividly remember this experience from over a year ago, but strangely, I can't recall what I ordered during my visit with my wife two months ago. It's a shame that the restaurant, which used to have a refined atmosphere in Shin-Nakano, now feels more like a casual izakaya. Perhaps it was because of the customers at that time.

In Shin-Nakano and Nakano, I enjoy going around trying different restaurants (or maybe bars!?) but this place, Isokoya, is a pretty special gem with high points. It's a place that should definitely have a higher overall rating. They have a wide variety of menu items that are reasonably priced, and the seafood is fresh and delicious! You can feel the owner's dedication in every dish. You can't see the atmosphere inside the restaurant from the outside, so it might be a bit intimidating at first, but after going a couple of times, you start to see why there are so many regular customers. It's nice to have a place like this nearby where you can feel comfortable going to.

Exiting from Shin-Nakano Exit 1, if you turn left at the bookstore, you will find Book Off in about 2 minutes, next to which is "Isono-ya" restaurant. Upon entering, you will see a counter with 6-7 seats on the right and tatami seating on the left. While they don't offer any particularly unique dishes, everything they serve is delicious. The sashimi is especially fresh, and the side dishes are also recommended. The best part is that the prices are very affordable! Sashimi costs around 400-500 yen, and side dishes are about 300 yen. Usually, when dishes are this cheap, the drinks tend to be expensive, but Isono-ya offers fair prices. Therefore, it seems to have many regular customers. However, even first-time visitors will feel comfortable in the relaxed atmosphere. The owner is quiet, but the conversations with regulars seem lively, so newcomers should not feel out of place. It's the kind of place you'd want to have in your neighborhood for a quick drink after work.

I had a 890 yen set meal, but the quality was more like a 500 yen meal. It wasn't particularly delicious and the service was not good either.