Kishidaya

The atmosphere is Showa through and through at this ever-popular neighbourhood izakaya famed for its gyu-nikomi (a soy sauce-based entrail stew, ¥500). Plenty of other old-school Japanese pub food choices like grilled fish dishes, sashimi and stews are also found on the menu, while most patrons wash it all down with bottled beer, highballs or nihonshu. With old posters adorning the walls and the u-shaped counter in a cramped space ensuring that you'll always be rubbing shoulders with your fellow drinkers, Kishidaya is one of those places that you'll always feel good coming back to. Note that the menu is written on slips hanging from the walls, and can be difficult to decipher if your Japanese isn't up to par. Finally, we recommend arriving well before the opening time of 5pm if you’re looking to get in right away: the queue starts forming quickly, and trying your luck later in the evening may mean up to a two-hour wait.