Best Izakaya

Ebisu izakaya cater to chefs who trained in Ginza's top kitchens but opened their own smaller places where they can experiment without Ginza's sky high rents. The exclusive introduction only system at Sake Shujiro creates a members club atmosphere around dishes like overnight dried blackthroat seaperch, while basement hideaway Rukuma Tokyo fills with the smoke of grilling hormone and their signature white jumbo mushrooms. Budget conscious drinkers pack into Ebisu Stand Fuji, a standing bar where the chashu egg pairs with cheap beer, or head to late night spots like Kiryuu, which serves creative dishes like avocado natto until 4 AM. The neighborhood's discerning clientele supports both splurge worthy yakitori at charcoal specialist Tori tsuta and casual neo izakaya like Ojinjo, where the infamous "gout onigiri" loaded with uni draws crowds of adventurous eaters.