Enjoy drinks and good food at izakaya (Japanese pubs) in Shinjuku! 20 cheap and tasty places

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This restaurant offers more than 100 kinds of Japanese sake made across Japan. They also serve popular labels from around the country.

It is on the second floor of a building about a 1-minute walk along 2-ban Dori from the Kabukicho police box. It stays open from evening until late at night, so it is also recommended as a second stop after dinner.

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You can also compare different brewing styles of popular labels like Juyondai and Dassai, or try a tasting of recommended Japanese sake for that season.

If you are not sure which Japanese sake to choose, the staff will kindly help you out, which is another plus. They also have alcoholic drinks other than Japanese sake.

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The food menu centers on items that pair well with Japanese sake. The restaurant also offers pairing menus with combinations of Japanese sake and dishes that it recommends.

It is also well known for its wide lineup of fresh seafood dishes such as sashimi assortments and fresh oysters, as well as regional dishes that go well with Japanese sake from all 47 prefectures across Japan.

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This is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub) centered on charcoal grilled meat, fish, and vegetables. It is located about a 2-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, along Musashino-dori.

The space features a large single-slab table, lantern-like lighting, and bonsai, giving it a Japanese feel.

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The specialty here is "genshi-yaki (traditional irori hearth grilling)." It is a cooking method in which fish or meat is skewered on long sticks and grilled over an irori (sunken hearth) with charcoal.

The seasoning is simple, just salt, and it is said to come out crisp on the outside and flaky on the inside. If you sit at the counter, you can also watch it being grilled.

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Their colorful temaki (hand-rolled sushi) is also popular. They cut the nori (seaweed) into large pieces, top it with sushi rice and fresh seafood, then wrap it up in the nori to enjoy.

The temaki sushi with luxurious fillings like tuna, ikura (salmon roe), and uni (sea urchin) is also well received.

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This izakaya is built around the concept of a “neo-izakaya,” with a bright, pop atmosphere decorated with neon signs. It is about a 5-minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station.

There is even a rule where you make a toast with the call “Play ball,” creating a fun atmosphere that feels like being at a baseball stadium.

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The menu is divided into categories like "Hit" for dishes that come out quickly and "9-kai Ura 2 Auto (bottom of the ninth, two outs)" for rice dishes to finish the meal, making this the kind of place that gets you excited just by looking at the menu.

The "Tokudai Jogai Ebi Fry (extra large out of the park fried shrimp)" is a photogenic dish. It is served freshly fried, and its size is sure to surprise you.

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The drinks also include baseball-themed names such as the “Home Run Lemon Sour.”

The “Natsukashi Cream Melon Sour” is an alcoholic drink like a retro cream soda. It seems you can also find cute drinks here.

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This izakaya (Japanese pub) sits right by the Central East Exit of Shinjuku Station, yet it is said to have the feel of Kyoto. A small stream runs through the interior, and some seats on the second floor look down over the water.

It also has calm, retro-style Private rooms, as well as Private rooms for couples, and one of its features is the large number of Private rooms.

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The Kyoto-style "obanzai (Kyoto home-style side dishes) seven-item assortment" is also popular on the menu. It seems to feature small portions served in little dishes and arranged with nice color.

You can also enjoy Kyoto specialties such as healthy yuba (tofu skin) made from soybeans.

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They also offer courses centered on shabu-shabu and sukiyaki. The shabu-shabu made with Kyoto Pork features plum for an original flavor.

They also have drinks and desserts in the style of a nostalgic jun-kissa (classic Japanese coffee shop), so it seems you can find lots of photogenic items.

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Izakaya Toro Takumi is about a 1-minute walk from Shinjuku-sanchome Station. This is a popular spot for seafood dishes and lemon sour.

The inner walls are painted with rough waves in a traditional Japanese painting style, and the space is designed to evoke a fishing boat. There is also a Private room, so you can relax and take your time.

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The specialty here is fresh seafood ozukuri (sashimi platters). Even the otoshi (small starter) served first comes with several kinds of sashimi.

Along with fresh sashimi, they also serve dishes like “salmon rare katsu,” a salmon dish coated in batter and fried until crisp, so you can enjoy a variety of seafood dishes.

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There are also many kinds of lemon sour, a drink made by mixing shochu (Japanese distilled spirit) with soda and adding lemon juice. They also offer it in a mega-jug size.

The popular choices are the shio lemon sour (salt-rimmed lemon sour), which has salt on the rim of the glass, and the slightly sweet yuzu-mitsu lemon sour.

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Toroichi is an izakaya (Japanese pub) where you can also enjoy All you can eat nigiri sushi and yakitori (grilled chicken skewers). It is located in the basement of a building about a 1-minute walk straight down the street from the Kabukicho Ichibangai Arch.

It seems to have casual table seating and relaxing Semi-private room seating.

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The plan with All you can eat nigiri sushi also includes All you can eat for about four other items, such as French fries and chicken Kara-age. It also comes with a wide-ranging All you can drink option.

The sushi features five kinds of neta (toppings), including tuna, salmon, and kanpachi (greater amberjack), and people say it is tasty and lets you eat as much as you like.

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The All you can eat nigiri sushi also comes with a yakitori assortment. This is also All you can eat, and a nice point is that you can choose either salt or tare sauce for the seasoning.

There are also plans with All you can eat Hot Pot dishes such as “maguro (tuna) toro shabu-shabu” and “gyu (beef) shabu-shabu,” so you can enjoy plenty of tuna and beef.

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A gyoza specialist where you can enjoy a wide variety of Homemade gyoza. The gyoza is basically All you can eat, and you can also add All you can drink and use it like an izakaya (Japanese pub).

It is about a 3-minute walk from the East Exit of Shinjuku Station. The interior is a calm Japanese-style space, and it seems to also have Semi-private room with Sunken kotatsu seating.

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Gyoza (Japanese dumplings) are made by wrapping fillings such as meat and vegetables in thin wheat flour skins, then pan-frying, steaming, or deep-frying them. Each one is fairly small, so people say you can keep eating them one after another.

There is a wide variety to choose from, including spicy gyoza, pakuchi (cilantro) gyoza, and deep-fried gyoza, so you can also enjoy comparing different kinds.

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The boiled dumplings served with soup have a chewy wrapper, giving them a different texture and taste from wrappers that are grilled or deep fried.

They also have small nikuman (meat buns) and xiaolongbao with soup inside, so you can keep eating without getting tired of them.

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This izakaya is themed around the charm of Pontocho, one of Kyoto's kagai (traditional geisha districts). It is located about a 4-minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station, tucked away at the back of the first floor of a building.

The space has a Japanese feel, with wagasa (traditional Japanese umbrellas) hanging from the ceiling, and they also serve food unique to Kyoto.

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One of the signature menu items is the "Kyofu (Kyoto-style) Fluffy Egg Sandwich." It is made with eggs from Domestic momiji-dori (Momiji chicken), a well-regarded breed known for its strong umami, raised on feed blended with Uji matcha.

It features a thick, softly cooked omelet sandwiched between slices of bread, with karashi mayo (Japanese mustard mayonnaise) as the secret touch.

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The “Kyo-namafu (Kyoto wheat gluten) Dengaku Four-Variety assortment,” made with namafu (wheat gluten) from Kyoto, is also popular. It features chewy, springy namafu grilled with fragrant miso.

They also serve original alcoholic drinks made with Kyoto matcha and hiyashi-ame (a chilled ginger malt drink).

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This izakaya centered on kushiyaki (grilled skewers) is about a 1-minute walk from Exit C6 of Shinjuku-sanchome Station. It is on the second floor of a building, and the lanterns decorating the entrance on the first floor are the landmark.

The counter seats surrounding the grilling area, which feels like an open kitchen, seem to give the place a lively atmosphere.

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The restaurant’s signature kushiyaki (grilled skewers) features meat, vegetables, and more skewered and grilled over charcoal. At the restaurant, staff certified as yakishi (grill masters) carefully cook each skewer.

People say they come out crisp on the outside and juicy inside. There is a wide variety to choose from, with seasoning options ranging from ume (Japanese plum) flavor to light, refreshing tastes.

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The photo shows the “whole onion fry.” The onion is deep-fried so it opens up like flower petals, and it is also fun to cut it with scissors as you eat.

Another feature is the lively atmosphere, with the staff saying “Otsukaresama deshita (Good job)” after the toast and calling out “Nice lemon” when you squeeze lemon on your food.

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This izakaya is about a 1-minute walk from Shinjuku Station West Exit, on the corner of the intersection of Kokusai-dori and Nibangai-dori. It stays open for long hours from daytime until late at night, so you can also stop by for a second or third round after dinner.

The interior is designed with a fishing port in mind, and it also has funa-gata (boat-shaped) box seats, according to reviews.

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The food menu focuses on seafood dishes. They buy whole maguro (tuna), so you can also enjoy maguro dishes beyond sashimi, such as kama-yaki (grilled collar) and ume shiso-yaki (grilled with plum and shiso).

There were multiple reviews saying it was fun that the otoshi (small appetizer) sashimi served first came in a lemon-shaped dish.

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One standout feature of the drink menu is that it has more than 30 kinds of lemon sours. They also offer colorful lemon sours and ones with a stronger tart kick.

The atmosphere inside and the staff’s calls are full of energy, making it a great fit when you want to enjoy drinks in a lively setting.

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This izakaya serves dishes made with Kuro-Satsuma-dori (black Satsuma chicken) raised on its own farm in Kagoshima Prefecture. It is about a 1-minute walk from the West Exit D5 of Shinjuku Station.

The interior has a natural look with plenty of wood. They also have counter seats where you can enjoy the live feel of watching the cooking right in front of you.

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Many reviews say they like that for the otoshi (small appetizer) served first after ordering, you can choose 1 from 3 kinds. The dishes seem to vary depending on the day.

Healthy menu items made with seasonal vegetables that are only available at that time of year are also popular.

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The specialty is “Kuro-Satsuma-dori (black Satsuma chicken) sumibiyaki (charcoal grilled).” It is grilled over charcoal until the surface turns black, which gives it a nice smoky aroma.

They grill it boldly as a block of meat and cut it just before serving, so the inside stays juicy.

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This is a taishu izakaya (casual Japanese pub) where you can eat and drink casually in a Showa retro atmosphere. It is located in the basement of a building at the intersection where Central Road begins from the Shinjuku Station side.

It also has loft seating, which adds a hideaway-like feel. It is open from daytime.

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The photo shows one of the signature menu items, “potato chips.” The potatoes are sliced a little thick and fried, giving them a crisp texture.

Menu items with a pleasant crunch, such as “takowasa (octopus with wasabi)” and “Ume Suisho,” are also popular, and they have a full selection of dishes that are great for snacking while you drink.

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The pizza baked in-house is also popular. They also have Japanese-style pizzas such as teriyaki chicken.

They also offer All you can drink plans, and several reviews said it was good value even when ordering both food and drinks together.

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Shinjuku Omoide Yokocho, lined with many eateries, is near Shinjuku-Nishiguchi Station. Along the railway side street there is an izakaya called Banshaku-ya.

It has a compact layout, but the second floor also has table seating where you can relax comfortably, according to reviews.

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They offer a wide range of dishes, including seafood, meat, and vegetable dishes. Each plate is light enough to enjoy easily, making you want to try all kinds of different dishes.

The specialty is kushiyaki (grilled skewers), available with either salt or the house sauce. A popular choice is the assortment that includes skewers of Daisendori brand chicken.

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For people who end up wanting to eat a bit of everything, the "One Plate Special" comes recommended. It is said to be an assortment of more than seven kinds of dishes, including sashimi (raw fish slices), fried items, and grilled skewers.

It costs less than ordering each item separately, and lets you enjoy the restaurant's recommended dishes.

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This izakaya (Japanese-style pub) is located in the basement of a building near the Shinjuku Kabukicho Ichibangai Gate. The pig illustration and neon sign mark the entrance.

The space has a Showa retro feel, giving even this newer spot a nostalgic atmosphere. On weekends and holidays, it opens from the afternoon, so you can enjoy daytime drinks too.

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The fresh branded pork Horumon from Kagoshima Prefecture is popular because you can enjoy it in many different styles.

The photo shows the skewers “Ootoro Horumon,” “Shiro,” “Maboroshi no Mountain chain tripe,” and “Liver.” Of course, you can order your favorite Horumon individually, but if you want to try a variety, the assortment is recommended.

You can choose from salt, sauce, or miso for the flavor, but you can also order the restaurant’s recommended seasoning, so even skewer grill beginners can feel at ease.

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What you will want to enjoy with the Horumon is the restaurant's specialty, "Shunkan Shochu 90 Minutes." Each table has a tap that pours shochu, and this plan lets you enjoy all-you-can-pour shochu for 90 minutes.

There are more than 30 drinks to mix with the shochu, including carbonated water and oolong tea, and people like that they can grab them from the refrigerator case in a self service style and drink it at their preferred strength and flavor.

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An izakaya located on the 4th floor of a building about a 3-minute walk from Shinjuku Station, near the Shinjuku Kabukicho Ichibangai Arch. The restaurant also offers All you can eat and All you can drink plans.

They have many Private room and Semi-private room options, so you can relax and enjoy your time. It is open all day from lunchtime until late at night.

There is a wide selection of kushiyaki (grilled skewers), including yakitori (grilled chicken skewers). They also serve skewers with chicken, pork, and vegetables, and the "yasai-maki (vegetable rolls)" with vegetables wrapped in bacon or pork is also popular.

The plan with All you can eat access to more than 70 items, including kushiyaki and fried dishes, is popular because they grill each order after it is placed, so you can enjoy many freshly grilled skewers.

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They also offer the option of ordering a la carte and adding only All you can drink. It is perfect for people who cannot eat a lot but want to enjoy drinks.

It is also recommended to enjoy drinks while snacking on "niku-zushi (meat sushi)," made with fresh Wagyu and horse meat.

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This restaurant is known for letting you drink from a selection of more than 50 kinds of Japanese sake at cost. Of course, you can order your favorite drinks A la carte, and it also gets good reviews for its full range of plans made for enjoying alcohol, including All you can drink and various courses.

It is located on the second basement floor of a building near the B2 exit of Shinjuku-sanchome Station. The place has a calm Japanese style atmosphere where you can take your time enjoying drinks and otsumami (small dishes served with alcohol).

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The Japanese sake is poured into original small bottles in easy-to-finish amounts to keep it fresh. Because each serving is small, guests also like that it is easy to enjoy comparing different kinds.

They also have staff who know a lot about Japanese sake and explain each label, so you can learn more about Japanese sake as you drink.

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They also have a great selection of small plates that pair well with Japanese sake. The seasoning seems to cover a wide range too, from richly seasoned miso stew to lightly flavored oden with broth soaked in.

Among the “Cheese assortment to Pair with Japanese sake,” there is also a Japanese-style flavor that combines cheese and soy sauce.

Toritoshi is an izakaya (Japanese pub) where you can enjoy yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and lamb skewers grilled over an open flame. It is located near the Godzilla Head in Kabukicho Ichibangai.

The spacious floor has a street stall-like atmosphere and seems well suited for casual drinking parties. It stays open late into the night.

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Even just the kushiyaki (grilled skewers) menu includes more than 40 kinds, such as chicken, pork, bacon, and vegetables, and all of them are said to be grilled over charcoal.

The lamb skewers are said to be grilled tender and fragrant with special spices and seasonings.

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The "Kaki no Kara-yaki (charcoal grilled oysters in the shell)" is also grilled over charcoal, and it gets good reviews for its Fresh Scent of the Ocean and great taste. You can choose flavors like garlic or butter soy sauce, so you may want to try a few different kinds.

While the place has a lively feel, some reviews also say they could still relax and enjoy great conversation with their group.

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This izakaya is about a 1-minute walk from the West Exit of Shinjuku Station. The restaurant focuses on yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and offers a wide range of classic izakaya dishes.

It seems to have a warm Showa retro atmosphere. It stays open from daytime until late at night, so you can also enjoy drinks with lunch.

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The popular choice is kushiyaki (grilled skewers). They grill chicken thigh, chicken skin, pork belly, and other items in skewer style. They also offer grilled skewers of rare-cut Horumon.

Fried dishes are also popular, including "ham katsu (fried ham cutlet)," made with thick slices of ham, and melty "fried Camembert cheese."

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There are also multiple reviews saying that not only the meat dishes and fried items but the seafood dishes are good as well.

The sashimi assortment is also popular. Along with tuna and sea bream, the "aburi shime-saba (seared vinegared mackerel)"—lightly seared for a fragrant finish—also gets high praise.

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Toriyoshi Shoten is known for its focus on chicken dishes. The walls inside are decorated with Japanese style paintings of chickens. Lanterns are also hung throughout, creating a lively atmosphere.

It is located near the Shinjuku City Office.

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The restaurant has a casual space like a taishu izakaya (casual Japanese pub), and it is said to feel clean and well kept.

The specialty is "tebasaki Kara-age (fried chicken wings)." You can choose from mild sweet, medium spicy, or hot seasoning. The skin is crisp, the meat is juicy, and the peppery heat goes well with alcohol.

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Not only chicken dishes but also the popular dashimaki (Japanese rolled omelet), made with plenty of chicken eggs. It is softly cooked and seems to let you really taste the dashi flavor.

At lunch, you can also enjoy chicken-focused dishes such as oyako-don (chicken and egg rice bowl) and Kara-age set meal.

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Izakaya Sumiya is located in Kabukicho Ichibangai, about a 3-minute walk from Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station. It is open from the afternoon until late at night.

The interior is decorated with retro Showa-era posters, giving it a calm atmosphere.

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There are multiple reviews saying this place offers a wide range of dishes, including yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), sashimi (raw fish), and fried dishes, and that all of them taste good.

Even the yakitori alone comes in about 15 varieties, and you can also order an Omakase assortment of chicken-only skewers.

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Another well liked touch is the otoshi (small appetizer) served at the start, which comes with a small shichirin (charcoal brazier) and himono (dried fish). You can grill it at the table and eat it whenever you like, and you can also order extra himono for an additional charge.

The All you can drink plan is also popular, and includes draft beer, house wine, sours, and soft drinks.