Izakaya in the Ikebukuro area! 20 popular picks including yakitori and seafood restaurants

Photograph:えみちゃん3020

Shuan Saba Ban Sai is an izakaya (Japanese pub) known for its mackerel from Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, and the retro, charming space is set in a renovated 80-year-old kominka (traditional Japanese house).

Located a 3-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, it is said to have a homey and relaxing atmosphere.

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The recommended goma saba (mackerel with sesame) is an outstandingly fresh dish made in-house with mackerel sourced from Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture.

The fresh mackerel has a plump texture and rich flavor, with chopped nori and sesame adding a nice accent. It pairs perfectly with the 60-plus varieties of Japanese sake available.

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The "shime saba (vinegared mackerel) and gari (sweet pickled ginger) potato salad" is a popular menu item made by mixing shime saba and gari into potato salad, with a tangy taste and rich flavor that people keep coming back for.

Wrapped in the nori (seaweed) served on the side, it is said to be even tastier with the toasty aroma of the nori.

Photograph:にゃんぱす。

Uobi Fujina is tucked away like a hidden gem, just a 5-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station. This izakaya serves fresh, high quality fish as sashimi and Teppan-yaki.

The interior has only counter seating, with a stylish and calm atmosphere.

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The "sakabi-yaki (charcoal grilled fish) Omakase 5-kind assortment" features a rare style where fish is grilled over charcoal and eaten that way. They also offer a good selection of drinks that bring out the fish's flavor.

On this day, the assortment included buri (yellowtail) and shrimp, and they recommend giving it a light sear and eating it rare.

Photograph:Kai / 旅するグルメ医師

The Maguro Zenshumori (assorted tuna platter), featuring rare kamatoro (fatty collar meat) along with lean tuna and otoro (fatty tuna), is a popular menu item that lets you fully enjoy tuna.

The rich tuna has a melt-in-your-mouth texture and pairs perfectly with beer or a highball. Another part of its appeal is that you can enjoy it cooked just the way you like.

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Izumo Ikebukuro, a 1-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, is an izakaya centered on unagi (eel) dishes.

The bright and roomy interior of this standalone house restaurant feels spacious, with eel objects and Japanese paintings on display.

Photograph:もちたん関東グルメ日記

The "Unagitama Rice bowl" is a signature menu item, known for its huge eel that is so big it sticks out of the bowl.

The thick, tender eel goes very well with alcohol, and the fluffy omelet with rice seasoned in a sweet and savory sauce is said to be delicious.

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"Umaki (rolled omelet with eel)" is a hearty dish made by wrapping plump eel in tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet) prepared with fragrant dashi stock.

It is topped generously with sliced green onions, which gives it a light taste, making it perfect as a snack to go with drinks.

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"Shrimp Dining Ebi An" is an izakaya packed with shrimp, where you can enjoy creative dishes made with shrimp. They also have a good selection of drinks that pair perfectly with the shrimp dishes.

Located a 5-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, the interior has a bright and calm atmosphere.

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The luxurious "Ebi no Otsukuri assortment (assortment of shrimp sashimi)," made with several kinds of shrimp, is also recommended as a great dish to go with drinks.

The fresh shrimp are said to let you enjoy their glossy look, juicy quality, and rich melt-in-your-mouth texture. You can also have the shrimp heads made into Kara-age afterward.

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The “ebi no kadaifu-maki (fried prawn wrapped in kadaif pastry)” is a new style of fried prawn coated in fine threadlike pastry. It comes with a sweet and savory sauce and tartar sauce.

The large, filling prawn has thick, plump meat with a springy texture, and it goes perfectly with alcohol.

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Honkaku Itamae Izakaya Osakana Sohonke Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Ten is an izakaya where you can enjoy exceptionally fresh seafood shipped directly from fishing ports around Japan.

Just a 3-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, the spacious interior stretches from the building’s basement 1st floor to the 3rd floor above ground and offers table seating and Private rooms with Sunken kotatsu seating.

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"Tosa meibutsu katsuo wara-yaki (Tosa specialty straw-seared bonito)" is the restaurant's signature dish, boldly grilled over straw.

It is said to have a deep smoky aroma that concentrates the good flavor of the bonito. They also recommend "Tosatsuru Karakuchi Junmai Ginjo Meikaku" from Kochi Prefecture.

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The "cream croquette" is a filling dish packed with plenty of crab meat.

The croquette, with its crispy fried coating and rich crab flavor, is said to have a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

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Inasuiduki Amaterasu is a hideaway-style standalone izakaya where you can enjoy seasonal dishes that pair well with Japanese sake, about an 8-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station.

Inside, the restaurant has a stylish Japanese feel and a calm atmosphere.

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The sashimi assortment that pairs perfectly with Japanese sake is a popular menu item, with more than 90% of guests ordering it. It usually features about four kinds of fish, mainly white fish such as tai (sea bream) and hirame (flounder).

They also pay close attention to the tableware, choosing pieces that show off the ingredients beautifully.

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The recommended finish to the Hot Pot meal is the "ikura (salmon roe) rice porridge." Made with the broth from the Hot Pot, this rice porridge is packed with the good flavors of the ingredients.

This luxurious dish is generously topped with ikura, which also makes it great as a snack to go with drinks.

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Dining kaze Ikebukuro no Kaze is an izakaya with a wide range of meat dishes and drinks, located a 7-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station.

The spacious interior has counter and table seating, with a chic monochrome atmosphere.

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The otoshi (small appetizer served before the meal), "Tongue Stew," is the restaurant's signature dish and pairs perfectly with drinks such as wine.

The slowly simmered tongue is said to be fall-apart tender, and the stew is popular for its rich, tasty flavor.

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A popular appetizer you can enjoy with a light feel, the "Nama Salmon no Carpaccio (Fresh Salmon Carpaccio)".

This popular dish pairs brightly colored fresh salmon with the white of onion for a striking look, and it is said to be so good that it keeps people coming back.

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Uotokku is an izakaya where you can enjoy fresh seafood shipped directly from Tohoku.

Located on a back street a 4-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Ikebukuro Station, it has a retro feel. There is terrace seating on the rooftop where you can enjoy a seafood barbecue.

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The “Uogushi (grilled fish skewers)” are the restaurant’s signature item, served as fish skewered and lightly grilled, and they are recommended as a great snack to go with drinks.

The “Maguro (tuna) no Butter Shoyu Kushi” is said to pair the rich aroma and depth of butter perfectly with soy sauce, bringing out the great taste of the tuna.

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The "Today’s Rare Katsu," made with the recommended fish of the day, is popular for its tasty, juicy flavor and just-right frying.

Each piece is cut thick and said to be very filling. It is a perfect snack to go with a nicely chilled beer.

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Kyo Dashi Oden to Shunsai Tempura Torii Kuguri Ikebukuro Ten is a hideaway-style izakaya located on the first basement floor of a building, a 5-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station.

The interior, designed with a Shinto shrine in mind, features a large torii gate and has a cozy, relaxed atmosphere. It offers counter seating and Private rooms.

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The "oden (Japanese hot pot dish)" is made by slowly simmering ingredients like daikon radish and konnyaku (yam cake) in a broth made with Special selected ingredients.

The gently flavored broth blends with the good taste of the ingredients, and people say its appealing flavor keeps them coming back.

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The nori-shio French fries topped with aonori (green laver). People say the crispy, lightly fried potatoes smell nicely of aonori and taste great.

The salt level is just right, and they are perfect with beer.

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Marutomi Suisan Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Ten is an izakaya where you can enjoy fresh seafood dishes. They also serve Junmai Ginjo Edo Kaijo, a Japanese sake inspired by Tokyo.

Located on the second floor of a building just steps from JR Ikebukuro Station, it has a bright and casual atmosphere with counter and table seating.

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The popular snack Homemade aji (horse mackerel) fry is known for its large, thick cut and tasty plump flesh.

The crisp coating is fried to a light crunch, and it is said to go perfectly with the mayonnaise served on the side.

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The nori-shio potato fries are a dish that lets you fully enjoy the good flavor of potatoes, with a crispy outside and a fluffy inside, and they pair perfectly with beer.

They come in a generously filled bowl and are very filling. The flavor of nori (seaweed) and the salt are said to be in perfect balance.

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Irodori Ikebukuro is an izakaya where you can enjoy yakitori made with Daisen-dori (Tottori brand chicken).

A 5-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, this hideaway-like spot is on the 7th floor of a building and has a calm, relaxing atmosphere.

Photograph:ひなのごはん記録

The "22-shurui no Noen Yasai to Hana no Salad" is a salad topped with colorful vegetables and edible flowers. It is photogenic and fun to enjoy from the moment it arrives.

The drinks are carefully selected too, with a full lineup of colorful mocktails and nigorizake (cloudy sake), among others.

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The "yasai-nikumaki-kushi (vegetable and meat wrapped skewers)" are the restaurant's original skewers wrapped around ingredients like lettuce and asparagus. There is a wide variety, and you can order them as a 5-skewer set or A la carte.

These carefully wrapped skewers have a great balance of juicy meat and the flavor of the vegetables, making them a good snack to go with beer.

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"Oudori" is an izakaya (Japanese pub) with a calm, grown-up feel and jazz playing in the background, and it is popular for yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and drinks.

A 5-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, it is located on the first basement floor of a building and feels like a hideaway where you can relax and unwind.

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The yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) lineup includes many standard favorites such as "negima (chicken and scallion skewer)" and "tegone tsukune (hand-shaped chicken meatball skewer)," and pairs well with the wide selection of drinks.

One especially recommended item is the "sasami wasabi (chicken tenderloin with wasabi)," featuring fluffy chicken tenderloin topped with wasabi for a sharp accent, according to reviews.

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The "Kodawari Tamago no Dashimaki" is a recommended dish made with Special eggs and dashi stock from Special ingredients.

With the gentle aroma of dashi and the rich, deep flavor of the eggs, it pairs perfectly with any drink.

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Located a 2-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, “47 Todofuken no Nihonshu Seizoroi Fujiki Shoten Ikebukuro Honten” is an izakaya where you can enjoy Japanese sake from all over Japan.

The hideaway-like interior on the second floor of the building is spacious and has a calm atmosphere.

Photograph:悠グルメ（you_gourme）

The “kani miso korayaki (grilled crab shell with crab tomalley),” which the staff sears and finishes right in front of you, is a popular dish that pairs perfectly with Japanese sake.

Inside the shell, it is packed with shredded crab meat and kani miso, with chopped green onion adding a nice accent.

Photograph:sada.gourmet

The popular maguro no negitoro yukke (seasoned chopped fatty tuna with green onion) features neatly shaped tuna topped with chopped green onion and an egg yolk.

The tuna, coated in a slightly sweet sauce, has a melt-in-your-mouth taste, and it also pairs well with carefully selected local sake.

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Yakitori Dining Issui, just a short walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, is an izakaya (Japanese pub) that focuses on yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) and oden (Japanese hot pot dishes). In particular, they use a carefully crafted pouring method and dedicated glasses to bring out the best taste of "The Premium Malt's."

Inside, the stylish space is designed with the image of a forest and a cave in mind.

Photograph:たつきグルメ77

The "oden (Japanese hot pot with ingredients simmered in broth)" available year-round is popular for its carefully made broth.

They offer items like "tamago (egg)" and "hanpen (soft fish cake)," which also go well as snacks with beer, and the "daikon radish" in particular is said to be large and very filling.

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The homemade dashimaki tamago (Japanese rolled omelet with dashi) is recommended as a mildly flavored snack.

It is said to be so soft that the dashi broth overflows with each bite, with a light and airy texture. It also pairs perfectly with the grated daikon radish served on the side.

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Yakiton Daiō Ikebukuro Ten, run by a meat wholesaler, is an izakaya where you can enjoy fresh beef and pork brought in every morning.

Located just a 1-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, the bright interior has a calm feel, with counter and table seating.

Photograph:ぎっちょん1967

The "Aka Motsunikomi" is one of the restaurant's recommended dishes, with Horumon and egg piled high in the bowl.

The Horumon is simmered slowly, and they say it has a mild level of heat and turns out tender and easy to eat.

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"Karipon Chicken," made with crispy fried chicken skin. It is topped with ponzu sauce and finely chopped green onion, giving it a light, refreshing finish.

The outer skin is nice and crisp, while the inside is said to have a pleasantly chewy texture.

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Kakurebo Ikebukuro Ten is an izakaya in a building just a 1-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, where you can enjoy creative Japanese cuisine made with seasonal ingredients.

Inside, you'll find a refined Japanese-style space with Private room options in a range of sizes. Among them, the "kamakura (snow hut) Private room" for up to 4 people is especially popular.

Photograph:ぶろっこりーサラダ

The "ozukuri (sashimi) five-type assortment" is a dish that lets you fully enjoy the day's recommended Special seafood selection, and the thick cuts make it really satisfying.

It is recommended to enjoy it with their carefully selected Kuramoto Odaya Kappo Daiginjo Shoyu (premium soy sauce for kappo cuisine). It also pairs perfectly with Japanese sake from places like Niigata Prefecture, Kochi Prefecture, and other regions.

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"Kara-age of nagaimo (Japanese mountain yam) and Kitaakari potatoes with mentaiko (spicy cod roe) sauce" is a popular menu item that lets you enjoy two textures: crispy nagaimo and fluffy Kitaakari.

It pairs perfectly with smooth, refreshing beer or a sour.

Photograph:食べ歩きグルメ旅

The “Special negima (chicken and white leek skewer)” is a popular menu item made by skewering chicken and shiro-negi (white leek) alternately.

Seasoned simply with just salt, it brings out the mild sweetness of the shiro-negi and the juicy flavor of the chicken. It is a great dish to enjoy with beer.

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Shikien Ikebukuro Honten is an izakaya where you can enjoy yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) cooked over charcoal.

Located on the 4th floor of a building about a 5-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, it feels like a hidden retreat. They offer a range of Private room options in different sizes to suit any group.

The “kisetsu no osashimi go-ten moriawase (seasonal five-piece sashimi assortment)” features fish caught in the rich seas of the Hokuriku region.

With thick-cut tuna, buri (Japanese amberjack), and other seasonal ingredients beautifully arranged to match the time of year, it pairs perfectly with Japanese sake and shochu.

Photograph:卓球少女

Uokichi Sakaba Ikebukuro Ten is a 2-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station.

This seafood izakaya (Japanese pub) is known for its grilled fresh fish and kamameshi (rice cooked in an iron pot), and the spacious interior has large waves painted on the walls, creating an open atmosphere.

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The "hokke yaki (grilled Atka mackerel)" lets you enjoy thick, juicy flesh and pairs perfectly with Japanese sake.

The well grilled skin is crisp and fragrant, and the tender, flaky flesh goes perfectly with grated daikon radish.

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The "sake (salmon) and ikura (salmon roe) oyako kamameshi (parent-and-child pot-cooked rice)" is a great pick to finish off your drinks. It comes in a large pot that looks enough for 2〜3 servings, so it is very filling.

The glossy, freshly cooked ginshari (premium white rice) pairs perfectly with the salmon and ikura, and it is so good that you can finish it in no time.

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Kin no Kura Ikebukuro Sunshine-dori Ten is an izakaya where you can enjoy fresh seafood delivered from the market, and it offers a good value All you can eat and drink menu.

Located on the basement level of a building about a 5-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, the interior has a calm atmosphere.

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The "All you can eat and drink plan" is a popular course that lets you enjoy 45 items with All you can eat and drink for 2 hours.

The menu has a wide variety of options, including crisp fried Kara-age and salads. It is a great deal that the price stays the same no matter how much you eat and drink.

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The pizza baked on a tortilla crust is known for its crisp texture, making it easy to eat slice after slice.

The classic "Margherita Pizza" and the rich, filling "Teriyaki Chashu (braised pork) Wafu Pizza" are said to go down easily as snacks to enjoy with drinks.

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Yakitoriya Sumire Ikebukuro Higashiguchi Ten is a particular izakaya where you can enjoy Daisen-dori (brand chicken from Tottori Prefecture).

Located on the first floor of a building just steps from JR Ikebukuro Station, the interior has the warmth of wood and a stylish, relaxed atmosphere.

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The recommended yakitori is momo (chicken thigh), which is said to be juicy and delicious. You can choose either salt or tare sauce for the seasoning.

It is grilled to just the right doneness to lock in the flavor of Daisen-dori (Daisen chicken), and it pairs perfectly with a highball or beer.

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The "funwari tsukune (fluffy chicken meatball)" served with tare sauce is popular for its large size and plump texture, making it a great match for drinks.

You can enjoy it as is for its simple flavor, or add toppings like "terimayo" or cheese and arrange it however you like.