What is izakaya style dining?

Izakaya (居酒屋) are casual drinking establishments, similar to tapas bars, where customers order a variety of small dishes of food that can be shared at the table. Primarily drinking places, izakaya also offer a wide range of domestic and sometimes imported alcoholic beverages, including beer, sake and shochu.

What does izakaya mean in Japan?

stay-drink-place
The Japanese word izakaya (居酒屋) is made up of three kanji with the meaning, in order, “stay-drink-place.” A spot to grab a drink, settle in, and get comfortable.

Can you go to izakaya alone?

Going to an izakaya alone is possible, but it’ll be expensive. The food is designed to be shared, so the portions are large. This makes it pricey to try a variety of food items. Also, most izakaya have a mandatory seating fee of ¥300-500.

Which is the best izakaya to go to in Japan?

The Japanese izakaya is like a cross between a tapas bar and a classic British pub. Nothing beats it for a night out with friends, a nomikai (drinking party) with co-workers, or a casual drink after clocking out. Discover the best izakaya in Tokyo.

What kind of food does an izakaya serve?

However, that analogy doesn’t quite do them justice. Izakaya are halfway between pubs and restaurants; typically, they serve an array of traditional Japanese food (tempura, yakitori, sashimi, etc) but the environment is informal, lubricated by plentiful drinks (beer, sake, shochu, sours, etc).

Which is the best robata izakaya in Tokyo?

With rave reviews from Lonely Planet and TripAdvisor, Jomon is definitely one of the best robata (grilled food) izakaya in town. You’ll be asked to remove your shoes before entering and you may end up sat on an empty beer crate if it’s busy. Not to worry, this all adds to Jomon’s charm.

Is there a smoking ban in izakaya in Japan?

Well, there’s no indoor smoking ban in Japan so izakaya can get pretty smokey (some may have non-smoking areas), plus, you may be subject to a seating charge simply for the privilege of sitting down. Get over these factors, however, and you’re all set.