Gotanda (Tokyo)
Local Supporter
5 recommended izakaya in Gotanda where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks.

Gotanda is often thought of as a business district. In reality, it is dotted with izakayas where you can enjoy delicious food and drinks at reasonable prices. From red-lantern taverns that retain a good old Showa-era atmosphere to izakayas where you can casually enjoy authentic restaurant-quality dishes, here are 5 recommended spots loved by the locals.

A popular tavern where you can feel the atmosphere of the Showa era

Hearty "Niku-dofu" (meat and tofu) for 500 yen
Hearty "Nikudofu" (meat and tofu) for 500 yen

A red-lantern style popular tavern located in the Higashi-Gotanda area. The shop, which retains the same Showa-era atmosphere it had when it first opened, is visited by many long-time fans.
Its signature dish is the "Nikudofu" (meat tofu), served piled high on a plate. The onions and pork, stained reddish-brown by the broth, have been simmered thoroughly, allowing the flavors to soak deep inside. Since it comes out immediately after ordering, it's a good idea to order drinks and the Nikudofu first while you think about what to order next. Another great point is that all the menu items are voluminous and available at affordable prices around 500 yen.

A wide variety of alcoholic beverages, including local sake

The walls of the restaurant are lined with menus. The cozy atmosphere of this charming izakaya, bustling with customers, is very comfortable.
The walls of the restaurant are lined with menus. The bustling, atmospheric izakaya vibe is very comfortable

The menu is also packed with essential izakaya staples like grilled offal and stewed offal. There is a wide variety of drinks, with a lineup that includes local sake, shochu, and chuhai, all of which make the food even more enjoyable.
Also, during lunchtime, you can enjoy hearty set meals like sashimi or grilled fish for around 1,000 yen.
The shop is run by a married couple who have been together since their days working at a liquor store as company employees. With its unchanging atmosphere and nostalgic flavors, it is a place that gives customers a sense of relief and helps them relax.

Local
Supporter

In addition to the standard menu, the blackboard hanging in the shop lists dishes made with seasonal ingredients. Please note that only cash is accepted, so keep that in mind when visiting.

Asari (clams)
  • Address2-4-5 Higashi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo MAP
  • AccessApprox. 5-minute walk from Gotanda Station (JR, Tokyu, Toei Subway)
  • Business hoursMon-Sat 11:30-13:30, 17:00-23:00
  • ClosedSundays and public holidays
  • TEL03-3441-0839
  • ParkingNone
  • NotesCash only

The signature beef tendon and tomato stew is a must-try

From the right: "Beef Tendon Tomato Stew" for 473 yen, "Garlic Toast (2 pieces)" for 220 yen.
From the right: "Beef tendon tomato stew" for 473 yen, "Garlic toast (2 pieces)" for 220 yen

A popular tavern bustling with office workers in Gotanda. The menu features a variety of pub staples, centered on grilled pork skewers, as well as sashimi and homemade dishes.
The signature "Beef Tendon Tomato Stew" is made with a soup of simmered Wagyu beef, paprika, and chili peppers, characterized by a sweet and spicy flavor that feels somewhat exotic. We recommend ordering it with garlic toast to dip into the soup.
Additionally, alcoholic beverages like sours, hoppy, and highballs are served with the mixers on the side, allowing you to adjust the strength to your preference.

The stewed dish incorporating Filipino cooking methods is exquisite

There are counter seats, and since dishes can be ordered in half-sizes, it is easy to stop by for a quick solo drink.
With counter seating and the option to order half-sized portions, it is easy to stop by for a quick solo drink.

The owner's wife, who manages the floor, is from the Philippines. All of the stewed dishes were born from ideas she gathered while visiting her home country. In the warm climate of the Philippines, ingredients are simmered slowly and vinegar is added to enhance preservation. Incorporating this technique, the "Pork Tendon Stew" features meat made tender by the vinegar, which also adds an accent to the flavor. The "Coconut Stew," a mild dish made by simmering pork and paprika in coconut milk, is also said to be so popular that it sells out as soon as it appears on the menu.

Local
Supporter

The shop opens at 4:30 PM and is always full of regular customers of all ages. Many fans consider Kane-sho a must-visit in Gotanda, and it has long been loved by locals for being cheap and delicious.

Yakiton Sakaba Kanesho
  • Address1F Ishizuka Building, 2-6-1 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo MAP
  • AccessApprox. 2-minute walk from Toei Subway Gotanda Station
    Approx. 3-minute walk from JR Gotanda Station
    Approx. 5-minute walk from Tokyu Gotanda Station
  • Business hoursMon-Sat, day before holidays 16:30-23:30 (L.O. 23:00) *Sun/Holidays until 22:30 (L.O. 22:00)
  • ClosedOpen all year round
  • TEL03-3495-4677
  • ParkingNone

The "zero-weight" light-textured horse mackerel fry is a must-try

The photo shows two servings of "half-cooked" horse mackerel fry (1 serving = 2 pieces for 1,280 yen). You can also order one serving with one "half-cooked" and one "well-cooked" piece.
The photo shows two servings of the "soft-boiled" horse mackerel fry (1 serving = 2 pieces for 1,280 yen). You can also order one serving with one "soft-boiled" and one "well-done" piece.

A popular izakaya where you can enjoy dishes centered on blue-backed fish such as horse mackerel, mackerel, and sardines. Descend to the basement floor of a building in Nishi-Gotanda to find a stylish space. The signature dish is the horse mackerel fry, which uses the catchphrase "zero weight." There are two types to enjoy: the moist and rare "half-cooked" and the thoroughly fried "well-done," each offering a different texture. The "half-cooked" version, fried for only 30 seconds, is a favorite. The harmony between the crispy batter and the rare horse mackerel is irresistible. We recommend starting with salt and wasabi, then enjoying the changing flavors with homemade chive soy sauce and tartar sauce.

Pair Japanese sake with an extensive menu of appetizers centered on blue-backed fish

They source horse mackerel directly from Matsuura, Nagasaki Prefecture, known as the "Mecca of Horse Mackerel Fry."
They source horse mackerel directly from Matsuura, Nagasaki Prefecture, which is known as the "mecca of horse mackerel fry."

The horse mackerel featured on the sign is primarily sourced from Matsuura, Nagasaki Prefecture, with a focus on its thick texture and deep flavor. In addition to fried horse mackerel, you can enjoy a rich menu featuring blue-backed fish, such as the "Aomori" sashimi platter with six varieties of blue-backed fish, seared mackerel sushi, and potato salad with heshiko (salt-cured blue-backed fish like mackerel). We recommend pairing your meal with sake; the owner selects different brands each season. As it is a popular restaurant, reservations are essential. If you are visiting on the day, it is best to aim for right after opening.

Local
Supporter

If you like sake, be sure to try "SABA de SHU," a sake made specifically for mackerel. Its pleasant acidity pairs perfectly with rich mackerel dishes.

Shuko Aomon
  • AddressKK Bldg. B1F, 2-31-4 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo MAP
  • AccessApprox. 5-minute walk from JR Gotanda Station
    Approx. 5-minute walk from Tokyu Osaki-hirokoji Station
  • Business hours17:30-23:30 (L.O. 22:30)
  • ClosedIrregular holidays
  • TEL03-6417-0636
  • ParkingNone

Beef skirt steak skewers, limited to one per person, that preserve the taste from the time of founding

The "Beef Skirt Steak Skewer" (front) comes with potato salad and is 990 yen per skewer. Limited to one per person. The seared beef heart (back) is also popular.
The "Beef Skirt Steak Skewer" (front) comes with potato salad and is 990 yen per skewer. Orders are limited to one per person. The seared beef heart (back) is also popular.

An izakaya with a rustic exterior tucked away in a back alley right near Gotanda Station. It is said that there are regular customers who have been visiting every week for over 40 years since it opened in 1979 (Showa 54). The signature menu item is the "Beef Skirt Steak Skewer" made with domestic Wagyu beef. It is grilled rare, allowing you to fully enjoy the savory flavor characteristic of lean meat. The founder noticed beef skirt steak (diaphragm), which was not that popular in the 1980s, and added it to the menu. The taste from the time of the founding has been passed down to this day. There is also a wide variety of other dishes using domestic Wagyu beef, with "Beef Cartilage Skewers" and "Beef Tail Soup Rice Porridge" being popular.

A wide selection of authentic sweet potato shochu from Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures

The names of regular customers are written all over the walls and ceiling, showing how long it has been loved.
The walls and ceiling are covered with the names of regular customers, showing how long the place has been loved.

The restaurant's name, "Nichinan," comes from the founder's wife's hometown of Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture. For this reason, the walls of the restaurant are lined with bottles of authentic sweet potato shochu from Miyazaki and Kagoshima Prefectures. The lineup is irresistible for shochu lovers, including rare brands that are not often seen in Tokyo. It is a great idea to order two or three beef skewers and take your time enjoying the authentic sweet potato shochu. The signature beef skirt steak skewers are bound to sell out, so be sure to arrive early and place your order.

Local
Supporter

Nichinan's specialty drink, "Wine-wari," is made by mixing "Kinmiya" shochu with white wine. The ratio is 7 parts Kinmiya to 3 parts white wine. If you have a high tolerance for alcohol, give it a try!

Kushiyaki Shochu Nichinan
  • Address1-13-6 Higashi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo MAP
  • AccessApprox. 3-minute walk from JR/Tokyu/Toei Subway Gotanda Station
  • Business hours18:00-23:00 (L.O. 22:00)
  • ClosedSaturdays, Sundays, and holidays
  • TEL03-3449-4425
  • ParkingNone

An authentic Japanese-style izakaya famous for its skewers, located in "Gotanda Hills"

For the fish skewers (left), from the front: mackerel, tuna head meat, and salmon belly, each for 200 yen. The "Peachy" (right) is 300 yen per skewer.
The fish skewers (left), from front to back, are mackerel, tuna brain, and salmon belly, each for 200 yen. The "Peachy" (right) is 300 yen per skewer.

This 8-seat counter izakaya is located in "Gotanda Hills," a popular spot in Gotanda packed with snack bars. The dishes, created by a chef who trained at a high-end Japanese restaurant in Akasaka, are reasonably priced yet delicate in flavor. The chef's experience is particularly evident in the grilled fish skewers. Ingredients such as rare cuts of tuna, salmon belly, and mackerel are sourced directly from an acquaintance working at Toyosu Market, allowing you to fully enjoy the quality of the ingredients. Furthermore, a favorite among regulars is the "Pee-Chee." These are skewers of green peppers and cheese wrapped in pork, and the exquisite balance of bitterness and sweetness is sure to get you hooked.

Japanese dishes such as chawanmushi and dashimaki tamago are also popular

The interior has an L-shaped counter with 8 seats. The distance between customers is just right, creating a homey atmosphere where conversation flows naturally.
The interior features an L-shaped counter with 8 seats. The distance between customers is just right, creating a homey atmosphere where conversation naturally flows.

The chef, who began his culinary career at the age of 20, is a talented professional who has experienced all aspects of the kitchen at high-end restaurants, including grilling, deep-frying, simmering, and preparation. His skills shine in Japanese dishes like steamed egg custard and rolled omelets, both of which are said to be popular with regulars. The celebrity autographs covering the walls are proof of his well-regarded reputation. With advance reservations, he can even arrange hot pot dishes not on the menu. Why not drop by for your first stop in Gotanda Hills?

Local
Supporter

The real thrill of "Gotanda Hills," where Mitei is located, is the ability to go "bar hopping." It's a great idea to start at Mitei and visit a few other places.

Mitei
  • AddressRiver Light Building 1F, 1-9-3 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo MAP
  • AccessApprox. 2-minute walk from JR/Tokyu Gotanda Station
    Approx. 3-minute walk from Toei Subway Gotanda Station
  • Business hours17:00–24:00
  • ClosedSunday
  • TEL090-3547-2661
  • ParkingPaid (shared building parking)

MAP

Nearby Hoshino Resorts facilities
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*The information provided is current as of the date of the article's update. Please check in advance as it may be subject to change.