A bar-like restaurant where you can drink in the morning
There are times throughout the year when I feel like drinking from midday, but there are also a few days a year when I want to drink from the morning. The "seamless" method, which I learned about from my bar master Tamabukuro Kintaro, who coined the term "Nikomi Mist," is a bold technique that allows you to wake up in the morning with the alcohol you drank the day before still fresh, and then seamlessly transition into your morning drink.
Market drinking is perfect for seamless drinking
The perfect bar for such a seamless experience is Iseya Shokudo, located inside Yodobashi Market in Okubo.
There is a restaurant on the premises that is frequented by people who work in the market from early in the morning, and of course there are restaurants where you can have drinks in the morning, not only in Tsukiji and Toyosu but also in Setagaya, Adachi, and Funabashi markets, and all of these are perfect restaurants within the market that are seamless.
Vegetable market along the railway tracks
If you get off at Okubo Station and walk in the opposite direction from the bustling Korean Town, you will come across Yodobashi Market. This fruit and vegetable market can be seen between Nakano Station and Shinjuku Station when riding an inbound train on the Chuo Line.
Even though I have no connection to any of the markets, I felt a slight thrill as I entered the gate, which was pleasant and similar to the excitement I felt when I was allowed inside an elementary school that is normally off-limits to the public only during elections.
There are two types of house names
If you look closely, you'll see that the name of the restaurant written on the signboard and the noren curtain is different; the signboard reads "Oshokuriku Iseya" and the noren curtain reads "Iseya Shokudo". The signboard is the name of the restaurant from the previous owner, and when the new owner took over, the name was changed from "ie" to "ya", but the signboard remains the same and now it seems to be written in two different ways. So it seems that "Iseya Shokudo" is the correct name.
Cafeteria menu for working people
The menu features standard items written on strips of paper and recommendations on a blackboard, and there is a full range of set meals to energize market workers. There are rice bowls and daily sashimi set meals, and the menu changes with the seasons so that even if you come every day, you won't get bored. Alcohol is only available in bottled beer and sake, as per the black belt regulations.
Start with a large bottle and the classic pork belly shogayaki.
To start with, I ordered a large bottle of beer (900 yen) and the standard menu item, pork belly ginger stir-fry (800 yen).
(´ー`)｡o○(I was timid and ordered half a portion of ginger pork)
Bottled beer comes with pickles as a bonus, and you can choose your favorite from a selection of small bowls of pickles. *I chose bitter melon pickles.
The feeling of yesterday's drunkenness is replaced by today's, creating a seamless experience. The Showa era pop music playing in the background is incredibly soothing, and the sounds of Seiko, Akira Fuse, and Hiromi Go go perfectly with bottled beer and ginger pork.
(´ー`)｡o○(I'm starting to wonder about the next tune)
Popular items and daily specials
Whenever I come here, I always order the pickled tomatoes (200 yen). The tomatoes from the produce market, soaked in sweet and sour dashi vinegar, are far more than juicy; they're almost juicy.
From the recommended menu on the blackboard, I chose gizzard shad sashimi (800 yen). Not only was the gizzard shad a staple of Edomae sushi, but the accompanying onions and other supporting condiments were also excellent.
Serve chilled
To finish off the night, I had a chilled Gekkeikan sake (500 yen) and slowly faded away. The amount of sake poured into the beer tank was generous, which was nice.
For my health, I'll disable seamless for now and take a little nap.
[Iseya Shokudo]
Address: Yodobashi Market, 4-2-1 Kitashinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 5:00 AM - 2:00 PM (L.O.)
Closed: Sundays and public holidays
English
Japanese
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