Ogikubo "Momiji"
Founded in 1977, Ogikubo Momiji is celebrating its 49th year and will soon reach half a century. Located a 15-minute walk south from the station, it is a famous bar in Ogikubo, located near Kanpachi, with a striking exterior and interior, and above all, unbelievable prices, attracting customers from both the local area and far and wide.
Just the fact that it's "momiji" and not "momiji" gets me excited.
The 74-year-old owner makes a daily routine of riding his 250cc motorcycle to Toyosu to buy goods. He buys goods once a week on Thursdays, and says Thursdays are the best day to buy when the store has a wide selection of products.
It was a Tuesday, and when I arrived just after 3pm, there were three drunk local regulars sitting at the counter. Although each of them was alone, they seemed to know each other and were having a great time chatting about common topics.
Excuse me for intruding in the middle of such a fun space!
Bottled beer
First, let's toast with Ichiban Shibori. A glass of Ichiban Shibori is so refreshing after a long walk in the summer sun!
I immediately started talking to the regulars on either side of me. I forget what they said, but they never came over to me and taught me all about the store, making me feel as comfortable as possible.
Fugu sashimi
The pufferfish sashimi is presented in a lovely circle and is served with homemade ponzu sauce. It's only 300 yen. You'll hardly find any other restaurant in the whole country that sells it at this price. Apparently the reason for the low price is that it's not boxfish but "shosai pufferfish." If I hadn't been told, I, an ordinary person, wouldn't know the difference.
Marinated mackerel
This well-marinated mackerel is cut into bite-sized pieces and is also priced at an incredible 300 yen.
I had a lively conversation with the regulars and had another drink.
Fugu bone sake
This bone sake is a dry sake with a subtle hint of pufferfish tail. The pufferfish has such a strong presence that you could easily drink five of it.
Eel omelet
This tamagoyaki (rolled omelet) is made with three eggs and is topped with a sweet sauce. It also contains eel, making it a hearty and excellent value dish.
Oolong tea mix
Another regular customer joins in, resetting the conversation and raising the bar even further.
I've tried a lot of different types of alcohol, but I've decided to drink oolong highballs as my "last train drink" and will drink them until the end.
Fried noodles to finish off the meal
One of the regulars said, "I love the yakisoba here," so I decided to join in and order some. I was surprised at how generous the portion was, but 250 yen for this amount is practically cost-price!
I washed down my third drink, "Last Train Drink," with oolong highball and finished feeling very satisfied!
word used after one has been treated (esp. used after a meal)
After the regulars have left, the second round is when the place enters its busy season and is sure to be packed.
If you want to enjoy a drink at your own pace, the best time to come is during the opening hours. You can spend quality time with friendly regulars while it's still light out, and get excited (autumn leaves)!
menu
Store Information
Maple
Time: 15:00-23:30
Closed: No regular holidays
Address: 2-24-10 Ogikubo, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 167-0051
English
Japanese
Comment