9am. My first time at Omiya Station in two years.
As I got off at the east exit, I saw Izumiya's branch and main store side by side in the rotary. I had some business to take care of in Omiya until the evening today, and I had made a list of some new bars I wanted to go to afterwards, but when I saw Izumiya half-open while they were preparing, that was it. As time went on, I found myself increasingly wanting to settle in at the reliable Izumiya rather than exploring something new.
I was drawn to the main store
By the time I finished my errands, it was already dark, and when I saw the Izumiya sign lit up, I couldn't help but go in.
( ´ー`)｡o○(First at the main store...)
When we entered the main store, most of the facing table seats were taken, but the staff helped us find an empty seat and showed us to it.
When you sit down, you'll see a spectacular panoramic display spread across the entire wall, with a lineup of menu items sure to capture the hearts of any drinker.
( ´ー`)｡o○(I'd love something like this on my living room wall too)
Above all, the high ceilings give it an open feeling. Yamadaya in Oji, which was demolished due to aging, also had high ceilings and was incredibly comfortable. I think Yamadaya will soon be reopening after renovations, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it will be like.
Let's start with Hoppy and ham and eggs
For now, I order the ham and eggs (350 yen) and Hoppy set (430 yen), which I somehow feel like ordering even though it's night, and settle down for the time being.
Condiments you'll want to use all the time
The condiments on the table are in bottles in the nametake mushrooms, with different numbers and shapes of holes depending on the condiment. The carefully calculated holes allow salt and shichimi pepper to come out just right, bringing out the full flavor of the dish.
Additional order of fried smelt
Add a Hoppy Naka (250 yen) and fried smelt (370 yen).
When you eat smelt, a freshwater fish, in Saitama Prefecture, which has no sea, you feel like you're eating freshly caught smelt.
Finish off with some nigori sake
We stretch our wings under the high ceiling and finish off the meal by sipping Meijo Sake Brewery's Kanbei Nigori Sake (270 yen).
( ´ー`)｡o○(Izumiya is Izumiya in Saitama)
Visit the neighboring branch
There is another bar in Omiya that attracts drinkers like wild birds flocking to a spring: the neighboring Izumiya Second Branch.
On this day, I ended up doing my first bar hopping trip from the main store to a branch of Izumiya. I decided to mainly enjoy the differences from the main store.
The branch has black Hoppy.
First, we had the Black Hoppy (430 yen) and stir-fried offal (330 yen), which are not available at the main store.
The simple stir-fried pork intestine and onion pair perfectly with the fragrant aroma of Black Hoppy. This combination, which you can't get at the main store, makes you feel truly luxurious.
The branch's stewed offal has XX
And the best part is the stewed offal (170 yen)
The seasoning, price, and cuts of meat used remain the same, but the branch stores come with mustard! I asked the store clerk if this was a mistake, and he said, "There's no mustard at the main store, haha. You're right."
As a stew mist fan, and of course as a bar lover, it's incredibly satisfying when you notice this kind of mistake-finding.
I might not have noticed this conundrum if I had been drinking with more than one person. I had planned to go to a different bar in the morning, but I ended up visiting the main store and the branch, and it was a day where I was able to rediscover the joy of drinking alone. Thank you for the meal.
[Izumiya Second Branch]
Address: 1-28 Daimonmachi, Omiya Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture
Time: 09:30-22:00
Closed: Open daily
English
Japanese
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