Kikusui

Hanging its noren curtain along a side lane just off Ningyocho's main avenue, Kikusui is an izakaya serving authentic seafood and traditional Japanese fare in a relaxed wooden setting. At lunchtime, the specialty is an array of seafood bowls (kaisendon) that diners can customize with options like tuna, salmon, negitoro (minced fatty tuna with scallions), and avocado. Options include the popular sanshokudon topped with tuna, salmon, and negitoro, and diners have the welcome choice between seasoned sushi rice or plain steamed rice as their base. Heartier midday staples are also available to refuel, such as classic katsudon, oyakodon, and a slowly simmered beef tendon curry rice.

As evening arrives, the kitchen turns to fresh seafood selections showcasing the chef's discerning eye, well-suited for lingering over drinks. The dinner menu features daily sashimi assortments and fresh fish either grilled or simmered, alongside savory options such as rock-salt-grilled Hinai jidori chicken and fluffy dashi-rolled omelets prepared soba-shop style. To accompany the dishes, the drink list brings together junmai and ginjo sake curated from regional breweries across Japan, including Kochi's Senchu Hassaku, Fukui's Kokuryu, Yamagata's Sanhyakunen no Okiteyaburi, and Fukushima's Daishichi.

Comforting finales include dashi-rich soup chazuke, grilled onigiri ten-chazuke, and hot udon made with Okukuji eggs, rounding out the meal on a deeply savory note. The ground floor provides counter seating with views of the kitchen along with regular tables, while the second floor has spacious tatami seating suited for both solo dining and group meals with colleagues.