Daruma

This Tokyo restaurant is named after the famous little red Buddhist dolls which are a minor icon of Japan — you know; the angry-looking, ball-headed, red-hooded guys. You’ll see him emblazoned on the noren curtain hanging over the door when you enter. Inside is a pure, local style izakaya, with the menu written on paper slips affixed to the wall, and tipsy local regulars chatting away with the owners. The majority of the seating is arranged around a central rectangular counter, with some table seats around the perimeter of the room too. They offer a great range of Japanese alcohol to sample, for prices free from the inner-city tourist trap inflation! Grab a glass of traditional sake and shochu, or the more modern lemon sours and highballs beloved by salarymen. The dishes are many and delicious, with fresh seafood offerings like grilled clams, eel liver skewers, curry fried rice, grilled tuna, butter-baked oysters. Daruma is a great place to try all this fine, fresh Japanese seafood and more for a low price.