Kuranosuke

At Kuranosuke, satisfying dishes to accompany a drink include straw-seared bonito (salted tataki), whose smoky aroma brings out the fish’s savoury flavour. The izakaya is also known for serving sashimi as its otoshi, the small dish brought to the table at the start of a meal. Grilled options include the signature smoked Daisen chicken thigh, cooked until aromatic and juicy, and salmon belly grilled over charcoal.

Inventive small plates and tempura

The small plates have plenty of character. With the smoked bacon potato salad, diners break up and mix the ingredients to their preferred texture; a cabbage salad gets its flavour from monjayaki, the savoury griddled dish. Other options include chikuwa stuffed with potato salad and deep-fried, broccoli tempura, and freshly fried tempura available individually or as a selection. They all make good accompaniments to a drink.

Lemon sours and tea-based drinks

The Strongest Lemon Sour uses frozen lemon in place of ice, and more sour mix can be added as you drink. The menu also offers aromatic tea-based shochu drinks, including corn tea and soba tea, along with a broad selection of sake and shochu. All-you-can-drink options are available.

A satisfying finish

To round off the meal, choices include mountain wasabi rice made with Yamagata-grown Tsuyahime rice, and the signature mentaiko butter grilled rice ball, combining the richness of butter with mentaiko, spring onion and soy-based sauce. There are counter seats as well as tables for groups, making this a relaxed spot to book for dinner.