Let´s go to Izakaya

Japanese original restaurant, called "Izakaya". It might hard for first touch because they don't speak foreign  languages at all but let us try Izakaya, which are reasonable, delicious and fun dinning places. (Feb, 2008)

About Izakaya
Izakaya is generally considered as a Japanese style restaurant to serve alcohol and foods matching with alcohol. Difference from general restaurants is to serve alcohol and difference from bars and pubs is to serve more foods quantity and kinds.
They serve comparatively price-reasonable alcohol and have room for many people so groups of students and business people use Izakaya as "Casual Party" place.
Waiters and waitresses are mostly part time job, who hardly speak foreign languages.


Origin of Izakaya
In Edo period, liquor shops started to serve the alcohol at the shops and also started to serve foods as well. "I" of Izakaya means stay-for-while. 

Menus of Izakaya
The followings are menu you frequently see in Izakaya

Beer
Shochu
Sour (alcopop)
Chuhai
Sake
Wine
Whiskey

They usually don't serve unaffordable drink.
Foods depend on where you go. 

Salad
Edamame(Boiled green pees)
Fried Chicken
Japanese Pikles/Kimchee
Grilled Fish
Sashimi
Yakitori(Grilled chicken)
Ochazuke(Rice in flavor soup)
   

The above is typical menu in Izakaya.

Entry of Izakaya
If you have less than 5 peoples, seating without booking will be no problems but you should book the seat in Friday night, night before holiday, and December.

When you enter into Izakaya, they ask you the numbers of seat needed or guests. If it's so crowded you probably could wait for vacancy but nobody knows when it will be vacant so you might want to find out other Izakaya if there are so many on the waiting list.

Business Hour
It almost opens from 5:00PM. It sometimes opens from noon for serving lunch which is different from night menu. Closing time depends on where you go. Some Izakaya closes at 11:00PM and some Izakaya closes at 5:00AM.

How to order
First, they ask you drink. During they prepare ordered drink, you should choose food to order. When they bring the drink, you can order the food if you want. You can order food and drink anytime so don't have to order much at first in rush.

When you call the Izakaya crew, just raise your hand and say "Sumimasen" and they come to get order from you. Sometimes when it is crowded and noisy, they don't notice your call so waive your hand or say loud. If you are hesitated to do it, they hardly come to you for order. 

There are few Izakaya to have foreign language menu so you should refer the pictures on menu and feel it delicious, then just order it. They sometimes don't have pictures on menu either so if you don't have any ideas, ask recommendation in Japanese or just order as you feel.


Izakaya system
In Izakaya, even though you didn't order anything, they often serve small food on small dish, called "Otoshi" or "Tsukidashi". These are the starters which each Izakaya selects and charges for them. Please be sure that guests basically don't deny this service.


Price
It depends on how much you order. It costs between 2,000 to 3,000 yen per person if you didn't order much. On the other hand, when you order a lot and eat/drink much, it might cost approx 7,000 yen per person.

Check out
When you check out, just call and say "Okaikei" or make " X " by crossing your fingers then they bring check to you. In Japan, we mainly check out at the casher near entrance, not check out at each table.

Serching result of Izakaya at Gourmet Navigator(Japanese restaurant website)
Shinjuku District
Shibuya and Harajuku District
Ueno and Akihabara District
Ginza and Yurakucho District
Ikebukuro District


* Drinking alcohol under 20 yrs old is prohibited in Japan