Izakaya
Posted October 25th, 2008 in Eat out in Japan 7 Comments »As my holiday to Jakarta/Japan is just around the corner, my friends are organising a gathering for my homecoming:) The friends are my classmates from a college in Osaka, and most of them went to America to go to university after graduating the college. Some of them, including myself, chose to come to Australia. Everyone except me and one girl is now living in Japan and working happily 🙂
When they asked me “where do you want to go?”, I answered “Izakaya!” straight away. Izakaya is a type of Japanese bar and they serve Izakaya food. Izakaya food is more substantial than that offered in normal bars and snack bars. They have yakitori, salad, noodle, rice dish and some snack food to accompany the drinks. They also has dessert menu. Even though the place is supposed to be for drinking, people sometimes bring their children along as well. I think Izakaya is kind of Family Restaurant + Drink Bar ÷ 2 .
The reason why I love Izakaya is the atmosphere, as well as the food and the price. I don’t go to Izakaya by myself, but I always go there with a couple of friends. We talk loudly, lough loudly and eat & drink! All the stresses go away 🙂
Unfortunately there is no Izakaya In Perth:=( …Correction, actually there are few, but the food and drinks are very very very expensive. I have been to this Izakaya-like Japanese restaurant in Perth city once, and I was surprised by their price. One small tiny salad ( the plate was smaller than my palm) costs A$8.90 (>0<). In Japanese Izakaya this type of food is usually free (tsukidashi).
I know there are so many Izakaya (quite cheap) in Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne. But not in Perth 🙁 …Perth is pretty isolated city compared with Eastern states. Is there Izakaya in other countries too?
Looking at the pictures makes me really really hungry! ↓↓↓
I love Chu-Hi 🙂
And cocktais.
I love 居酒屋 (Izakaya)!
I don’t know about 大阪 (Osaka)…but in Tokyo, the Izakaya chain called 「和民」 (Watami) are all over.
I like Watami. Sometimes I can get a free drink ticket (for 中生 or other medium size drink)!
Have you been to Watami? (Did you know that Watami owns TGIF Japan (the Japan branches of the American chain restaurant)?
I prefer Izakaya to TGIF, though.
>I love Chu-Hi
Chu-Hi are popular in Japan. I like any alcohol…but I think beer is best! 🙂
(I wrote a little bit about beer:
http://tokyo5.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/fourth-of-july/ )
「和民」 (Watami) is everywhere, I think 🙂 Even in Shiga. Yes I have been to Watami and I like there too 🙂 Very cheap!
I don’t know what’s TGIF is… is it kind of restaurant??
Beer… actually I couldn’t drink beer before :p Now I do, but not too much. I still prefer sho-chu 🙂
TGIF is an American restaurant chain. TGIF means “Thank God It’s Friday”.
I never eat there. Even the one’s in Japan are very American (like Hard Rock Cafe). Giant portions…and not so good menu, I think.
(Maybe I’m not used to American food anymore. But I don’t like HRC or TGIF).
I saw on Watami’s menu that they own many restaurants…including TGIF Japan.
TGIF Japan’s website is here:
http://www.tgifridays.co.jp/html/index.html
I just looked at TGIF Japan’s website.
They’re only in 東京 and 横浜. Only 8 restaurants in Japan.
The first one was in 渋谷 … It’s right next door to a 和民 restaurant. I have been to 和民 in Shibuya many times and have seen that TGIF.
TGIF… I’ve never seen it :p
There are millions of good restaurants in Japan and I also think that TGIF’s menu is not really tempting…
Very American ☆
Watami must be a big and successful company.
…what’s HRC??
Sorry…by “HRC”, I mean: “Hard Rock Cafe“.
HRC and TGIF have similar menus. The food doesn’t appeal to me either…and their prices are high!
And, yes, Japan has many excellent restaurants. No need to go to an American restaurant if you’re in Japan!
I agree 🙂