Moto Tokyo: Yaesu

Moto Tokyo: Yaesu

Some eighty varieties of sake are ready to sample at this comfortable standing bar, along with traditional sake-drinking fare served in dainty portions. One nice touch here is that sake is served in proper wine glasses rather than tiny cups, the better to enjoy their aroma. The friendly staff are…

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Portillo: Otemachi

Portillo: Otemachi

This casual after-work Spanish bar offers a tempting selection of paellas and tapas dishes, along with reasonably priced Spanish wines and sherries. The rustic interior, built around a well-stocked bar, contributes to the cozy ambience, as do the big chalkboard menus filled with daily specials. There’s also an outdoor terrace…

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Trench: Ebisu

Trench: Ebisu

Trench offers an intriguing menu of signature cocktails and “twisted classics,” and they also stock a huge assortment of liquor and liqueurs if you want to branch out on your own. The interior space is tiny, with seats for only thirteen customers, but the two-story ceilings, street-facing windows, and impressive…

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Inaseya: Kyoto

Inaseya: Kyoto

Chicken sukiyaki is the specialty of the house here, and they use only the very best heirloom-breed birds – slightly chewy and very flavorful – in all their dishes. Sit in the main dining room overlooking the beautiful traditional garden and settle in for a banquet-style prix-fixe menu (starting at…

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Genka: Kanda

Genka: Kanda

The Genka chain of sake-specialty izakayas is known for their policy of selling sake “at cost.” Each branch serves several dozen premium sakes at remarkably low prices, starting at just Y280 per serving. The sake comes in cute 100ml mini-bottles that are the perfect size for sharing, and at these…

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Isshin: Kyoto

Isshin: Kyoto

This popular dining bar balances elegant decor with a casual, lively atmosphere. The kitchen turns out creative Japanese cuisine and offers a well-chosen sake list, all at quite reasonable prices. It’s hard to choose a favorite dish here, but the pork kakuni – served in a rich sauce with just…

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Swrl: Shibuya

Swrl: Shibuya

A menu full of exotic, sometimes savory wine-based cocktails is a fresh concept, and Swrl carries it off with panache. So many intriguing options: “Brooklyn”, combining peanut butter and celery over a Chardonnay base; “Barcelona”, an alluring mix of tomato, elderflower and rose wine; “San Diego”, flavored with ginger, kombucha…

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Gin Khao: Tameike

Gin Khao: Tameike

California-style Thai cuisine is the intriguing specialty at Gin Khao, and we found it a nice change of pace from the Bangkok street-stall fare that’s more usual for Tokyo. In addition to tom yum kung and curries, they offer entertaining cross-cultural dishes like Thai-style sriracha-glazed Buffalo chicken wings and spring…

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