01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Heading down the stairs into the basement in Mejiro, Torihachi reveals the nostalgic charm of an old-school izakaya, complete with a red lantern ambiance. With its relaxed, unhurried atmosphere, it offers a welcoming setting where solo diners can settle in comfortably with a large bottle of beer and take their time over a meal.
The grilled skewers are a natural place to start, centred on izakaya staples such as negima (chicken and spring onion), skin, gizzard, liver, and tsukune (chicken meatballs), served in modest portions in orders of 3. The selection extends to chicken wings and pork belly, alongside grilled cartilage, fresh shiitake mushrooms, fragrant roasted ginkgo nuts, and rich grilled eel liver—ideal for pacing your drinks with your choice of seasoning.
Thoughtful Small Plates Alongside Grilled Skewers
Beyond yakitori, the extensive roster of side dishes and drinking snacks is a key part of the draw. The variety spans fresh seafood options like tuna sashimi, house-cured mackerel (shimesaba), and minced sardine tataki, through to hearty crowd-pleasers like garlic pork sauté and Taiwanese-style omelette. Interspersing these with deep-fried or grilled natto, nukazuke rice-bran pickles, or chilled tomatoes only heightens the easygoing appeal of the evening.
Drink options include beer alongside lemon sours, chuhai, barley shochu, and junmai sake. The shop operates from 5:00 in the evening until late at night, and payment is cash only, so having sufficient cash on hand before dropping by is advisable. It is the sort of dependable spot to drop into on a whim whenever you want to wind down the day with comforting tavern fare.
