01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Stepping down the stairs into the basement near Yoyogi Station brings you to Yoyogian, an izakaya known for thoughtfully prepared Japanese bar fare and an exceptional drinks selection. Blackboard specials and menus feature seasonal sashimi assortments cut according to the day's market catch, rotating potato salads that shift with the seasons, and freshly fried thick tofu. Portions can often be adjusted depending on party size, accommodating solo drinkers as comfortably as small groups settling in for a relaxed evening.
The depth of dishes crafted to complement drinks is a central part of the tavern's appeal. Guests can order concentrated delicacies such as house-cured karasumi, salted and fermented mackerel heshiko, pickled herring kirikomi, or cream cheese marinated in miso and sake lees. Alongside seasonal sake, the kitchen pours authentic shochu, including labels like Tenguzakura and Satsuma Kotobuki, blended with soft water days in advance using the maewari technique to yield a gentle, integrated mouthfeel.
The final course offers plenty of variety to cap off the gathering. Noodle selections span chilled sudachi citrus somen, rich white-broth paitan udon, and the house Masabon ramen, alongside ochazuke over rice topped with either sour plum or nori seaweed, and slow-cooked beef tendon curry. Given its popularity from late afternoon into the evening, securing a table in advance is advisable, and guests should note that payment is handled in cash.
