IsomarusuisanIkebukuronishiguchi 1st Store

Both the fish i ordered were saturated with salt and inedible, the service was almost nonexistent (maybe since I am a foreigner) and to top it off, a surprise 400 yen cover charge. I went here on a recommendation from “Paulo from Tokyo” but to be honest, Paulo was way off.

Visited September 2019

The miso crab on the grill is delicious! there is a good choice of fish and sake, all good, the price is fair and the digital menu will save all the non Japanese speakers from blind order. Plus, it’s open 24 hours. I love it

Visited October 2018

Don't expect the traditional Japanese hospitality here as the wait staff seemed to be very busy and curt. We were assigned at a table right at the entrance, as there were constantly a cold draft from people entering in and out of the restaurant (the door isn't automatic and was very often left open)..., before we sat down, we asked if we could switch to other tables (there were plenty empty tables). As we were asking, the door was wide open, but the waitress refused to let us switch table, she simply pointed to the door, signifying us to go close the door ourselves. (My mother spoke Japanese well so I'm certain it wasn't a language problem) Well, we were tired and hungry so we decided to suck it up and stay for the meal. Luckily the restaurant provides each table with an iPad for ordering in many different languages, so we could proceed with the order without interacting with the waitstaff. Beware of a cover charge per head of about 400 yen (sorry but I can't remember the precise amount), for which they give each person a small dish of hors d'oeuvres. Do double check the final bill, as there seemed to be some back ground confusion of our bills where they added some extra charge but took it off before we paid. The food itself was very fresh and decently priced, which was the only saving grace for the situation.

Visited November 2017

Isomaru is not smack in the centre of Ikebukro, competing with the loads of other F+B outlets. Instead, it's tucked a little away from the JR station, directly opposite the Arts Theater, where the vibes cater to a younger crowd. And that's what caught my eye as we entered the Izakaya. It was beaming... with young people, tables of 4s and 6s, all having loud conversation, drinks (high ball seemed a Favourite), and constant shrieking and laughter. Besides ourselves, there was only 1 other table of oldies. The energy in the place is electrifying, with the waiting staff/cooks themselves being of the younger set. The food choice is varied, but a heavy focus on seafood. And the freshness of it is manifestly clear, when you sink your teeth into it. The prices are Low-to-mid range, starting from ¥350 upwards. The Crab fried rice is yummy, as is the grilled mackerel, the various sashimi donburi bowls are awesome (chunky pieces too), and the clams cooked in soup are superb. They even do party sets (ranging from ¥2500 - ¥4000 per pax) where you eat/drink as much as you can for 2 hours; 2 days advanced reservation with minimum of 4 pax required. Oh..and it's a 24hour joint too...so feeling pecking at 2am, head in there....

Visited October 2017

I love this place because of 2 reasons. First the self-grilled seafood and the rest of the food on the menu tastes excellent. For the grilled fresh seafood part they only offer a few kinds of fresh sea shell, prawns, scallops, and the MUST EAT stuffed crab paste shell. So why does everyone orderin...g this crab shell? Its basically some creamy crab paste with crabmeat with a hint of butter and cream. Highly recommended. The 2nd reason is the atmosphere. It has a very relaxing local atmosphere where you can enjoy a few beers, sake, wine and all kinds of local alcohol with a few friends for hours. Price is moderate. Depends on what you order i think it is reasonable for some fresh live seafood. Warm reminder - This shop does NOT have a non smoking area so basically there are people smoking all over the place. So if you are a non smoker please be aware.

Visited September 2016