sakeba

Scam alert. A 2,000¥ service charge per person is absurd—that’s the cost of an entire meal at countless restaurants across Tokyo. We ordered from the Japanese menu, which made no mention of any service charge—only to be told at the end that it’s ‘company policy’ to charge each gaijin an outrageous f...ee. This business exploits foreigners under the guise of hospitality and is a stain on Tokyo’s dining culture. We weren’t informed verbally or in writing—just handed the bill with the fee already added. They claim the charge is to “enhance the experience” for international guests, but: • We ordered from the Japanese menu. • We didn’t ask for English assistance. • We received no extra service whatsoever. Let’s be real—this was about quietly tacking on a hidden charge based on nationality. That’s not hospitality; that’s a scam. Update: After responding to my review, the restaurant refunded the service charge without issue. The staff were polite, and I appreciated their effort to make things right. We genuinely enjoyed parts of the meal, but the lack of clear, upfront disclosure still affected the overall experience. Ironically, we likely would’ve become return customers and spent far more than the 4,000 yen service charge if things had simply been on the level from the start. ⸻ 詐欺に注意。1人あたり2,000円のサービス料は非常識です。東京中の多くのレストランで、一食分に相当する金額です。私たちは日本語メニューで注文しましたが、サービス料については一切記載がなく、食後になって「会社の方針」として外国人に1人ずつ2,000円を請求されました。これはホスピタリティを装った外国人への搾取であり、東京の飲食文化に泥を塗る行為です。 サービス料については、事前に口頭でも書面でも一切説明がなく、会計時に突然請求されました。 店側は「外国人ゲストの体験を向上させるための特別なサービス」と説明しますが、実際には： • 日本語メニューで注文した • 英語でのサポートは一切求めていない • 最低限のサービス以外は何も受けていない はっきり言って、これは国籍を理由にこっそり上乗せされた隠れ料金です。 それはホスピタリティではなく、詐欺です。 【追記】口コミへの返信を受けて、店舗でサービス料をスムーズに返金していただきました。スタッフの方の対応も丁寧で、誠意を感じました。料理も一部は楽しめたのですが、事前に明確な説明がなかったことはやはり全体の印象に影響しました。正直なところ、もし最初からきちんと案内されていれば、リピーターになっていたかもしれませんし、結果的に4,000円以上の利用をしていたと思います。とても残念です。

Visited April 2025

We found this place in Google and decided to try it because of all the 5-star reviews. Even with such high expectations, it did not disappoint! Amazing sake and amazing food!

Visited November 2023

Randomly found this spot on our last night in tokyo and we couldn’t be happier. The food was tasty and well presented, with a nice variety of options that accommodates all tastes and needs. The place is cozy and well curated, and the staff is amazing. Make sure to try some of their Sake selection!... ◡̈

Visited May 2023

Nice Japanese sake, nice food and nice mood! This bar has some special Japanese sake bottles, which I have not seen at other bar. Enjoy!

Visited October 2022

First of all, they offer you appetizers (which, as we found out later, cost 850 per person and are not good at all). The sake was ok, the food was literally disgusting. We came out with a bill of 7000 yen, hungry and disappointed.

Visited October 2019