The Best Restaurants in Ikebukuro to Go Alone!
Good food in Ikebukuro.
Have you ever eaten horumon? Horumon is a popular Japanese cuisine made from beef or pork offal. But why not go to a horumon restaurant on your own?
I know it's not the usual thing to go eat out just by yourself, but sometimes, on your way back home, or after a day of shopping, don't you get those sudden yakiniku cravings? But don't you go on back home! Because I know a few good restaurants in Ikebukuro where you can eat alone without feeling awkward!
Yakiniku Dining KU.RO.
The first restaurant I head to is located near the east exit of Ikebukuro Station.
The black-and-white interior gives the restaurant a modern feel. I look over the menu, thinking that this would also be a good place for a date.
There are many kinds of horumon listed here!
Paunch, chitterling, liver, maw, heart, udder, outside skirt... Let's order some horumon then!
Oooh, this is so good! Horumon wisdom: Chew more, taste more, enjoy more!
There are plenty of things like salad and other side dishes, too. This restaurant's menu is a sight for sore eyes!
Yakiniku Ushiya
Let's go to the second restaurant. Yakiniku Ushiya is near the first restaurant, only two minutes on foot from the east exit of Ikebukuro station.
What I really like about this place is their long counter with plenty of seats: ideal for loners!
The horumon is very fresh, and you can have it cooked in one of their three homemade sauces : sweet-spicy sauce, garlic sauce or sweet-spicy miso sauce. Horumon fans, you will definitely enjoy this place!
They all sound tasty, but after some hesitation, I opt for the sweet-spicy miso sauce, along with some tender horumon.
Ooooh this is so good! The horumon is so smooooth... What a delicacy! And the sauce just complements it so well!
Mouth-watering, huh? Then time to head to Ikebukuro!
Aguri Tei
Alright, let's go to the third restaurant. This is one is only a short walk from the west exit of the station. Actually, the west side of Ikebukuro Station is famous for being the battleground of horumon stores in Tokyo. If you're a horumon newbie, this is the place to start!
The drawback of eating alone is that you can't try many things from the menu, but don't worry, this place offers an assortment of horumon for the sweet price of 1,000 yen.
And for only 160 yen, you can eat as much lettuce and sesame leaves as you want! They also have horumon of the day for 100 yen, directly sent from farmers in Gunma prefecture.
This place really is wallet-friendly. Ideal when eating out alone!
I am a meat person, but also like to eat vegetables. Specifically, wrapping lettuce around horumon is soooo good!! And here, you get to eat as much as you want!
This place should definitely be on your to-go list!
Sumibi Yakiniku Toraji
Let's go to the fourth restaurant!
Located in the same battleground of horumon restaurants, this place has a counter. Perfect for lonely horumon lovers!
There are all kinds of horumon on the menu, and you can also eat meat sashimi! Heck yeah, raw meat!
And every 29th of the month, the fillet steak is half price! (dinner only)
I love eating out alone because all the food is just for me. Especially, the paunch (my personal favorite!) of this restaurant is of superior quality. Enjoying it at the counter, all for myself, what a feast! The more I chew, the tastier it gets!
Horumon Yaki Daikokudo
The fifth and final restaurant, only one minute's walk from the west exit.
Daikokudo is renowned for horumon cooked in stone pots.
The stone pots are carefully crafted with the rare amphibole stone of Korea. This stone releases minerals and FIR (far-infrared) rays, giving the meat a unique taste different from meat cooked on grills or plates.
The horumon available, all Wagyu, is diverse and not at all expensive.
Wagyu, varied, reasonably priced... The loners can enter this restaurant without worrying! Sweetbread, sweet runnings, chitterling, liver, outside skirt, heart, tripe, bible, maw, cheek, paunch...
My favorite horumon after paunch are tripe and bible (fardel)! I just swallow them one after the other! Waiter, one more, please!
I hope you enjoyed this post! Now it's time to go enjoy horumon by yourself! And who knows, I could be devouring some horumon at the next table. ;)
Author: Haru
Born December 3, 1993. After dropping out of college two months into my first semester, I worked for six months to make enough money to join a food coordinator school. Then, diploma in hand, I improved my skills by assisting food experts, and then became a freelance food coordinator. I also manage a blog that teaches cooking for kids. I gain experience by participating in recipe contests and food events. I am currently attending a food art academy, while working as a food coordinator and developing new recipes.
My blog: http://ameblo.jp/pochaaama03/
(in Japanese)
