NAKAMURABASHI: (COVID19 CLOSED) Chikuzenya Izakaya... lonely hotpot dinner as Coronavirus spreads in Japan (SONY RX100)

****** UPDATE: This branch has closed due to the impact of COVID19. There is another branch in nearby Nerima Station. https://g.page/tikuzenya_nerima?share *******

Saturday night and the Japanese government urged everyone to stay home as the next 1 or 2 weeks will see either a rapid increase or decline in the spead of Corona Virus here in Japan. SO... most of my friends stayed home and I decided to ride my bike to Nakamurabashi-Station to check out a local izakaya. 

Surprisingly at 10pm the place was half full with young drinks and a few salarymen. 

First sat at the counter staring at a dark brown wall... was quite depressing so asked to move to a little table. BUT I noticed this sign for 880 yen nabe (hot pot) exclusively priced for lone diners! Thats me!

Lots of great Yakitori items... No English menu though. 

Drinks! Draft beers are 450 yen and bottles 580 yen. 

My Hotpot arrives! Ordered the Aka-Kara Nabe (Red Spicy Hotpot)

Of course I always order bonjiri (chicken butt / tail).  The shishito veggie was good but cost performance too low... that was a miss. 

The hotpot came with extra spice if you want to adjust the spiciness. 

Cheese tsukune (chicken meatball) was super juicy... yum.

The close off the hot pot you can either order rice/egg for 100 yen or ramen for 180 yen.

Hotpot in the winter just so hit the spot.  Lots of veggies, pork slices and motsu.

Time to mix in the egg, rice and green onions. 

The staff here was super friendly... they offered a spoon to this westerner. 

Sign outside... children under 6 free soft drinks.  I'm glad I eventually visited Chikuzenya Izakaya! Everything was good, staff friendly (all Japanese here) and easy place to dine if you are alone.

I went back on Thursday March 5th!  Tried the tonkotsu hotpot... this had a long brown crunchy root.

And tried all 3 tsukune (chicken meatballs)!  Cheese topping, raddish ponzu dip and egg dip... each was only 180 yen!  Very juicy... 

Restaurant: Chikuzenya Izakaya

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132102/13180892/

Address J: 東京都練馬区貫井1-5-1 福真ビル 1F

Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Nukui 1-5-1
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/Hvp4Mun7MNBTv3Yn7

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ROPPONGI: Mezzo Bar for their 500 yen 7-10pm Happy Hour! Friendly staff and DJ booth. (SONY RX100)

I often fear entering bars in Roppongi but chatted up the employees out front about the payment system.  Only 500 yen for a Happy Hour drink!  It was dead empty on this Thursday night at 10pm but wanted to check out the place for future reference.  

Went with a Whisky Hi-ball. 

DJ Booth in the back of the bar. 

Drink Menu

Only E-Cigarettes allowed!

Overall a very cozy spot... seems there is a VIP section on 2F. AND its just a few steps from The Hub

And of course when in expensive residential Roppongi you will spot exotic cars.

Ferrari 458 or 488?

May 20th Mezzo Bar on the news!  Due to coronavirus bars in Tokyo have been closed and restaurants are only allowed to offer take-out but many are located in very hidden spots... thus Mezzo has offered them to sell take-out bento's at their bar.  Just about a block from Roppongi crossing on a huge main road. 

Mezzo Staff. 

Employee from a nearby Yakitori restaurant that is located in the basement of a building... she is selling the yakitori bento's. 

Roppongi teamwork in times of corona virus.

Restaurant Bar: Mezzo

Homepage: http://mezzo.tokyo/

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1307/A130701/13211612/

Address J: 東京都港区六本木5-1-7 六本木ストリートビル 1F･2F

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Roppongi 5-1-7, Roppongi Street Building
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/qVjiYznrabE7y7oc6

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