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Friday, June 30, 2023

OKINAWA NAHA: Jinguwa (仁ぐわぁ〜) for their Senbelo! Tried the grilled smashed IkaYaki and 3 Orion Beers! Beers were so bubbly. (Sony RX100, α57)

I can`t believe I left all my Okinawa Senbelo (1000 yen, Tipsy) deals stored away on my computer.. but lets share my adventures!

When in Okinawa you must Senbelo izakaya hop..  Normally comes with 3 drinks and 1-3 appetizers. At Jinguwa it was just 1 food item. 

Im not a big guy... and this was a tiny plastic cup of very bubbly Orion Happoshu Beer.


The normal drink menu.

The senbelo system is you exchange one chip for a drink.

The hot metal press.


Chef making my hot pressed IkaYaki that's normally 350 yen.


Here it is! There is a flat squid in this egg topped with mayo.  Definitely beer food. 



Orion beer is normally 400 yen.

Also counter seating.



You can sit outside in the alley too.




I was chatting up the chef and he gave me a very unique Okinawan Onigiri.  I think the rice was the traditional Jushi (rice mixed with veggies) wrapped in a leaf.  

Really enjoyed this... My grandmother would make me this without the leaf back in the day.

3 tiny Orion draft beers and smashed ika yaki... 1000 yen boys!


The friendly chef. 

Would I recommend this place?  I think there are other spots that have far better value for your 1,000 yen.  But it was very spacious and chill... probably good for larger groups.

Restaurant: Jinguwa Kokusai Street Branch
Restaurant J: 仁ぐゎー 国際通り店
Address J: 沖縄県那覇市牧志3-1-34 1F
Address E: 3-chōme-1-34 Makishi, Naha, Okinawa 

仁ぐわぁ〜, 居酒屋, 牧志駅, せんべろ、千べろ、Okinawa, Naha, Japan, Japanese, sony rx100, alpha 57, a57, α57, Tokyobelly, yelp, 食べログ, foodie, cheap, bar, pub, sake, awamori, izakaya, 

KOENJI: Shinjidai Izakaya grand opening with 88 yen drink specials 6/30 - 7/3!! Everyone is shouting all night but sooo reasonable. (Sony RX100)

 




Dude! 88 yen drinks that even include the 350 yen Shochu!

It reads Japan's most crispy and chewy chicken skin. 

All these coupons! Unfortunately I can only use one per visit.

View from the entrance.  They also have a 2nd floor.

The 88 yen drink specials thru July 3, 2023!!!

My 88 yen draft beeru... not the biggest mug but its real Sapporo Black Label beer instead of 3rd Happoshu Beer!

Tiny bowl of Otoshi (300 yen table charge appetizer)... little marinated veggies something you often find as a side dish on bento`s. 

Drink Menu

Draft beers are normally 190 yen.

Tanoshi Drinks Iro Iro (assorted fun drinks).

This place seems to be known for the 50 yen chicken skin yakitori. 

My counter view.



There is a button to call on the waitress but they were so attentive I didn`t really need to use this.

50 yen Crispy chicken skin.. crispy and with a slightly chewy texture inside.  Its just beer food.. kinda like eating pretzels.  Definitely won`t impress foodie Andy Milonakis.


Time to use one of the coupons good thru July 31st! Options:
1. Free First Drink but since they were 88 yen I passed.
2. Two free 50 yen chicken skin yakitori
3. Free french fries
4. Shinjdai`s 3rd most popular dish... Chicken karaage! Thats me.

In the photo it was a bunch of chicken but only 2 pieces as a freebie. 
I selected the garlic sauce flavor. It was like any other Karaage chicken.


3 types of Kushi Katsu. Sauce, miso and curry flavor.

Went for the miso kushi katsu with negi topping.  This was great beer food... super flavorful and pork very tender.

350 yen lemon sour with a fresh lemon only 88 yen! 

Many izakaya`s don`t offer fresh lemon and usually just add liquid flavoring. Love the fresh lemon or grapefruit sours. 


Asked the waitress what these need looking cubes were... It was just konyaku. 

Sometimes you get really homemade Tsukune at Izakaya`s but here it was probably prepared at a food facility and just warmed up.  Tasted like a dry chicken meatball. Definitely dont order this.


Lots of salarymen this night.

Counter seat has slight views of the chefs. 

8 pieces of mini crispy gyoza 350 yen.  Hmm...


Another 88 yen deal... 290 yen Old Skool Punch Lemon Sour.  


This drink is soooo filled to the brim.  Have to take a few sips before adding the fresh squeezed lemon juice.


Was chatting up the customer next to me... he recommended Ikkyu Izakaya and Akaten Gyoza.

So many classic Jpop streaming in the restroom... a bit of Hamasaki Ayumi during my short visit.

My Bill... Zero yen for the Karage chicken and all those 88`s!

The dude sitting next to me...


The young staff was just so friendly... and it was nice to see nobody was wearing masks.

You can only do it now! I highly suggest taking advantage of the 88 yen drinks thru 7/3. There is a 2 hour seating limit and the waitress will let you know when its time to go.  When I first entered I heard the staff telling a couple that the waiting time is 2 hours... so for the time being I think its best to go solo.  I waited about 15 minutes for a seat and the guy next to me was seated right away.
OH! Its insanely loud here... multiple staff will say welcome, thank you and kinda yell your order to the chefs. I mean it was Loud at the counter seat.

Restaurant: Shin Jidai Koenji North Exit Branch
Restaurant J: 新時代 高円寺北口店
Address J: 東京都杉並区高円寺3-22-11
Address E:  Tokyo, Suginami-ku, Koeni 3-22-11

高円寺駅, 居酒屋、焼き鳥、鳥料理, 食べログ, Japan, Japanese, foodie, tokyobelly, yelp, sony rx100, pub, bar, izakaya, yakitori, cheap, beer, sake, nihonshu, soda, koenji, grand opening