EKODA: Tokyo 696 Sakaba for their 50% off Happy Hour! Friendly staff and nice variety on the BGM. (Canon S120)

One of the friendly staff Non-san!

Was off Wednesday and got a call for drinks at 2pm!  Oh my.... don't really want to start drinking so early so decided on a 4pm start.  Randomly passed by 696 Sakaba and noticed their friendly 2-5pm happy hour!  Beers only 187 yen!

Everything on the menu other than cocktails and bottles (wine) were eligible for 50% off.

Lots of items but unfortunately there was no English menu in sight.

2nd drink was Hoppy with a shot of shochu.  

Pickled Salt Rakkyo root that might be sourced from the store just next door....

Of course always gotta order Braised Pork Belly!  Super tender and tasty.

Sliced avocado with shoyu, wasabi and seaweed slices.  If you close your eyes this kinda tastes like fatty tuna Otoro!  Avocado was just perfect.

Sliced Zha Cai pickles. 

Another item that was being sold next door. 

There were 5 Ajillo!  

Friend ordered the Japanese Long Onion called Negi.  420 yen for this... cost performance seemed very poor.  Hmm... my least favorite item this day. 

Overall a great deal if you stick to mostly drinks then move to a second location at 5pm when most restaurants start to open.  Staff was super friendly so if you need a cool spot to chill why not!

Ekoda once had a thriving old skool shopping avenue but I can only assume many of the elderly owners couldn't continue their shops and started selling the land to developers.  So you will see new homes many closed stores in this area.  Unfortunate. 

Restaurant: Tokyo 696 Sakaba Izakaya

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132101/13215463/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/696sakaba/

Address J: 東京都練馬区栄町34-6

Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Sakaecho 34-6

MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/2LQY4JuqFw4CMkmr7

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IKEBUKURO: TGIFridays for their 5-7pm 50% Of Happy Hour.... and buffalo chicken bites with celery! (SONY RX100)

Its so rare to get anything buffalo wing related in Tokyo but there is always TGI Fridays!

All drinks are 50% off including bottled beer from 5-7pm but need to sit at the bar.

This night there were several single elderly men, a few girls and a couple on a date.

950 yen for a large draft beer. Half and half here!

Buffalo bites are no longer on the menu but they will make it for you! 890 yen.

Now had to try the most expensive drink on the menu... 1,200 yen Ultimate Mojito.  I would never order this at regular price, I would just go a few steps away to Koike Izakaya for 130 yen drinks!

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2014/01/ikebukuro-sushi-izakaya-koike-draft.html

Or... for 1,200 yen this is what you can get at your local supermarket!

2 six packs of Japanese 3rd beer for 1,200 yen... Family living in Japan can be very wallet friendly... the expense only comes about when you dine out.  Everything pictured was 1,700 yen.

You can get additional blue cheese for free.

Lots of great shakes.

They use paper straws here! First time ever to see this in Japan.

Other than the 10% service charge they added to my surprise this place is a great spot for 50% off drinks!  Think the bottled beers are the best value.

Restaurant: TGI Fridays Ikebukuro Branch

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1305/A130501/13117924/

Gnavi: https://r.gnavi.co.jp/g572213/

Address J: 東京都豊島区東池袋1-21-13 aune池袋

Address E: Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Higashi Ikebukuro 1-21-13

MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/6MpDhdzDp8ZBdnaB8

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