HATAGAYA: Ryukyu Sakaba for tasty Okinawan! Beer Food! Thanks Groupon :)

1,980yen for dinner and drinks... sounds great! But where's Hatagaya?

http://www.groupon.jp/cid/60932?recom=NO

Located just 2 stops from Shinjuku and neighboring a long walkway is Ryukyu Sakaba.

Seems the restaurant is housed in an old home and they used the existing wooden structure... a nice tropical feel inside.

Lots of choices on the all-you-can-drink Nomihoudai Menu... and they had Orion Beer! Quickly finished off 2 mugs... then went directly for some Okinawan Awamori.

Umi-Budo always so great (sea grapes)... some Mimi-Ga (sliced seasoned pig ears).

The tiny fish on the tofy was a bit fishy and boney.

I've never had salad with Ikura (orange fish eggs) before... the dressing was similar to Bagna càuda and so tasty.

Very tender and seasoned Sooki pork thats commonly used as a topping for Okinawan Soba.

Curly fries!  Tasty tasty

Awamori!  We had too many of these... phew.

Taco Rice.... more Orion Beeru

This night we had 2 DSLRS (Nikon D7000, Pentax K-01) and 3 compact cameras (Canon S90, S95 and Lumix LX5)... food and photography can't beat that.

Some counter seating.

Overall this place was great.  Tropical atmosphere, very flavorful food that went well with beer/awamori, service was quick and the Okinawan BGM soothing.  Unsure if I'll go back due to the location but definitely worth a visit!

Restaurant: Ryukyu Sakaba

Shop Website: http://ryukyu.lolipop.jp/

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1318/A131811/13027398/

Address J: 東京都渋谷区西原2-30-1

Address E: Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Nishi Hara 2-30-1
MAP:

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AKASAKA: Japanese Standing Bar Joe... friendly atmosphere and one coin drinks :)

I've always been a big fan of Joe's in Nishi Azabu but never realized there was a sister shop in Akasaka!  

Draft and Bottle Beers start at 500yen... a fan of any bar that stocks Okinawan ORION Beer :)

Staff was very friendly.

1st and 2nd floors are all standing.  Had a small birthday gathering for a friend.  Place can easily accommodate a nice sized crowd.

Stairs to the 2nd floor.

If you are in the Akasaka area give Joe's a try.  Great price points with appetizers starting at 300yen, great service and conveniently located across from Akasaka Biz Tower.   Just 1-2 minutes from the station too.

Shop: Standing Bar Joe

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130801/13017582/

Address J: 東京都港区赤坂3-14-5

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Akasaka 3-14-5
MAP:

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YOTSUYA: Okinawan Restaurant Wattoko... can food really be this boring?

I'm always a big fan of Okinawan food and given the chance I will try any spot in Tokyo...  I've seen this shop Wattoko on my walks around Yotsuya and decided to wander inside with my friend.

The automatic otoshi arrived (usually 300yen per person added to your bill)... one of the most boring dishes I've seen.

Some daily specials...

Started with a 390yen Asahi draft beer~.

Food menu but nothing really stood out....

... so we asked the super friendly Chinese waitress what she recommended and it was...

...Cruly Fries!  She was the sweetest waitress but who recommends Curly Fries at an Okinawan restaurant?  God help her...

Ordered some seasoned cabbage to start..

Okinawa standard dish Tofu-Champuru that was just so boring... the tiny bits of spam were so hard to find amid all the Tofu... this dish was 680yen but I could easily make it for around 100 yen at home.

Think the best thing we had all night was the liver-yakitori to the very right of this picture... 

Chef's recommended Taco Rice!  I'm a huge fan but this was waaaaay too spicy for the average diner...

Nice TV on the counter... don't really know why it was there. 

Closed the night with some sweet and smooth Hakkai-san.

Honestly... I don't know why I even bother to add this entry to the blog... perhaps its just to warn you that entering this restaurant will leave you extremely unsatisfied and wondering why you ever entered.  I won't be back and the 5,600yen we dropped into the register will surely be missed... But there was just one silver lining in this shop, the service was excellent.

Shop: Watoko Okinawan Restaurant

Hotpepper Coupon: http://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000762185/

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130902/13100418/

Address J: 東京都新宿区四谷1-7-18 アクトワールドビル2F

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Yotsuya 1-7-18
MAP:

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