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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EKODA: Uogashi Sushi for a late night solo diner at 10pm. Spacious and easy on the wallet choices. (Canon S120)

I've been in Tokyo for so many years and missed the opportunity to marry about 3 times due to some insecurities and banking career path that is not the most stable... as my friends get married my frequency of dining along multiplies.  

Look at that MENU!  This is a proper sushi shop so many of the high grade items are rather highly priced.  At my age I just want a beer and few items that will hold me over. 

The gari... to cleanse your pallet between sushi varieties. 

Very spacious counter seating with proper sushi chefs... no young newbies here. 

Of course to judge a sushi restaurant you gotta order the most basic Maguro.  If they get this wrong then you gotta decide when to cut your losses and move on to the next restaurant.   By this time I had been drinking a bit so can't quite remember. 

Negitoro Rolls!  Another standard you gotta order and look at that lovely hint of green wasabi. 

10:04 pm on a Saturday night and there is only another lone female diner at the end of the counter.  If you don't dine in the city central the suburbs can be quite lonely. 

Next up Egg!  2 pieces for 200 yen!  You can actually by a dozen eggs for this price!

Oh no Steve... another item order from the budget items?  Yeah, the tobiko is a fun choice as the tiny eggs burst with flavor with every bite.  But by now the sushi chef's probably realize I'm not a big spender. 

Overall a nice spot if you are in the suburbs of Tokyo. 

Restaurant: Uogashi Sushi

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132101/13015820/

Address J: 東京都練馬区旭丘1-73-10

Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Asahigaoka 1-73-10
MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/cQKctpt3FjA1RxQXA

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