Best Izakaya in Tokyo 2026: 10 Picks from ¥410 a Dish

The best izakaya in Tokyo for 2026 are ten spots across Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ebisu, Ueno, Shimbashi and Ginza, from a chain where every item is ¥410 to a yakitori counter with a ¥6,000+ budget. We checked each one on Tabelog and, where one exists, the official site, in October 2026, and where a price, a seat charge or an English menu could not be confirmed we say so.

They cover the izakaya alleys (Omoide Yokocho, Nonbei Yokocho, Ebisu Yokocho, Ameyoko) and the rules nobody explains: the otoshi charge, cash-only counters and smoking. Albatross G in Golden Gai is a bar, not an izakaya, and is labelled as such.

Photo by Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Budgets are Tabelog's shop-set ranges; otoshi and seat charges are extra.

Sasamoto is the classic Shinjuku alley izakaya: a counter in the middle lane of Omoide Yokocho, next to Saitamaya, grilling motsu (offal) skewers and ladling miso motsu stew from a big pot since 1947. It holds 3.71 on Tabelog. The alley grew out of a post-war open-air market by the West Exit (around 1946), and over half of its roughly 60 eateries are yakitori or motsu-yaki shops.

Expect 18 seats and no reservations. Smoking has been allowed since April 2020, and the shop may refuse customers who are already drunk.

What to order

• Motsu-nikomi (miso offal stew)
• Motsu-yaki skewers and motsu sashimi

Practical info

• Location: 1-2-7 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku (Omoide Yokocho, middle lane)
• Nearest station: JR Shinjuku Station West Exit, 3 min; Seibu-Shinjuku, 5 min
• Hours: Mon-Sat 15:30-23:00 (L.O. 22:30); holidays 15:00-23:00
• Closed: Sunday (Tabelog; the older alley page says no closed day, so trust Tabelog)
• Budget: ¥2,000-2,999; skewers from ¥210 (alley official page, data as of March 2021)
• Payment: Cash only; smoking allowed
• English menu: Not confirmed
• Reservation: Not accepted
• Source: Tabelog

Insider tip

Arrive near the 15:30 opening, since there are only 18 seats and no bookings.

Daini Horaiya is a yakitori and motsu-yaki izakaya in Omoide Yokocho, also dating to 1947, and far bigger than its neighbors: 56 seats over two floors (22 on the 1st, 34 on the 2nd). That makes it the easier choice for a group that does not want to hover behind a tiny counter.

It is a clear example of otoshi: Tabelog lists ¥352, so add that to your skewers. Cards and e-money are not accepted, but QR payment is.

What to order

• Yakitori and motsu-yaki skewers

Practical info

• Location: 1-2-5 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
• Nearest station: JR Shinjuku Station West Exit, 3 min; Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station exit D1, 1 min
• Hours: Tue-Fri 15:30-24:00; Sat 14:30-23:00; Sun 13:00-22:00
• Closed: Monday
• Budget: ¥2,000-2,999 (Tabelog)
• Otoshi: ¥352
• Payment: No cards or e-money; QR accepted. Smoking allowed at all seats
• English menu: Not confirmed
• Source: Tabelog

Insider tip

It opens earlier at weekends (Sat 14:30, Sun 13:00), which suits a late-afternoon start.

Albatross G is a bar, not an izakaya. We include it because Golden Gai, with nearly 300 bars in a corner of Kabukicho (per Albatross's own site), is the alley every visitor asks about. Albatross G is a chandelier-lit gallery bar on the 2nd floor of Golden Gai 5th Street that says it is especially popular with overseas guests. It takes cards, including UnionPay, and stays open until 5am. Budget for the ¥500 seat charge on top of your drinks.

Photo by Alexkom000 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

What to order

• Cocktails, sake or shochu

Practical info

• Location: 2F, Golden Gai 5th Street, 1-1-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku
• Nearest station: Shinjuku Station (Marunouchi line), 5 min; Shinjuku-sanchome, 6 min
• Hours: Daily 19:00-05:00 (L.O. 04:30 on Tabelog)
• Budget: ¥2,000-2,999 (Tabelog)
• Seat charge: ¥500
• Payment: Cards accepted, including UnionPay; no e-money or QR. Smoking allowed throughout; 28 seats
• English menu: Not confirmed; the official site is bilingual
• Source: Official site

Insider tip

The same company runs Albatross inside Omoide Yokocho (1-2-11 Nishi-Shinjuku), cash only per Tabelog.

Torifuku is the serious food stop in Shibuya's Nonbei Yokocho. It started as a Shibuya street stall in 1932, has been in the alley since 1950, and holds 3.62 on Tabelog. It is the priciest pick here (budget ¥6,000-7,999; reviews say ¥8,000-9,999) and the strictest: cash only, no smoking including e-cigarettes, and two pre-booked sittings on Saturdays. The room is tiny, with 13 seats over two counters. For the wider alley see our hidden izakaya in Shibuya guide.

Photo by N509FZ / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

What to order

• Yakitori

Practical info

• Location: 1-25-10 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku (Nonbei Yokocho)
• Nearest station: JR Shibuya Station Hachiko Exit, 3 min
• Hours: Mon-Fri 16:00-21:00; Sat 16:00-20:00 (sittings 16:00-17:50 and 18:00-20:00)
• Closed: Sundays, public holidays, 3rd Saturday of each month
• Budget: ¥6,000-7,999 (Tabelog)
• Payment: Cash only; no smoking
• English menu: Not confirmed
• Reservation: Saturdays by advance reservation; weekday policy not confirmed
• Source: Tabelog

Insider tip

Tabelog says the shop has no space for suitcases or large bags, so leave them at your hotel.

Shin Nikuzushiman is a niku-zushi (meat sushi) izakaya inside Ebisu Yokocho, the former Yamashita Shopping Center arcade, which has about 18 small shops split by genre. Tabelog lists an English, Chinese and Korean photo menu, 46 seats, and cards including UnionPay and PayPay. It opened on 1 March 2023 and runs until 3am. Expect an otoshi of ¥490 per person.

The data here comes from Tabelog, and the alley's official page says hours and reservations are set shop by shop, so check before you go. More on the alley is in our hidden izakaya in Shibuya guide.

What to order

• Niku-zushi (meat sushi)

Practical info

• Location: Ebisu Yokocho (Yamashita Shopping Center), 1-7-4 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku
• Nearest station: JR Ebisu Station East Exit, 3 min
• Hours: Opens 16:00; closes 03:00 (L.O. food 02:00, drinks 02:30)
• Budget: ¥2,000-2,999 (Tabelog)
• Otoshi: ¥490 per person, tax included
• Payment: Cards, transit IC, PayPay. Smoking allowed throughout
• English menu: Yes (English, Chinese, Korean, with photos)
• Reservation: Online, from 14:00; a happy hour is available
• Source: Tabelog

Insider tip

Ebisu Yokocho's official site says most shops deliver dishes between counters, so ask staff what the neighboring counters serve.

Daitoryo is an izakaya under the JR tracks beside Ameyoko, serving motsu-nikomi (stewed offal), horumon and motsu-yaki. It has been open since 1950 and opens at 10am every day. Ameyoko's official site describes 400+ shops along about 500 m, grown from a post-war black market organized by about 400 repatriated soldiers from Manchuria.

Tabelog's shop-set budget is ¥2,000-2,999, but reviewers report spending ¥1,000-1,999, which makes it a cheap pick. It is cash only and no smoking. Tabelog adds that a branch sits across the street, 30 seconds away.

What to order

• Motsu-nikomi
• Horumon and motsu-yaki

Practical info

• Location: 6-10-14 Ueno, Taito-ku (under the JR elevated tracks)
• Nearest station: JR Ueno Station Shinobazu Exit, 3 min; Keisei-Ueno, 2 min
• Hours: Daily 10:00-23:30
• Budget: ¥2,000-2,999 (Tabelog); reviews ¥1,000-1,999
• Payment: Cash only; no smoking
• English menu: Not confirmed
• Source: Tabelog

Insider tip

If this one is full, try the branch across the street.

Makochan is a yakiton (grilled pork skewer) izakaya that has been in Shimbashi since 1968, two minutes from the Karasumori Exit. It suits visitors who dislike smoke or carry only cards: no smoking at any seat, and it takes cards, e-money, PayPay, Alipay and WeChat Pay. It is big for the genre, with 60 seats on the ground floor of the Momoyama Building.

Tabelog lists sister shops at Karasumori-guchi, under the tracks (Gado-shita Sakaba) and in ecute EDITION Shimbashi.

What to order

• Yakiton (pork skewers) and motsu-yaki

Practical info

• Location: Momoyama Bldg 1F, 3-18-7 Shimbashi, Minato-ku
• Nearest station: JR Shimbashi Station Karasumori Exit, 2 min; Toei Asakusa line, 3 min
• Hours: Mon-Fri 16:00-23:00 (L.O. 22:30); Sat 15:00-23:00; Sun and holidays 15:00-22:30 (L.O. 22:00)
• Budget: ¥2,000-2,999 (Tabelog)
• Payment: Cards, e-money, PayPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay; no smoking
• English menu: Not confirmed
• Source: Tabelog

Insider tip

Sunday and holiday hours end 30 minutes earlier (22:30), so skip it for a late Sunday.

Nurukan Sato is the grown-up pick: a sake-focused izakaya on Ginza's Corridor-gai specializing in nurukan, sake warmed gently, with oden and fish. It opened on 9 September 2016 and has 70 seats. Tabelog lists an English and Chinese menu, private rooms for 2-20, cards including UnionPay and PayPay, and a no-smoking interior with a smoking space outside. Instead of an otoshi it lists a 5% service charge.

What to order

• Nurukan (warm) sake
• Oden

Practical info

• Location: Yamashita Bldg 2F, Ginza Corridor-gai, 8-2 Ginza, Chuo-ku
• Nearest station: Shimbashi or Uchisaiwaicho, 5 min; Ginza or Yurakucho, 7 min
• Hours: Mon-Fri 17:00-23:00; Sat 17:00-22:00 (check Saturdays with the shop)
• Closed: Sundays and public holidays
• Budget: ¥5,000-5,999 (Tabelog; reviews ¥8,000-9,999)
• Service charge: 5%
• Payment: Cards and PayPay; no e-money. No smoking inside
• English menu: Yes (English and Chinese)
• Reservation: Private rooms for 2-20 people
• Source: Tabelog

Insider tip

Tabelog's Saturday hours may lag, so confirm with the shop before you go.

Torikizoku is the chain to know: every food and drink item on the official English menu (October 2026) is ¥410, tax included. The Shinjuku Minamiguchi branch is on the 9th floor of the Den-en Shinjuku Building, one minute from the JR Southeast Exit, with 118 seats and hours to 4am. Reserved tables last two hours, branches running opening sales do not take reservations, and under-20s may only come with an adult and get no alcohol. We could not find a seat charge stated on the official menu or FAQ, so we cannot say there is none.

What to order

• Kizokuyaki (the signature large skewer)
• Yakitori in salt, sauce or spice, and kamameshi

Practical info

• Location: Den-en Shinjuku Bldg 9F, 4-1-13 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
• Nearest station: JR Shinjuku Station Southeast Exit, 1 min
• Hours: Mon-Fri 16:00-04:00; Sat-Sun 14:00-04:00
• Price: All items ¥410 tax included (official English menu)
• Payment: Cards and QR at this branch, no e-money (official FAQ: varies by branch). No smoking
• English menu: Yes, an official PDF
• Reservation: Official site or app, or phone
• Source: Official menu

Insider tip

Hours run to 04:00 every night, which makes it a late fallback.

Isomaru Suisan is the answer to "it is 3am and everything else is shut". This Shinjuku 3-chome branch is open 24 hours a day with 180 seats. The signature is isomaru-yaki: live shellfish grilled at your table, and the official site says crab-miso kora-yaki is the most popular item. The site also says prices differ by store, so we quote Tabelog's budget instead: ¥1,000-1,999 at lunch, ¥2,000-2,999 at dinner.

What to order

• Isomaru-yaki (live shellfish grilled at the table)
• Crab-miso kora-yaki

Practical info

• Location: 1F, 3-17-13 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
• Nearest station: JR Shinjuku Station East Exit, 2 min; Shinjuku-sanchome, 5 min
• Hours: 24 hours, every day
• Budget: Lunch ¥1,000-1,999, dinner ¥2,000-2,999 (Tabelog)
• Payment: Cards (including UnionPay), transit IC, PayPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay. No smoking at seats; a booth is available
• English menu: Not confirmed
• Reservation: Accepted with a minimum spend (¥500+ per person at lunch, ¥1,000+ at dinner, per Tabelog)
• Source: Tabelog

Insider tip

Pair it with ramen: our best ramen in Shinjuku guide lists shops nearby.

Sho-chan (正ちゃん, 2-7-13 Asakusa) is a stall-style izakaya for gyu-nikomi (beef stew), open Wed-Sun 12:00-21:00 with no seat charge and cash only (Tabelog). Closed Mon and Tue, though it sometimes opens. Nearby in Asakusa 2-chome, Tanuki (たぬき, 2-5-12 Asakusa) is open Mon, Tue, Fri 15:00-22:00, Sat 11:00-22:00 and Sun 12:00-22:00, closed Wed and Thu, cash only, smoking allowed (Tabelog). For what to eat nearby, see our Asakusa food guide and the cheap street food guide for Asakusa.

By budget

• Cheapest: Torikizoku (¥410 per item), Daitoryo (reviews ¥1,000-1,999) and Isomaru Suisan (¥1,000-2,999)
• Mid-range: Sasamoto, Daini Horaiya, Shin Nikuzushiman and Makochan (Tabelog ¥2,000-2,999)
• Splurge: Nurukan Sato (¥5,000-5,999) and Torifuku (¥6,000-7,999)

By area

• Shinjuku: Sasamoto, Daini Horaiya, Albatross G, Torikizoku, Isomaru Suisan
• Shibuya and Ebisu: Torifuku, Shin Nikuzushiman
• Ueno: Daitoryo
• Shimbashi and Ginza: Makochan, Nurukan Sato

By style

• Alley atmosphere: Sasamoto, Daini Horaiya, Torifuku, Shin Nikuzushiman, Daitoryo
• Non-smoking: Torifuku, Daitoryo, Makochan, Nurukan Sato, Torikizoku, Isomaru Suisan (at seats)
• Cards accepted: Albatross G, Shin Nikuzushiman, Makochan, Nurukan Sato, Torikizoku, Isomaru Suisan
• Late night: Albatross G (to 05:00), Torikizoku (to 04:00), Shin Nikuzushiman (to 03:00), Isomaru Suisan (24 hours)
• English menu: Shin Nikuzushiman, Nurukan Sato, Torikizoku

What otoshi is

Otoshi (お通し) is a small dish served automatically when you sit down and charged per person, so it works as a cover charge. Amounts stated on Tabelog: ¥352 at Daini Horaiya, ¥490 per person at Shin Nikuzushiman, a ¥500 seat charge at Albatross G, and 5% service at Nurukan Sato. Sho-chan states none. Our Shibuya izakaya guide gives ¥300-500, which matches.

How ordering works

Call staff with "sumimasen", start with "toriaezu nama" (draft beer for now), toast with "kanpai", and ask for the bill with "okaikei onegaishimasu". If there is a tablet at your seat, ask staff to switch it to English.

Last order, seat time and cash

Listings show L.O. (last order), usually about 30 minutes before closing for food: Sasamoto closes at 23:00 with L.O. 22:30. Torikizoku reservations last 2 hours. Sasamoto, Torifuku and Daitoryo are cash only, Daini Horaiya takes QR but no cards, and Torikizoku says card acceptance varies by branch. Bring cash for the alleys.

Smoking and the 2020 law

Since 1 April 2020 the revised Health Promotion Act and the Tokyo Metropolitan Passive Smoking Ordinance have applied in full: facilities used by two or more people are in principle no-smoking indoors, and every restaurant must post a sign at the entrance saying whether smoking is allowed.

Tokyo's exception covers small existing shops. A bar or restaurant can register as a smoking-permitted room only if it opened before 1 April 2020, its customer floor area is 100 m2 or less, it is individually owned or has capital of ¥50 million or less, and it has no employees as defined in Article 9 of the Labour Standards Act. It must post the prescribed sign, and under-20s cannot enter (Bunkyo City notice; other wards publish the same rules).

That probably explains why tiny alley shops like Sasamoto and Albatross G still allow smoking while chains do not, but it is our inference. Tabelog lists even the 2023-opened Nikuzushiman as all-seat smoking, so read the sign at the door.

If you would rather have someone else handle all of this on your first night, our guided izakaya tour in Tokyo covers the ordering, the otoshi, and the bar-hopping route with a local English-speaking guide.

Pair an izakaya night with food earlier in the day: our guides to ramen in Shinjuku and gyoza in Shinjuku both sit near Omoide Yokocho, and the Asakusa food guide covers the other side of the city.