Okinoya

Tucked into a residential pocket of Okino in Adachi Ward, the izakaya Okinoya combines relaxed tavern fare with skilled Chinese cooking. The owner previously ran a ramen shop, and that background translates into a steady reputation for Chinese-style dishes served alongside bar classics.

The menu features choices such as chinjao rosu (stir-fried pork and bell peppers), mapo tofu, ankake crispy noodles, and spring rolls, all seasoned with enough punch to go well with draft beer or sour cocktails. Alongside Chinese standards, patrons can order varied pub-style bites, from slowly simmered beef or pork offal stew and fried cheese to seared Akadori chicken tataki and seasonal grilled fish. The otoshi (seating appetizer) changes with each visit, and the drinks list includes unusual options like coffee sours.

To finish the meal, a vegetable-laden bowl of ramen is the customary choice. Light enough to slip down easily after drinks and snacks, it is prepared in limited quantities each evening and can sell out.

The setting is unpretentious and quiet, accommodating both solo drinkers at the bar and small groups gathered around tables. Operating hours run from 17:00 until late at 24:00, and payment is cash only.