Slow

Just beyond Akabane Ichibangai, 醸し屋素郎slow is an izakaya serving creative Japanese cooking in a relaxed, Shōwa-era-style space accented with wood and bamboo. There are counter seats where solo diners can settle in comfortably, as well as tables; at the back, a tatami room offers space to relax.

A good place to start is the omakase sashimi platter, made with fresh fish sourced that day. Choose a three-, four- or five-piece assortment to suit your group and preferences, or order individual sashimi dishes such as sea bream prepared by briefly scalding the surface or lean Minami tuna.

For a drink, the “Chin Plate” brings together hoya shiokara (salted sea squirt), crab miso seasoned with crab broth, and ume suisho, a plum-accented delicacy. There is also a wide choice of warm small plates. The fluffy, dashi-rich rolled omelette comes plain or filled with cheese or mentaiko; other options include agedashi tofu, salt-grilled saltwater-aged young chicken and fried chicken.

The drinks range from sake and shochu to freshly squeezed lemon and yuzu sours, along with fruit liqueurs—plenty to choose from alongside the food. To finish, there is “egoma-leaf chibidassari,” prepared with Korean-style yangnyeom seasoning, as well as rice balls and ochazuke—rice served with tea poured over it. Open late into the night, the izakaya suits a drink after work or a relaxed get-together with friends.