01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Settle into the counter or a table surrounded by warm wood, and the sheer variety on the menu quickly catches the eye. Murahachi, located in Azusawa, Itabashi Ward, is an unpretentious neighborhood izakaya where you can order affordable drinking snacks in steady, modest portions while soaking in an easygoing, nostalgic atmosphere.
An oolong high or a draft Sapporo makes a natural start alongside straightforward opening bites. Longtime patrons often lean toward the house nukazuke (rice-bran pickles) or the comforting miso-stewed beef or pork offal, both of which set an easy cadence for the first drink. Toasted stingray fin (eihire) with its savory char or a quick scoop of macaroni salad helps keep the drinking pace gentle and relaxed.
The kitchen also caters well to heartier appetites with warm, substantial meat dishes. Stir-fried chicken liver with garlic chives comes topped with a raw egg yolk, beef short ribs arrive sizzling on an iron hot plate, and the half-portion katsuni (simmered breaded cutlet in seasoned dashi) can even be paired with a bowl of rice. Drinks such as fresh lemon, sudachi, or fresh shikuwasa sours bring bright acidity to reset the palate between richer bites.
Whether you are quietly nursing a drink on your own or sharing small plates side by side with companions, the service keeps an unhurried, comfortable distance. For a satisfying finish, hearty choices like the chef's choice omakase fried rice or soba noodles with spicy chili oil and pork dipping broth leave a fulfilling final note.
