An izakaya is a traditional Japanese bar, popular among Japanese businessmen for an after-work drink. In recent years, these bars have also gained popularity among younger Japanese drinkers. Unlike typical bars, izakayas serve small portions of food alongside drinks, giving them a restaurant-like atmosphere.
When you enter an izakaya, you will first be offered a seat, followed by a hot towel when the waiter arrives to take your drink and food order. Traditional izakayas feature low Japanese tables with cushions on the floor, but many modern izakayas also offer Western-style tables, long beer hall-style tables, and small stools, in addition to the classic Japanese seating arrangement.
Common menu items at an izakaya include yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), gyoza dumplings, gyudon (beef rice bowls), and tori kara (fried chicken bites). Prices are generally affordable, ranging from 200 to 500 yen per dish.
Izakayas are easy to spot, as they often feature red paper lanterns hanging at the entrance. Inside, the walls are typically decorated with handwritten menus on short strips of paper covered in Japanese text. Some izakayas, particularly larger chains or those in shopping centres and tourist areas, may offer English menus or picture-based menus to help non-Japanese speakers.
If you find yourself in an izakaya without an English menu, don’t worry—just remember that beer is pronounced “biru” in Japanese, and you can’t go wrong with a few sticks of yakitori to go with your drink!
See Also:
Tachinomi Bars
