There is a town called Onjuku facing the Pacific Ocean in Chiba Prefecture, and this restaurant serves their local (Bōsō) cuisine. Tucked away in a quiet back alley of Asakusa, it’s a cozy, family-run spot with a nostalgic vibe—definitely worth seeking out. Inside, you’ll find a massive collection of wine bottles featuring labels of legendary Japanese stars like Yujiro Ishihara and Hibari Misora. It’s also quite unique to see photos of the Imperial Family on display.
You should definitely try Namerou—minced horse mackerel mixed with chopped green onions—and Sanga-yaki, which is the grilled version of it. Both are absolutely worth a taste!
Another recommendation of mine is Saba Negi—grilled mackerel flakes covered by thinly sliced radish and white Welsh onions. It’s not just unique, it’s absolutely delicious, and you won’t find a dish like this anywhere else.
I highly recommend trying either Homon Masamune or Iwanoi at this establishment. Both are exceptionally rare sakes that you will rarely encounter at other bars. Additionally, while the buckwheat shochu Unkai is a highly popular option, its unique flavor profile makes it well worth a try.
While this establishment may not offer fancy, trend-focused sakes like Junmai Daiginjo, they occasionally serve limited-edition, traditional sakes such as Kuromatsu Kenbishi. It features a highly distinctive flavor profile that sits somewhere between sake and mirin (sweet cooking rice wine).
Interestingly, stocking such a unique lineup of sake is not the landlady’s personal choice—she is actually a non-drinker. According to her, she only began offering these rare sakes because her regular customers suggested them.
