Nakataya

Down a side street near the west exit of Ikebukuro Station, Nakataya serves freshly prepared tempura in a relaxed neighborhood setting. The assorted tempura is fried until crisp and light, delivering a satisfying crunch across staples like plump prawns and tender eggplant at an approachable price. For a fuller meal, the kitchen also turns out substantial rice bowls such as live conger eel tendon, a special tendon, and standard tempura bowls.

Part of the appeal here lies in looking over the strips of paper menus plastering the walls and piecing together a meal of small drinking plates. Options span land and sea, from fragrant deep-fried sardines rolled with shiso and thin, cutlet-like meat tempura to fresh sardine sashimi and horse mackerel tataki. Guests can settle in at their own pace over glasses of sake like Yoshinogawa or Oyama junmai, large bottles of beer, highballs, or sours.

Opening from 16:30 in the evening, the restaurant maintains a calm, approachable atmosphere that suits solo diners heading home from work. Complete sets like yakiniku beef or tuna sashimi teishoku are available alongside warm bowls of dashi-steeped chazuke with tarako salted cod roe or pickled plum, making this a reliable spot whether for an unhurried drink or a simple, comforting dinner.