Kyoto: Dinner at hidden Izakaya
After being dropped off at our hotel in the late afternoon and freshening up, we went to dinner at another place recommended by our guide. We had asked for an izakaya-type restaurant where the locals eat. We were not disappointed.
Kakure Sakaba Tomoshibi (隠れ酒場 ともしび) 🗾, meaning Hidden Bar Tomoshibi. Its name is apt because the actual izakaya is in a basement and has no street-level storefront. The sign at the top of the stairs to the basement was in Japanese only. They have another restaurant called Kakure Sakaba Tomoshibi 3rd Kaisen to Sumibi Toriyaki. We have not tried it, but it does not seem to have a similar vibe.
You order everything through an iPad, and dishes are served as they become ready. We sat at the bar that surrounds the kitchen area. There is a lot of grilling, some frying, and some stir-frying. We did not remember to take pictures of everything, so below is just a small sample. You can see we ordered a lot more than shown, and we thoroughly enjoyed everything. The atmosphere is very lively.
