01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Akane in Taito Ward's Minowa neighborhood is an inviting destination for those seeking quality seafood paired with an extensive drink selection. During evening izakaya hours, sashimi platters featuring Pacific bluefin tuna, yellowtail, and scallops regularly anchor the tables. The refrigerated sake case holds everything from rare labels like Juyondai to rotating seasonal brews, and the staff are happy to offer recommendations tailored to individual preferences. A reasonably priced set of 3 pours also allows guests to sample and compare contrasting flavor profiles with ease.
Beyond the raw bar, the kitchen turns out a hearty selection of grilled meats, including fragrant Sendai-style beef tongue, skewers of beef tongue tsukune, and grilled fresh beef liver. A thoughtful lineup of drinking snacks—such as umesuisho (shark cartilage tossed with pickled plum), chopped wasabi, and puffy Tochio fried tofu—pairs naturally with a chilled Kirin Ichiban Shibori draft, a bottle of Heineken, or a whisky highball mixed with Yamazaki or Hakushu.
At lunchtime, the dining room buzzes with patrons ordering the Makanai Kaisen-don Sp, a generously crowned seafood bowl made in limited quantities. Other rice dishes, such as unaju (grilled eel over rice) and tuna nakaochi negitoro bowls, provide unpretentious midday comfort. The izakaya accepts evening reservations in advance, serving equally well as a gathering spot for groups or a welcoming stop for a casual solo drink.
