Sake and Spaghetti Napolitan? Inside Kayabacho's "Shokudo"

A one-minute walk from Kayabacho Station's Exit 2, on Suzuran-dori, you'll find Kayabacho Shokudo History by moto since 2010. It's run by the Moto Group, which operates several sake-focused bars in Tokyo. But the food here is Western and Italian-inspired, not traditional izakaya fare. The name "shokudo" (a casual, no-frills Japanese eatery) is deliberate. The idea is to drop the formality and let people eat and drink however they want.

The space is built around a U-shaped counter with a standing area and six seats. At night, it has a tucked-away, backstreet feel. On weekends and holidays, they open at 1 PM, so daytime drinking is an option.

40+ Sakes, Handpicked by a Sommelier

The sake lineup stays above 40 varieties at any given time. A sommelier handles sourcing, and the selection ranges from popular labels to small-batch releases from craft breweries. Beyond sake, there's Japanese wine, craft gin, and whisky, all tied together under a "wa-shu" (Japanese spirits) concept.

They also make their own lemon sour. It's made with Kuroshio green lemons, crushed whole with the peel, infused with spices in Kinmiya shochu. It hits a good balance of sweet and tart.

The bar hosts regular sake events where brewers visit in person. These sessions pair each brewery's sake with dishes made from ingredients from the brewery's home region.

The Signature: Skillet-Grilled Potato Salad

The kitchen doesn't stick to one genre. Western, Italian, a bit of everything.

The star of the menu is the "teppanyaki potato salad." It arrives on a cast-iron skillet, truffle scent rising off it, and you change the flavor with a dab of apple jam on the side. It got a boost after a celebrity raved about it on a TV show.

The cheese-stuffed menchi katsu (breaded ground meat cutlet) is dense and meaty, with barely any filler. The fried chicken wings are soy-garlic based and shatteringly crispy, served with powdered ponzu on the side, which is an unusual touch.

For a finish, there's "Kayabacho Napolitan" (Japanese-style ketchup spaghetti) and "Shokudo Keema Curry." For dessert, the "Mascar-Amanatto" combines mascarpone and sweetened beans with espresso sauce. Regulars tend to order it after their last cup of sake.

Starters come in plates of five or three, with options like caprese, tuna "prosciutto," and 22-month aged Mimolette. A glass of sake runs around ¥700, starters ¥700–900, mains ¥800–1,500.

On weekdays between 4 and 6 PM, there's a chef's three-plate set with a paired drink for ¥2,800.

Solo or With a Group

The standing area works well for dropping in alone. The seated section takes reservations and fits groups of 2 to 12. Private events are possible too.

On weekdays, there's an all-you-can-drink hour for ¥1,980 if you arrive between 4 and 7 PM.

Kayabacho Shokudo opened in April 2022. Spaghetti Napolitan and potato salad at a sake bar. The name "shokudo" makes a lot of sense now.