01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Set on the second floor up a staircase beneath the elevated railway tracks near Yurakucho Station, Yaoki (八起) is a classic casual izakaya filled with retro bustle and straightforward hospitality. Stepping inside reveals a dining floor surprisingly spacious compared to what the exterior suggests, humming with people stopping in for a drink after work.
Signature Comfort Dishes and a Variety of Small Plates
Among the strips of menu cards displayed around the room, the primary dish to order first is chamen, a house specialty long favored by regulars. Prepared with a crisp, light balance reminiscent of stir-fried bean sprouts, its hearty seasoning makes it an easy match for beer or a highball. The kitchen also provides quintessential tavern fare at accessible prices, including Yaoki's specialty yakiton pork skewers grilled to an aromatic finish in sets of five, alongside tender, simmered beef tendon.
Fried snacks and small plates offer plenty of variety, with tables commonly filled with crispy fish cakes stuffed with spicy cod roe, ham cutlets, and juicy fried chicken karaage. Enjoying these assorted dishes over drafts of beer or Hoppy while unhurried conversation carries on is central to the shop's enduring appeal.
From Group Banquets to Casual Second Stops
Because the floor plan is open and roomy, the space accommodates larger group gatherings with colleagues just as readily as it serves those dropping in for a casual second round later in the evening. Against the nostalgic Showa-era character of Yurakucho at night, it remains a reliable retreat to unwind comfortably with warm food and cold drinks.
