A lot of the shops that used to exist are gone now, but there are still some shops in Kamata that still have that Showa flavor. If you want that good old pub vibe, Toriman is the place to go.
This building is five stories tall, but the whole thing is one tavern. It’s overwhelming, right? Some people say this is the landmark of Kamata.
You can sit down for a drink anywhere from the 1st floor to the 4th floor. On the first and second floor, there are counter and table seats. Most people are just stopping by for a drink on their way home, or they’re the neighborhood regulars. The 3rd floor and 4th floor are tatami rooms where they can host large parties.
There is nothin’ like watching the old aunties who work there bustling around the place . Oh, but don’t call ‘em “aunties”. If you call them that they’ll go off on ya! So call em “Miss.”
They handle the guests without a sweat. When it’s busy, you can never find a seat on the first floor. If the second floor is full, you go up to the third floor...and so on. Finally you’ll make your way to the top floor gasping for breath, and the aunties will yell up at you encouraging you, “just a little bit more!”
Most people will go for the beer or the hoppy, but if you’re gonna drink at a tavern, you gotta go with the Baisu Sour! This bottle’s retro vibe is pretty cool right?
Most people think “Baisu” is Ume, or Pickled Plum Vinegar, but there is actually no Ume in this. The red color is from the Shiso Leaves, also known as Perilla Leaves and the sharp sourness is from apple juice.
Huh? So then what does “Baisu” actually mean?
A long time ago there was a popular mixer for shochu called “Hoisu.” People would also shorten Whisky to “Hoisu”, too. They said the shortened version of this abbreviation is where “Baisu” comes from.
You know, back in those times, regular people couldn’t drink expensive alcohol like beer and whisky. So, just like hoppy was made to taste like beer or whiskey, different kinds of mixers came about.
The crisp flavor of the Baisu sour and fried food together are the best. How about trying the hearty Karaage fried chicken (420 Yen)?
The Yakitori Skewers, which are only 90 Yen each, are also super popular. This place has all of the snacks heavy drinkers need. And to top it off, all of them are less than 300 yen. There is also a special daily menu item. For example, sometimes the Yellowtail Sashimi, which usually costs 350 Yen, will be discounted to 200 Yen.
I guess if you aren’t used to these kinds of restaurants, it could take some courage to push past the entrance curtain. But lately, there are more and more young customers, and once you go in the first time, you’ll feel really relaxed. You can order what you want without worrying about your wallet either, you gotta be thankful for that right?
Operating Hours: (M-Sat) 16:00-23:00 (Sunday and Holidays) 15:00-22:00, Always Open (Exception may be made for New Years)
Phone Number:03-3735-8915
Address: 7-3-1 Nishi-Kamata, Ota-ku, Tokyo-to, Japan
Baisu Sour Set: 320 Yen
Karaage Fried Chicken: 380 Yen
Fried Tuna Nuggets: 380 Yen
Yakitori Skewer: 90 yen per skewer