Probably the most uncommon locations to start out your day within the metropolis.
On the west exit of Ikebukuro Station, you’ll discover a long-established, well-liked izakaya tavern that’s well-known for its morning drinks. The identify of the store is “Fukuro“, and although it was based as a small bar in 1953, it now has three flooring that may accommodate about 150 diners in complete.
Although most izakaya open within the evenings, this institution opens its doorways vivid and early, providing a “Morning Set” from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. daily however Sunday, when it opens at noon. This schedule is an efficient match for its morning prospects, who principally include firm workers beginning their day and employees knocking off from their night time shifts, the latter of that are identified to unwind with a drink earlier than heading house to sleep.
▼ With “Morning Units” priced at simply 550 yen (US$3.71), it is a great spot to start out, or end, your working day.
Our reporter Masanuki Sunakoma was heading in to work when he stopped by at round 9 a.m. so he resisted the urge to down a whiskey and Coke, as a substitute ordering the Ham and Egg Morning Set. As he waited for his meal to reach, he regarded across the room and was shocked to see that it was crowded, with practically each seat on the counter occupied. Not everybody was beginning their day right here, both, as two male prospects subsequent to him had been consuming sake whereas nibbling on ham cutlets and sashimi, and judging from their dialog, they’d simply completed their night time shift.
▼ An izakaya serving alcohol at 9 a.m. is a godsend for night time staff.
Masanuki really felt he was within the minority as a day employee ordering breakfast, however any emotions of self-consciousness rapidly disappeared when his meal arrived, because it was a lot bigger than he anticipated, with a giant bowl of rice and miso soup accompanying his ham and egg.
▼ The Morning Set additionally got here with a drink, and the ham and egg was served with a mound of shredded cabbage, a few sausages, and a dollop of mustard.
▼ Oh, and a aspect of takuan (pickled daikon radish).
This was a real home-style breakfast, and so they even provided a alternative of furikake seasonings to sprinkle on high of your rice, including to the h0me-like really feel. The freshly cooked rice was fluffy and scrumptious and the miso soup tasted do-it-yourself, warming Masanuki’s stomach and coronary heart as he devoured them down.
You may go low-cost with a set menu like Masanuki, or you can also make issues much more luxurious by ordering further aspect dishes of your alternative, simply as you’ll on an evening out at an izakaya.
The couple subsequent to him had been undoubtedly appearing like they had been out for dinner at an izakaya, ordering further dishes like onion slices and kimchi as they downed their drinks. Their sense of carefree, post-work abandon started to rub off on Masanuki, who now felt like ordering a beer, so he rapidly completed his breakfast and stood as much as take his depart earlier than he gave in to the temptation.
▼ He might all the time return after work for a chilly one, seeing because the place is open till 11 p.m. on weekdays.
In accordance with the signboard above, the izakaya is open all day, with the bottom flooring open from the morning and the second and third flooring welcoming prospects from later within the day. It’s fairly spectacular to discover a restaurant, not to mention an izakaya, that stays open after lunch with out closing for a break, so it is a place that hungry diners will certainly need to carry on their radar.
▼ As for Masanuki, properly…it was arduous for him to tear himself away from the charms of a morning izakaya.
As he stood exterior the station, Masanuki used all his willpower to go in to work as a substitute of working again to the cosy heat of the izakaya and its intensive drinks menu. It was an odd expertise to start out the day at an izakaya quite than finish it at one, however now that he’s tried it, he wouldn’t thoughts returning for a second spherical as he continues to hunt out a number of the greatest, and most uncommon, locations to eat breakfast round city.
Cafe info
Sakaba Fukuro / 酒場 ふくろ
Deal with: Tokyo-to, Toshima-ku, Nishiikebukuro 1-14-2
東京都豊島区西池袋1-14-2
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m. (weekdays, Saturdays, holidays); 12:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Sundays)
Photographs © SoraNews24
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