Wakatake

At dusk, the glow of red lanterns draws you into an alley in Kanda. Inside, the aroma from the grill and steam rising from the hot pot set the scene. Wakatake, in Uchikanda, is an izakaya with a nostalgic, welcoming feel, long familiar to people in the neighbourhood.

Choose a broth and savour the ingredients

Among the menu’s mainstays are generous chanko nabe and beef offal hot pot. Choose from four broths: salt, soy sauce, miso or spicy umami. The chanko pot comes generously filled with chicken and pork. As the vegetables and meat simmer and their flavours deepen, ramen, udon or rice porridge make satisfying ways to finish the pot, carrying its savoury broth through to the last bite.

Fragrant skewers and a tempting range of small plates

There is also a good selection of small dishes to enjoy with a drink while the hot pot cooks. Skewers range from familiar chicken thigh and negima—chicken with spring onion—to chicken tenderloin with plum or wasabi, as well as pork belly, pork tongue, pork tripe and pork temple. They are available one skewer at a time. The small plates make choosing part of the pleasure: fresh fish options include lean tuna, seared cured mackerel and octopus, alongside hearty bites such as salted sea squirt and monkfish liver with ponzu.

Take your time over local sake from across Japan

The sake list brings together bottles from across Japan, including Hakurakusei from Miyagi, Ryujin and Oze no Yukidoke from Gunma, and Minakata from Wakayama. There are also plenty of classic izakaya drinks, from beer and Hoppy sets to Baisu and fresh lemon sours, offering a range of ways to quench your thirst. With counter and table seating, the calm atmosphere suits a quiet drink alone as readily as gathering with friends around a hot pot.