01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
At Sakaba Kobachiyo in Koyama, Shinagawa City, the menu gives familiar izakaya dishes an unexpected twist. Sushi bruschetta brings tangy fish together with crisp, fragrant bread; potato tempura gets a savoury, rich finish from shiokara butter. Other plates include crisp-fried shiso leaves topped with negitoro and a slowly fried menchi-katsu. Many are made for ordering a few at a time, a natural fit for a night of drinks.
Chichibu connections appear throughout the food and drinks list. The local speciality shakushina pickles are paired with nori and cheese, while a relish of grilled ginger from Nagatoro makes another distinctive nibble. Both go well with whisky from the Chichibu Distillery, including Ichiro’s Malt, Chichibu wine such as Gensaku Shirushi, and the craft gin Gunryoku. There is also sake from across Japan, alongside Asahi Nama Maruefu and Sapporo Akahoshi bottled beer, plus fragrant corn-tea shochu highballs.
The intimate dining room has counter and table seating, making it a comfortable choice for a solo drink. The restaurant opens from late afternoon until late at night, and dinner can be busy. If you would like to settle in at a leisurely pace, booking ahead is a good idea.
