Nobushi

When a platter of generously thick-cut sashimi arrives at the table, it sets the tone for an evening devoted to honest seafood. Located in the Fujimi neighborhood of Urayasu, Nobushi is a neighborhood izakaya known for fresh fish and unpretentious drinking snacks. The meal often opens with a choice among the day's otoshi appetizers, where carefully prepared bites such as simmered whelk pair effortlessly with the first drink.

Strip menus line the room with seasonal coastal catches, ranging from horse mackerel sashimi and namero to bonito and cured mackerel (shimesaba). Alongside the raw fish, the kitchen turns out simmered comforts and satisfying meat dishes, including rich motsu nikomi, simmered beef and tofu (niku dofu), crisp pan-fried gyoza, and grilled pork tongue skewers. With a glass of Hoppy, draft beer, or rotating sake in hand, grazing through several small plates makes for an easygoing evening.

Dessert is an unexpected highlight for an izakaya. House-made sweets such as a smooth pumpkin pudding or freshly fried, golden doughnuts with an airy center provide a welcome finish. For those wanting a sturdier end to the meal, the kitchen also offers rice specialties like the Nobushi-don, half-portions of curry rice, and comforting bowls of shijimi clam miso soup.

The dining room tends to fill quickly right from its 16:00 opening, making advance reservations a practical choice for groups or anyone planning a leisurely dinner.