Warming Up in a Seafood Izakaya in Ichibancho

After strolling through the Sendai Pageant of Starlight on a recent evening, we were freezing. A stiff breeze made the clear night feel even colder. And while we had Melon Pan treats only about an hour earlier, we were hungry as well. Since we were right around the corner from Ichibancho Sunmall, we decided to head to a seafood izakaya we wanted to try for a while now.

A Place for Comfort Food

Izakayas are common in every part of Japan. And you can find them in almost every part of a town or neighborhood. We love izakayas and have many favorites in Sendai and even Tokyo. Izakayas are restaurants that serve Japanese comfort food. They are not fancy; if you are looking for elegant surroundings and crisp white table linens, you are in the wrong place. Instead, Izakayas are places where you go to grab a meal and a few drinks with your friends or co-workers. Most are lively and noisy, which adds to the atmosphere. One setback is that in Japan, many izakayas allow smoking, which may irritate you. We are still getting used to this.

A Seafood Izakaya in Ichibancho

Izakayas come in many different varieties. While many do serve Ramen, another one of our favorites, some are specializing in a particular dish. We know a few great Yakitori izakayas in Sendai. But we had never tried this seafood izakaya in Ichibancho. We walked by many times and always wanted to give it a try. This evening seemed the perfect opportunity.