I finally checked out this spot in Asakusa that I’d been curious about for a while.
Tucked away in a little back alley near Hoppy Street, it’s called Sakazuki Mizuguchi Shokudo.
A super local place where you can grab drinks and homestyle dishes from noon.
It’s this retro old-school diner that looks like it’s been around forever — stepping up to it honestly feels like a little time slip.
People kept coming and going, so I had to wait just a bit for a seat.
And seriously, isn’t there something exciting about those old-school display cases filled with food samples?
Maybe because of the location, even the classic teishoku set meals here have English translations on the menu.
After a short wait, they guided me upstairs — I didn’t even know there was a second floor.
Upstairs turned out to be a bright tatami room with sunlight pouring in, giving it kind of a banquet-hall vibe.
I just went ahead and ordered a few things at random.
One of their popular dishes is niku-dofu (simmered beef with tofu).
The firm tofu has soaked up all that savory broth, packed with flavor through and through.
Braised flounder on the table — no garnish of scallions or shredded ginger, just a bold, simple presentation.
As soon as it landed, everyone’s chopsticks went at it like a flock of birds.
The rich, salty-sweet flavor practically begs to be chased with a Lemon Chu-Hi.
Specialty: Iributa (stir-fried pork with onions)
A dish made with pork and onions cooked down until super soft, seasoned kind of like curry.
Onions make up about 85% of the dish, with the pork playing a supporting role to really bring out the sweetness of the onions.
It’s a dish where the natural sweetness of the onions really shines — probably easy to recreate at home with soy sauce, mirin, sugar, dashi powder, and a bit of curry powder.
Kushi-katsu
Dunk it generously in sauce, add a dab of mustard, and pop the whole thing in your mouth in one bite.
The fluffy, crispy coating feels surprisingly light on the palate.
Most people around were going for the set meals, but the a la carte options are pretty solid too.
Since it’s in a touristy area, it might be more aimed at visitors than locals.
The place has a cozy, homey vibe that makes you feel like you’re hanging out at a relative’s house — easy to lose track of time.
All in all, delicious!
Sakazuki Mizuguchi Shokudo – Asakusa
Address: 2-4-9 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Business Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
Closed: Wednesdays