Obanzai Anko: Homestyle Counter Dining

Obanzai Anko (おばんざい あんこ) is a celebrated one-woman operation in Nagoya, where the owner single-handedly prepares and serves a wide array of traditional small plates, known as o-banzai. The entire restaurant consists of just ten seats at an L-shaped counter, creating an intimate but often bustling atmosphere. It has been repeatedly selected for the Tabelog Top 100 Izakaya list, a testament to its quality and popularity.

The main attraction is the daily-changing menu of homestyle dishes. Reviewers consistently praise the signature obanzai moriawase, a mixed platter showcasing the day's best offerings, which recently cost between ¥1,500 and ¥2,000. Other popular items include a distinctive macaroni salad, shiitake satsuma-age (fried fish cakes with shiitake mushrooms, ¥680), and various dashimaki egg dishes. Portions are considered generous, and the food is complemented by cold draft beer (around ¥500) and a small, well-chosen sake list.

While the food receives high marks, visitors should be aware of the strict house rules. Reservations are essential and notoriously difficult to secure, often filling up weeks in advance. Seating is commonly limited to a strict two-hour window, and some first-time guests report feeling rushed or receiving cooler service than regulars. There are also explicit rules against posting on social media and limitations on photography.

Dinner typically costs between ¥3,000 and ¥3,999 per person, with lunch available for ¥1,000 to ¥1,999. Despite the hurried pace, most diners agree that Obanzai Anko offers excellent value for the creativity and quality of the cooking.

• Reservations: Essential. Bookings are difficult to get and must be made weeks in advance. Walk-ins are highly unlikely.
• Getting There: The restaurant is a 10-minute walk from Nagoya Station, or a 9-minute walk from Fushimi or Kokusai Center subway stations.
• Payment: Cash only. Credit cards, electronic money, and QR code payments are not accepted.
• Seating: 10 counter seats only. A two-hour seating limit is often enforced.
• House Rules: Photography is restricted to your own food, and posting on social media is forbidden.
• Children: Children are welcome.
• Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
• Parking: No dedicated parking, but paid parking lots are available nearby.