Tabelog ratingWashokuya Taichi (和食や 太いち) is a small, sought-after izakaya in the quiet neighbourhood of Kitasenzoku, with a reputation that far exceeds its modest size. It's celebrated for its creative, labour-intensive dishes that showcase careful, technically assured cooking, earning it a loyal following and a spot in the Tabelog 100 list of top izakayas.
Two dishes in particular define the experience. The first is the signature 'Taichi' salad, a spectacular assembly of 20 to 30 different vegetables, each prepared individually to bring out its best texture and flavour. The second is the thick-cut pork fillet katsu sandwich (厚切りヒレカツサンド), a showpiece of juicy, perfectly cooked pork that can take up to 30 minutes to prepare. Other consistently praised items include the fresh sashimi moriawase, rich crab cream croquettes, and a well-curated selection of Japanese sake.
While overwhelmingly positive, some reviews note that the small kitchen can get overloaded, leading to slow service for certain dishes. A few isolated reports mention hygiene concerns or high prices for an izakaya, and there has been a rare but serious complaint regarding poor handling of a food allergy. Most diners, however, feel the exceptional quality and generous portions offer good value. Dinner typically costs between ¥8,000 and ¥9,999. Reviewers recently paid around ¥1,540 for a half portion of the signature salad, ¥2,200 for the katsu sandwich, and ¥3,800–¥3,960 for a sashimi platter.
- Reservations: Essential. Seats are very limited and reservations can be difficult to secure. Book by phone between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM, or check the restaurant's Instagram for last-minute availability, which may be bookable via direct message.
- Payment: Cash only. Credit cards, electronic money, and QR code payments are not accepted.
- Age Restriction: Minors are not permitted to enter.
- Allergies: Due to a reported incident, guests with severe allergies should be extremely clear when ordering and confirm ingredients with staff.
- Location: A 3-minute walk from Ookayama Station, on the ground floor of the Domus Fortuna building.
- Seating: 13 seats, including a counter and a few tables. During busy times, your stay may be limited to 2.5 hours.
- Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
- Parking: No parking available.