Torigen Shinyokohama

This is one of the popular Japanese Izakaya chain known for its chicken yakitori. Momo (peach) and aji (horse mackerel) which are now both in season. The peach wine is very aromatic and sweet. Fresh aji tataki goes very well with cut green onion and freshly grated ginger.
One dish I have tasted for the first time was «umi-​budo» or sea grapes. First glance was that they looked like little tiny green fish eggs but they are actually seaweed from Okinawa. The official English name is «caulerpa»
due to its soft and succulent texture — also known as sea grapes or green caviar. The tiny little plump sacs are slightly briny that pop in your mouth and I can detect the fattiness. They actually do taste quite like fish eggs and I really love them! I can see them pairing well with fresh salad. It’s too bad they are not easily accessible in the States. I strongly urge people to try it if you are able to find a restaurant that offers it.
Normally I don’t like to talk about restrooms but I thought it’s worth mentioning for this restaurant. In Japanese cities where real estate price is high and often limited, restaurant bathrooms become a necessary luxury. However, I have to say that the women’s bathroom at this restaurant is very well-​thought out. The narrow single bathroom is rectangular in shape but the entire spaces is very well-​utilized and also aesthetically-​pleasing. The wooden decorative door comes can be closed easily and the first thing you spot is the wonderful green ceramic sink. All of the amenities are there and each component is situated properly without making patrons accidentally bump into things with each turn. And then of course nearly every establishment has a built-​on electronic bidet with warm/​cold water.
The only caveat is cigarette smoke. Like many Japanese restaurants, this place also allows smoking.