Chotto

Taking a seat at the counter of Chotto in Higashirokugo, the natural starting point is the kitchen's labor-intensive house-made appetizers. The house-cured beef jerky is especially well regarded, delivering concentrated, savory meat flavors that invite another sip. Other cured and smoked staples, such as house bacon and smoked cheese, add fragrant charred depth to every drink.

Beyond the regular options, the master heads to the wholesale market several times a week, bringing back fresh fish, shellfish, and occasional offbeat catches that appear on the blackboard specials. In colder months, a pot of warm oden might simmer behind the bar, offering regulars the pleasure of seasonal comfort matched to the day's weather and haul.

To drink, draft beer arrives carefully poured into chilled glasses, complemented by a lineup of house-infused fruit liqueurs, shochu sours, whiskies, and sake. With just a handful of counter seats and an outdoor terrace table, the compact space makes it easy to chat with the welcoming owner and fellow patrons, or simply nurse a drink alone in easy company.