Yakiniku is all about enjoying a hearty meal together while having fun, isn't it?
However, sometimes it's nice to casually enjoy a drink while savoring solo yakiniku at a leisurely pace.
Additionally, having some "snacks" like those found in an izakaya makes it even better.
There is a recommended place for such occasions.
That is "Izakaya Tomo Hormone Yakiniku Kurashiki" located in the "Kurashiki Department Store" in the center of Kurashiki City.
It's a unique place that combines a yakiniku restaurant and an izakaya.
Moreover, the yakiniku style, which is a Japanese adaptation of Korean samgyeopsal, features a unique iron plate for grilling that is exquisite.
The izakaya menu includes delicious items like raw senmai, oden, and various obanzai.
Let me introduce Izakaya Tomo Hormone Yakiniku Kurashiki.
There are similarly named establishments in Kurashiki City. Please confirm that the address is "Tsurugata" before contacting or visiting.
Izakaya Tomo is a new sensation that combines a yakiniku restaurant and an izakaya
Izakaya Tomo is located in a corner of the "Kurashiki Department Store" in Tsurugata.
As you walk through the nostalgic Kurashiki Department Store, you will find the Izakaya Tomo store.
▼ The recommended menu is displayed at the entrance.
Izakaya Tomo is a two-story establishment.
▼ The first floor has a kitchen and five counter seats.
The first floor is non-smoking.
▼ Furthermore, the second floor has four tables for four people.
The second floor is smoking allowed.
Accommodating solo yakiniku! Grilling meat on an original iron plate made of nanbu iron
At Izakaya Tomo, the yakiniku is grilled on a special iron plate.
▼ The iron plate is made of the famous "Nanbu Iron" from Iwate Prefecture.
▼ If you look closely, the iron plate is slightly tilted.
▼ In fact, there is a small hole in one corner of the iron plate.
▼ The tilted iron plate allows juices and fats from grilled items like meat to fall through this hole and collect in the container below.
This is a unique mechanism that only Izakaya Tomo has.
Moreover, grilling meat on the iron plate results in a fluffier finish compared to charcoal grilling.
Additionally, Izakaya Tomo's charm lies in the fact that you can enjoy "solo yakiniku."
Not just yakiniku, but also a variety of izakaya menu items are a feature of Izakaya Tomo
▼ As the name suggests, Izakaya Tomo offers not only yakiniku but also a rich selection of izakaya menu items like obanzai.
▼ Everything looks delicious.
Some customers even enjoy only the izakaya menu without eating yakiniku.
Whether alone or in a group, the ability to casually enjoy yakiniku, drinks, and snacks is the charm of Izakaya Tomo.
Izakaya Tomo is a new style of establishment that combines a yakiniku restaurant and an izakaya, which is rarely seen in Kurashiki.
If in doubt, choose the "Tomo Set"! A great value three-item platter
The appeal of yakiniku lies in being able to enjoy various cuts of meat.
However, with so many options, it can be difficult to decide which to choose.
▼ In such cases, let's opt for the great value "Tomo Set" at Izakaya Tomo.
The Tomo Set is a three-item platter featuring recommended cuts! There are two options: "Red" and "White."
▼ The "Red" set includes salted tongue, kalbi, and harami.
On the other hand, the "White" set allows you to choose any three from hormone, upper mino, liver, heart, and senmai.
During the interview, I chose the red set.
▼ Salted tongue
▼ Kalbi
▼ Harami
▼First, I will grill the tongue.
▼The tongue has a unique crunchy texture.
▼Next, I will grill the kalbi and harami.
▼Kalbi, which can be said to be the star of grilled meat.
You can enjoy the sweetness of the fat and the umami of the meat, making it very satisfying.
▼Harami is also a classic for grilled meat.
It is popular because it has less fat and is easy to eat.
Fresh Parent Chicken from Misaki Town: "Tomo Special"
The Tomo Special is also a recommended dish.
▼The Tomo Special is made from thigh meat of parent chicken (Kashiwa) from Misaki Town.
The Tomo Special is one of the most popular items on the menu at Izakaya Tomo!
The area around Misaki Town is known for its active poultry farming.
▼We procure fresh parent chicken meat, freshly processed every day from a supplier in Misaki Town.
▼For the Tomo Special, we grill a large piece.
▼Once grilled, please cut it into your preferred size with special scissors.
▼If there are parts that are not cooked enough, try grilling them a little more after cutting.
Additionally, the sauce for the Tomo Special is unique.
▼It is served with fresh tomato sauce (left) or jalapeño sauce (right).
▼The fresh tomato sauce is a fresh sauce with the acidity of tomatoes.
▼It has a refreshing taste, allowing you to enjoy the parent chicken.
▼On the other hand, the jalapeño sauce is a bit spicy.
▼The aroma of the grilled parent chicken, combined with the spiciness and heat, increased my appetite.
▼The parent chicken has crispy skin.
▼The meat has a chewy texture typical of parent chicken.
The charm of parent chicken is that the more you chew, the more you can taste the umami of the meat.
For those who love parent chicken, this is an irresistible dish.
"Umakara Hormone" has a sweet and spicy sauce that is addictive
I love hormone (small intestine), and I always order it when I have grilled meat.
Of course, there is also hormone (small intestine) at Izakaya Tomo, and it is popular.
Additionally, there is a dish called Umakara Hormone besides the regular hormone.
Grilled offal marinated in a special spicy sauce is delicious!
▼ The delicious spicy offal is served in a pot.
▼ Spread the offal directly on the hot plate and start grilling.
▼ First, grilling from the skin side is the key to enjoying the offal.
▼ The fatty offal sizzles and sounds delicious.
▼ The fatty parts of the offal are plump and elastic, with a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a unique sweetness that is irresistible.
▼ The skin has a chewy texture typical of offal.
The sweetness and spiciness of the sauce spreads throughout.
It makes you crave rice.
Like a scene from a manga! A magnificent mountain of rice
When eating grilled meat, you crave rice.
Additionally, there are many other dishes that will make you want rice.
Of course, at the izakaya Tomo, there is "rice."
There are two sizes: medium and large.
When I ordered the large size of rice...
A magnificent "mountain" of rice appeared!
I was taken aback...
I've only seen such a mountain of rice in a drawing, like in a manga.
It's okay to share with multiple people!
For the finale, grilled udon! The "Final Udon Set" made on the hot plate
▼ For the finale, I recommend the "Final Udon Set."
This set includes udon and a raw egg, and you can make grilled udon using the hot plate used for grilling meat.
▼ Udon noodles
▼ Raw egg
You can save some of the grilled meat and use it as an ingredient for the grilled udon!
During the interview, I saved some offal to use as an ingredient for the grilled udon.
Adding free bean sprouts as an ingredient is also recommended.
▼ Grill it boldly on the hot plate.
Season with the special "final sauce" or grilled meat sauce.
▼ Here, a bowl collects the juices and fat that flow off the hot plate.
▼ Pour this over the grilled udon to enhance the flavor.
▼ Just as it's looking good, it's time to add the raw egg.
▼ Immediately after adding it, break the yolk and mix everything together.
▼ Finally, it's time for the grilled udon to be completed.
▼ During the interview, I used the saved offal as an ingredient, so it felt a bit luxurious.
▼ The freshly made hot grilled udon is fragrant and very delicious.
I think one of the charms of Izakaya Tomo is that you can enjoy it until the end.
By the way, it seems there are customers who come just to eat yaki udon.
The crunchy texture of "Nama Senmai" is addictive
From here, I will introduce the izakaya menu, including snacks and obanzai.
▼The izakaya's top recommendation is "Nama Senmai".
▼Literally, it is raw senmai.
I have eaten grilled senmai before, but this is my first time trying raw senmai.
Nama senmai is the most popular item on the entire menu at Izakaya Tomo!
▼Senmai looks like thin strings, but when you try it, it has a crunchy texture that becomes addictive.
▼The accompanying special sauce has a sweet and refreshing flavor.
▼When you eat Nama Senmai with the sauce, it creates a very unique flavor.
By the way, Nama Senmai was served at Harenomino Kurashiki 2019.
"Chanja" is perfect for snacks
One of the classic accompaniments to grilled meat is "Chanja".
▼Chanja is also available at Izakaya Tomo.
▼Chanja is made by salting the intestines of cod and seasoning them with gochujang and sesame oil.
Perfect as a snack with alcohol or as a side dish for rice!
The irresistible dressing of "Katsuo no Asian Salad"
There may be times when you want to enjoy a light salad.
▼At Izakaya Tomo, "Katsuo no Asian Salad" is a popular salad.
▼On top of the salad, there are diced katsuo tataki.
The main vegetables change with the seasons, either using sunny lettuce or shungiku.
At the time of the interview, it contained sunny lettuce.
Additionally, the secret to the popularity of Katsuo no Asian Salad is the dressing.
The Asian-style dressing, which includes nam pla, has an addictive flavor.
▼Another recommendation is "Plenty of Tomato and Eggplant Italian Salad".
"Kando Oden" featuring A4-A5 rank beef tendon
A classic accompaniment to alcohol is oden, isn't it?
▼At Izakaya Tomo, they serve oden under the name "Kando Oden".
Oden is 150 yen each (excluding tax).
The point is that it contains high-quality A4-A5 rank beef tendon!
▼The proud beef tendon allows you to fully enjoy the flavor of the dashi and the umami of the meat.
▼The meat is very tender and easy to eat.
As a beef tendon lover, I was satisfied with the taste.
The dashi was also very delicious.
Next time, I want to enjoy more oden.
A mysterious drink with excellent compatibility with meat: "Italian Iced Tea"
I will also introduce the drink menu.
▼The recommended alcoholic drink by the manager of Izakaya Tomo is "Italian Iced Tea".
▼Italian Iced Tea is a cocktail made by mixing a sweet liqueur called amaretto with oolong tea.
The name comes from its taste resembling iced tea.
However, when you actually drink it, it has a very mysterious flavor.
Surprisingly, it has a flavor reminiscent of almond jelly!
This was a surprise.
Please be sure to experience this mysterious flavor.
Although it is called iced tea, please note that it is an alcoholic beverage.
Menu of Izakaya Tomo
Here, we introduce the main menu of Izakaya Tomo.
Prices are excluding consumption tax. The menu is as of October 2019 (the first year of Reiwa).
▼ Grilled Meat Menu
▼ Appetizers and Obanzai
▼ Oden
▼ Fresh Senmai
▼ Italian Salad with Plenty of Tomatoes and Eggplant
▼ Drinks
Great Services at Izakaya Tomo
▼ Izakaya Tomo offers great services.
Free and Unlimited Bean Sprouts!
▼ At Izakaya Tomo, bean sprouts are free and even unlimited!
Bean sprouts are a must with grilled meat.
This is a very nice service.
▼ There are also other ways to use bean sprouts.
Bean sprouts are not only for eating but also necessary for delicious eating.
Free Ice Cream After Meals
▼ Amazingly, if you wish, you can receive free ice cream after your meal!
In the end, you want something refreshing to cleanse your palate.
It is impressive that this is free.
Free Draft Beer with Expired Coupons!
▼ The most unique service at Izakaya Tomo is that if you show an expired coupon from another store, you get a free draft beer.
As long as it is from another store, it applies regardless of the type of establishment, such as restaurants.
I thought this was a very interesting service that I had never heard of before.
However, it must be expired to qualify.
Coupons that are not expired are not eligible for this service.
Please be careful.
Luggage Storage Service
Izakaya Tomo also offers a luggage storage service.
This is a delightful service unique to tourist spots.
However, a reservation is required to use it.
Also, luggage can only be picked up and dropped off during business hours.
The luggage storage service is free for up to 2 hours.
After that, it is 500 yen (including tax) per hour.
Services for Disaster Victims in Mabi
Izakaya Tomo offers a discount service for residents of Mabi-cho, who suffered significant damage during the July 2018 heavy rain in Kurashiki City.
Those who reside in Mabi and were affected will receive a 10% discount.
It is a condition to present something that shows residency in Mabi-cho, such as a driver's license or My Number card, at the time of payment.
Enjoy grilled meat while also enjoying the izakaya menu at Izakaya Tomo.
I think it is an interesting place with unique menus and systems.
I interviewed the manager of Izakaya Tomo, Mr. Tomo.
Data of Izakaya Tomo Hormone Yakiniku Kurashiki Branch
| Name | Izakaya Tomo Hormone Yakiniku Kurashiki Branch |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-4-3-107 Tsurugata, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture (inside Kurashiki Department Store) |
| Contact | 086-441-8312 |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 5:30 PM to 11:30 PM (Last order at 11 PM) |
| Regular Holiday | Sunday |
| Payment Methods |
|
| Reservation Availability | Yes Reservations can be made by phone |
| Seating | 21 seats total ・Counter seats: 5 ・4-person table seats: 4 |
| Smoking | Non-smoking (smoking allowed only in designated areas) |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | ・Stroller access ・Children's chairs available ・Children's utensils available |
| Barrier-free | Wheelchair access on the first floor only (however, the toilet is not wheelchair accessible) |
| Website | Izakaya Tomo Hormone Yakiniku Kurashiki Branch |
Please use the juices and fats collected in the container when making udon for the finale!