Interview with Tomo, manager of Izakaya Tomo
“Tomo” is the manager of Izakaya Tomo.
We spoke with Tomo about how Izakaya Tomo got started, what makes the restaurant special, its distinctive features, and its plans for the future.
I’ve always enjoyed customer service and wanted to try running a restaurant
How did you get started, and where did the restaurant’s name come from?
Tomo
I’ve always enjoyed customer service and have worked in customer-facing jobs throughout my career.
However, I had never worked in the food service industry; my customer service work was in fields unrelated to food.
My mother runs a small shop back home, and it was very successful.
That inspired me to always want to try running a restaurant someday.
Then, when my children grew older and needed less care, the desire to work in the food service industry suddenly came back to me.
So I decided to take the plunge and open a restaurant.
The restaurant opened in April 2019.
The name “Tomo” comes from my given name, Tomoko.
I think simple is best (laughs).
After looking for a style not found in Okayama Prefecture, she settled on yakiniku plus an izakaya
Why combine a yakiniku restaurant with an izakaya?
Tomo
Since I was starting a restaurant, I wanted to try a type of business that you wouldn’t find in Okayama Prefecture.
After thinking it over, I came up with yakiniku inspired by samgyeopsal (Korean-style grilled pork belly), adapted to Japanese tastes.
When you go for yakiniku, you tend to eat nothing but meat, so I thought it might be interesting to offer other things too, like obanzai.
That’s how we came up with our style: samgyeopsal-style yakiniku plus an izakaya.
The grill is made of Nambu iron. Recommended dishes include Misaki Town chicken, raw senmai, and grilled potato salad
What makes the restaurant special, and what do you recommend?
Tomo
Our biggest point of pride is the yakiniku grill.
We use a grill made of Nambu iron, a traditional specialty of Iwate Prefecture.
The grill has grooves and is tilted diagonally, inspired by the grill used for samgyeopsal.
The meat juices and fat flow down and collect.
There’s a hole in the corner of the grill, so the fat and juices drain through it and collect in a container underneath.
We also serve freshly butchered chicken from Misaki Town.
We get it in every day, and it’s one of our recommended dishes.
One dish that’s especially popular with customers is raw senmai.
Raw senmai is our most popular item overall.
We take care with the sauce, too, and many customers try raw senmai for the first time here.
It’s popular with women as well.
We also have izakaya dishes, so we’re popular with customers who want to stop by for a quick drink.
Many customers come just for drinks and snacks without eating meat.
The beef tendon in our oden is made with A4–A5 grade beef tendon.
Come and experience its melt-in-your-mouth flavor!
Something a little different that I’d like you to try is our grilled potato salad.
She is also considering opening a second location
What would you like to do with the restaurant in the future?
Tomo
Thanks to our customers, even though we’ve only been open a short time, we’ve already welcomed a great many people.
Lately, I’ve noticed that we’re also getting a lot more customers from younger generations.
Actually, I’m thinking about opening a second location in central Okayama City.
That’s why this first location is called the “Kurashiki Branch.”
We’ve started a restaurant with a style you can’t find elsewhere in Okayama Prefecture.
I’d also like to take on the challenge of opening in central Okayama City, the prefectural capital where lots of people gather.
From the Writer
Drop in after work or after a day out with friends, and enjoy a little yakiniku along with drinks and obanzai.
That’s the kind of relaxed yakiniku experience you can enjoy at Izakaya Tomo.
One of Izakaya Tomo’s charms is that you can enjoy yakiniku and drinks without any fuss.
Come and try the delicious yakiniku and carefully prepared dishes such as raw senmai, served in Izakaya Tomo’s distinctive style.
Izakaya Tomo Hormone Yakiniku Kurashiki Branch details
| 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 |
| Hours | 5:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m. (Last order at 11:00 p.m.) |
| Closed | Sunday |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted Reservations available by phone |
| Seating | 21 seats in total ・Counter seats: 5 ・Tables for four: 4 |
| Smoking | Non-smoking (smoking permitted only in designated areas) |
| Restroom | Western-style toilet |
| Families with children | ・Strollers allowed ・Children’s chairs available ・Children’s tableware available |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair access available on the first floor only (the restroom is not wheelchair accessible) |
| Website | Izakaya Tomo Hormone Yakiniku Kurashiki Branch |
There is another restaurant with a similar name in Kurashiki City. Please make sure the address is in Tsurugata before contacting or visiting.
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