Chochin Shokudo

Served steaming hot from the pot, the oden at Chochin Shokudo is thoroughly infused with a gentle, comforting dashi broth that immediately sets an easy pace alongside a first drink. Staples like simmered daikon radish, egg, and hirousu tofu fritters are menu fixtures, and ordering an assortment allows for a relaxed tasting across several items. The kitchen also turns that same flavorful broth into a lineup of quick-simmered dishes, offering options like crown daisy with grated mountain yam, tender mochi pork with crisp mizuna greens, or sake-steamed clams—each cooked briefly to retain its distinct bite while soaking up the dashi.

Following the broth-forward plates, attention naturally turns to fried fare and savory accompaniments tailored for drinking. Chicken karaage, fried to a crisp finish with a fragrant soy-sauce seasoning, makes a natural counterpart to a tart lemon chuhai. Small plates are plentiful and easy to graze on, including slender sushi rolls filled with spicy fermented changja and playful variations like croquette potato salad. The sake selection is equally accommodating, offering warm sake served by the go alongside chilled bottles of regional junmai ginjo to match whatever arrives on the table.

Outfitted with both counter and table seating, the dining room holds a relaxed, unhurried air and stays open until 1:00 the following morning. Whether filling up on satisfying comfort food like offal yakisoba and sobameshi or capping the evening with aromatic fried bread, guests can comfortably pace a meal from early evening straight into the late hours.