Futaba

Tucked into a side street in Asakusa 1-chome, Futaba welcomes diners with an unhurried, time-honoured routine: place your order for kamameshi as soon as you sit down, and let the cooking time set the rhythm of the meal. The signature rice, steamed in individual iron pots, comes in an enticing array of options, including mixed gomoku laden with toppings, chicken, shrimp, crab, scallops, and tender bamboo shoots. While the dashi-infused rice simmers to perfection, a cold beer or a flask of sake paired with a succession of small dishes makes waiting an essential part of the pleasure.

A variety of grilled and fried appetisers keep cups filled along the way. Skewered chicken yakitori, crisp wings, and offal skewers come hot off the grill with a savoury char. Another crowd favourite is the gomoku agedashi tofu, which stands apart from standard versions with an array of ingredients enveloped directly inside the delicate fried tofu. The kitchen also turns out shrimp shinjo fritters, deep-fried round aubergine, and fresh sashimi platters, offering ample variety to tailor your spread to your chosen drink.

Drinks range from draft beer to highballs and shochu, alongside well-chosen chilled sake selections such as Kazakoshi, Sarukura no Izumi, and Matsu no Midori. Seating spans standard tables and traditional tatami mats, where the lingering Showa-era ambience provides an inviting backdrop for a relaxed evening of conversation, drinks, and simmering rice.