[Wilfrid1]

Village Yokocho is the busy, pungent-smelling Japanese/Korean eatery one passes through to reach the peaceful oasis which is Angel's Share, arguably the best cocktail bar in the city. I always resolved to try the food some time, especially some of the unusual specials which are written on sheets of paper pinned to the walls above the tables. A bunch of us finally did so last night, eschewing the Korean grill section in the back of the place (and what appeared to be a sushi bar), to order a bunch of small dishes in the tavern-like front room.

I won't remember everything, but here goes. The menu specialises in improbable zoological items like "chicken tail" and "yellowfish neck" and "eel liver". "Snake elbows" were not found, but we tried those first three items. The tail was fatty meat, presumably from around that end of the bird; the liver was nothing like liver at all, being quite chewy and bland; but I thought the fish neck was delicious, big chunks of gelatinous flesh with well-salted skin, served on the bone. I also loved a special "rustic" soup of pork belly with soft, braised radishes, in a delicious, slightly sweet broth - we ordered that again.

Fried squid legs, with mayo and a strong mustard for dipping, were pretty good; deep fried crab legs just okay. I thought the grilled skewers, although quite inexpensive (typically $1.50), were a bit monotonous: I think I liked the ox tongue best.

Dessert was tasty but hard work on the jaws: big cubes of very, very chewy rice cake, scattered with dry, ground, sweetened soy beans. Can anyone supply the name of the first sake we drank, smooth and milky?

[Abbylovi]

I think the first one was just listed as Nigori sake, which means unfiltered sake. I think the second one in the light blue bottle was Shirakawago Nigori Sake. The first one had an almost gritty consistency and was too sweet. The second one was less cloudy and less sweet.

We loaded up on the fish at the start. I enjoyed these dishes better, though I'm straining to remember everything we ate. Is it safe to say we ordered between 10 and 20 dishes? It seemed like it.

Grilled sardines
Raw mackerel and octopus salad
Squid with spicy cod roe

The pork stew was the highlight for me, I'd go back for that alone.

I can see this also being a great late night hang out for those of you up past 11pm. And at less than $30 per person (including sake), it's fun to explore the large menu. However I think we can safely take it off the essential casual list.

[omnivorette]

I did not like that first very milky sake, but I did like the second one. I need to explore this whole unfiltered sake category some more.

I loved that yellowtail neck, and the stew was very good. I'd like to try more of their stewed dishes. Lots of radishes in several dishes, so I'd like to try some of those too.

I liked the chicken gizzards on a skewer - but I'm a real sucker for the texture of those in general.

They also have lots of fried chicken things we didn't try - chitterlings, etc. Would have those.

But yes, off the essentials list it comes. Good for a snack if you're going to Angel's Share, however.

[Wilfrid1]

The sardines were very good, served whole and thoroughly charred. I also remembered some quite boring, chewy pig's feet with a terrifyingly salty, spicy sauce on the side.

[Abbylovi]

Yeah the pigs feet with the sodium bomb sauce was awful.

The first time I went I had a fish something or other with ponzu sauce--that was quite pleasing. Oh something wrapped in bacon. The smell of bacon permeates the air.

[akiko]

I'm very very jealous.

This is probably as close as you are going to get to a "hip izakaya" (as opposed to a traditional one) outside of Tokyo.

I used to go here a lot, next time you are there try the white tuna and the spicy tuna. They run out of these two dishes so quickly that my friend and I would immediately ask and order at least one bowl for everyone at the table (If they didn't eat theirs, we would!)

They do really good koroke (croquettes) with crabmeat and cream sauce and yaki udon... Its fun to order a lot of little dishes here.

In fact, I think its time I come home and visit all of you! I'm starting to forget the great things I used to order here.

[Abbylovi]

I did like all the fish plates very much. I'll definitely have to try the white tuna and spicy tuna.