Kichinto, Soshigaya-Okura きちんと、祖師ケ谷大蔵

Situated but a few minutes walk from Soshigaya-Okura station, on the Odakyu-Line, Kichinto provides standard izakaya fare at economy prices.

 Recently 'refurbished', although I was unable to detect any real change since my last visit several years ago, my dining partners and I, needing ample supply of alcohol and food as ballast and little more, entered Kichinto to be greeted by an enthusiastic 'irasshai', 'welcome', from the young waiter who promptly fell off the slightly raised wooden floor above the entrance. Free entertainment surely, and an initial indicator of things to come. 

Initially rather quiet, the main room and adjoining koshitsu, private rooms, soon became lively. Patrons of Kichinto seem to cover various age groups, from early twenties through late fifties, with the former being abundant. 

The interior is the usual budget-izakaya style, wood-work and hanging blinds surrounding an open kitchen of wood and stainless-steel. The atmosphere is lively, with the bubble of conversation being complimented by thoroughly awful, and unrecognizable, Euro-pop anthems more suited to a small-town gay bar than an izakaya.

Prices are reasonable. A daijoki of draught beer, which is near frozen, comes in at 800 yen. Quotidian dishes, such as chicken karaage at 500 yen, abound. The service is relaxed, friendly, vaguely uninterested and certainly prone to mistakes. Our meal comprised of an appetizer of greasy prawn crackers, eda-mame, the aforementioned karaage, unusually elongated gyoza and a tuna-sashimi, avocado and wasabi-mayonnaise salad. The selection of drinks on offer is rather limited, especially in terms of nihonshu (sake). As a result I resorted to whisky once the taste of beer became tiresome. 

In all, Kichinto offers little in the way of surprises. Although nothing about it excites, it should not be expected to do so. It is, along with thousands like it, no more than it presumes to be. As such there is certainly no reason to make a journey to visit. If stranded in Soshigaya-Okura, the town has better to offer although at somewhat higher prices. 

Tel: 03-5948-5652.