Tsunohazu Shyokudo

When you want a hearty meal of fragrant fried dishes or fish steeped in the rich savor of miso, Tsunohazu Shokudo (つのはず食堂), tucked in a Nishi-Shinjuku 3-chome basement, is an easy and welcoming stop. The menu features an extensive lineup of Japanese staples crafted to accompany steamed Uonuma Koshihikari rice, best enjoyed as complete teishoku set meals.

There is plenty of variety among the main dishes, highlighted by fried favorites like juicy pork loin cutlets made with Seseragi pork, crispy fried shrimp, and breaded horse mackerel (aji fry). For seafood, diners can choose from tender mackerel simmered in miso (saba miso-ni), aromatic salt-grilled mackerel, the daily fresh fish catch, or an assorted sashimi platter. Homestyle simmered and grilled fish sets, such as sake-lees-marinated red rockfish (akoudai kasuzuke) and simmered squid with daikon radish, let you tailor your meal to whatever you feel like that day.

If you are looking for a satisfying, one-bowl meal, options like the loin katsudon, oyakodon, chicken teriyaki don, and tendon provide a dependable choice. You can also supplement your meal with small side dishes like tuna sashimi, chicken karaage, or minced meat cutlets (menchi-katsu), embracing the casual, mix-and-match feel of a classic diner.

Come evening, the space doubles as an izakaya, where you can pair yakitori or wagyu beef skewers with beer, a Kaku highball, or sakes such as Kin'unmo and Kirinzan. In this unpretentious atmosphere, diners can set their own pace, whether eating alone or unwinding with an easy drink after work.