01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Taking a seat with a cold draft beer in hand and browsing the day's fresh catches and small bites is one of the classic pleasures of an evening at an izakaya. Located in Ebisubacho in Kyoto's Shimogyo Ward, Nomidoraku keeps diners coming back with its daily sashimi selections and platters featuring seafood such as tuna, sea bream, squid, and octopus. Nibbling on straightforward drinking staples like chilled tofu, boiled edamame, or crisp cucumber with miso between cuts of sashimi makes easing into the evening feel effortless.
When it comes time to move on to hot dishes, the daily grilled fish is hard to pass up. Nicely charred and rich with natural oils, selections such as mackerel or salmon make natural companions to sake ordered by the 1 go or a shochu cut with cold or hot water. The kitchen also branches out well beyond seafood, serving substantial fare like crisp pork tonkatsu, garlicky tonteki pork steak, a dashi-infused rolled omelette, and piping-hot crab gratin, balancing classic pub grub with comforting Western-style plates.
Centered around a counter with roughly a dozen seats, the modest dining room has an unpretentious atmosphere anchored by the host's easygoing hospitality, making it welcoming for solo diners. Nomidoraku opens for dinner from 17:00 until 23:00 every night except Sunday. With a preferred drink in hand and a few freshly grilled or fried plates on the counter, it offers a relaxed setting to unwind into Kyoto's night.
