01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Step into the alleyways off the bustling approach to Senso-ji, and you will find Mizuguchi, an unassuming retro dining hall cherished equally by diners seeking hearty meal sets and patrons enjoying a casual drink in the middle of the day. The ground floor is lined with tables that seat hungry diners alongside regulars chatting over cold bottles of beer, while the second floor features both tatami seating and standard tables.
A dense collage of handwritten wooden menu strips covers the walls, presenting an extensive variety: sashimi, grilled and simmered fish, deep-fried items, stir-fries, along with curry, rice bowls, and Japanese-style spaghetti. The house specialty is iributa, an original stir-fried pork dish cooked in a deeply flavorful sauce that pairs equally well with warm white rice or cold drinks.
Seafood is another pillar of the kitchen. Generously sliced tuna sashimi and rustic maguro butsu chunks have been value fixtures here since the restaurant's early days, available à la carte or as complete set meals. Deep-fried favorites like crisp, lightly battered aji fry (horse mackerel) and breaded prawns are dependable lunchtime centerpieces served alongside generous bowls of rice.
Pairing individual plates with a cold bottle of Sapporo Akaboshi lager or Kakurei sake from Niigata is one of the distinct pleasures of dining here. Grilled thick fried tofu from Tochio and homemade nukazuke pickles from the pickle assortment provide satisfying small bites to savor between sips.
Settlement is by cash only, so having yen on hand before visiting is advisable. Open continuously through the day until early evening, this welcoming diner serves as a comforting, homestyle haven for anyone exploring Asakusa.
