It's a bar that you've always been interested in, but you haven't had the courage to go in alone, so you've always passed it by. One day, after missing dinner, you're drawn in by the light filtering in through the windows and the lively atmosphere, and you decide to go in...In this "Drinking Alone" edition of OL Shokujo, we've picked out just the right kind of bars to make your evenings more enjoyable. Why not make it your regular hangout?

From the west exit of Yutenji Station on the Tokyu Toyoko Line, walking towards the Shimouma 1-Chome intersection in a quiet residential area, about a 15-minute walk, you'll find Beshari, an okonomiyaki restaurant converted from a renovated house. The restaurant is open every day from 5pm, and offers takeout okonomiyaki and yakisoba until 11pm, so it seems to attract many local customers, including families, couples, and people who come alone for drinks.

The owner, Mr. Watanabe, says, "You might not think of okonomiyaki restaurants as having tasty snacks, but our food and snacks are all homemade. We're particularly particular about our seasonings, even the salt, and our dressings are made without additives or chemical seasonings."

In fact, S from our editorial team is one of the customers who frequents this restaurant. "This is the first place I went for a drink alone. I was attracted by the delicious smell and was about to get some okonomiyaki to go when Watanabe-san kindly said to me, 'Come on in and have a drink!' That's how it all started. This place is very comfortable, so I go there when I'm feeling exhausted (laughs). Even though it's an okonomiyaki restaurant, you can eat plenty of fresh vegetables, and they adjust the portion sizes for one person, which is another reason I want to keep coming back. I always enjoy drinking alone while chatting with Watanabe-san and the staff."



S always orders the signature "Fuwaton Yaki" (850 yen), the "Appetizer Platter" (680 yen) featuring potato salad, homemade smoked mackerel, and more, and the "Salted Lemon Sour" (430 yen), made with lemon and homemade salt.




My favorite dish is the healthy, gluten-free "Fuwaton Yaki." Instead of wheat flour, okonomiyaki is made with grated yam (tororo), shredded cabbage, and pork belly wrapped in egg and grilled. The fluffy and melt-in-your-mouth okonomiyaki is delicious and satisfying. "I often have late dinners because of work, so I'm grateful to be able to eat my fill without any guilt," says S.