The well-known ‘Ribatei’ is in a slightly rough part of Yokohama close to Kinnai.
There is no menu and dishes are selected for you. When alcohol is over roughly ¥10,000 for each person I’m bound to enjoy it. However, it is well worth it. Even though I didn’t notice, reservation were hard to make, and after a long period of silence there was news of some kind of movement.
‘Midori’, the sister shop of ‘Ribatei’, owned last month.
Taking more of a casual direction, it is a course of 7 skewers only with of 1 or 2 dishes for ¥3,500. It’s possible to choose yourself afterwards—the idea being that you’re free to enjoy the taste willingly. It’s the only way.
I’m immediately bowled over by the pickles that come first straight from the main shop. Then it’s chicken skin and liver, moving straight on to chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg custard) which can’t be missed, and brought to a stand-still by tsukune (meatball) topped with red pepper. This is better than the main shop, maybe?
Once through, I request something not on the menu. And go for fried rice, like ‘Ribatei’. In short, it’s curry chahan but sadly feels like I’ve reached my last dish.
There’s almost no details online at the moment. Except for those gourmet websites. However, on the same street is the Michelin-listed ‘Saitō’, so its only a matter of time before making a booking becomes difficult. If you want to, go now! I also had to book early.