If you’ve never been to Japan, here’s how you might imagine it: Wake
up in the morning to the sound of cheerful J-Pop; ride into work (at
Nintendo?) on a super-clean bullet train; finish work and head to
happy hour for some sake and tempura snacks. These are all hugely
inaccurate stereotypes, we know. But now that last part, in Beijing at least, is true: businesspeople can get off work and head to happy
hour for some sake and tempura snacks.
Sui Ka is the latest izakaya to hit Beijing. Izakayas are, according to Wikipedia: “A type of informal Japanese drinking establishment that serves food to accompany the drinks. They are casual places for after-work drinking.” As the word ‘drink’ was used three times in that poorly-written sentence, we can deduce that alcohol is important. In this case, it’s sake (as provided by reigning Sake Man of Beijing, Taka Yamamoto – owner of Sake Manzo and Happi Sake, below left). Or you can just get an RMB30 Asahi draft. Bites are light and casually delicious. Grab yakitori or tempura vegetables piece by piece (RMB8-12).
Izakayas are traditionally on the small side, and Sui Ka is no exception. In fact, you have to bend down and duck through a tiny unmarked opening in the wall to get in, which we admit is kind of fun. This is reminiscent of our aforementioned stereotype of Tokyo, we suppose, but also of a boat – it’s long and narrow, with thick ropes hanging from the ceiling.
On our visit, several other similarly tiny restaurants, most of them Japanese, are under construction in the same hallway as Sui Ka. And thus we announce: A tiny-Japanese-restaurant wonderland is being constructed just shy of Chaoyang Park. Residents, take note.
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