The izakaya competition around Ueno Station, and the stretch leading to Ameyoko shopping street in particular, is fierce. However, this four-year-old joint has done a good job at elbowing itself into the spotlight with low prices and a classy look.
Their menu is a medley of izakaya classics, most of which are around the ¥300 to ¥400 mark, making it a great place for both izakaya veterans and newbies to try out a lot of different dishes without breaking the bank. If you can spare a few extra hundred yen, have the sashimi set for a crash-course in the difference between lean, medium and fatty tuna. Note that Kanoya is both an izakaya and a namesake kushikatsu (deep-fried skewer) restaurant next door – on the left as you look at it; ask for the izakaya if you’re unsure.