01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
A short walk north of Otsuka Station into a mixed residential pocket brings you to Otsuka Harutaya, a casual tavern open continuously from 12:00 through the evening. It makes an easy stop for a lively daytime drink or a quiet solo visit after work over a few small plates.
A natural place to begin is the assortment of skewers, all available to order individually. Yakiton pork cuts such as liver, shiro intestine, and heart come at modest prices, served with spicy miso when ordered with salt. Substantial options feature alongside them, including pork jowl, premium tongue, fatty jowl, and the oversized pork tsuku-pi tamago meatball. Yakitori chicken skewers, from thigh and negima to chicken tenderloin with ume plum, can also be mixed and matched with salt or savoury tare sauce.
While waiting for the grill, cold and warm appetisers fit the table well: crisp green peppers with spicy minced meat miso, the house special motsu nikomi offal stew, or a plate of seasoned chives. For fried dishes, the kitchen offers Haru Chiki Bone chicken wings seasoned with a spicy house salt-and-pepper blend from just 3 piece, alongside kushikatsu skewers, handmade menchi-katsu minced meat cutlets, and pickled red ginger skewers.
The drink menu is equally diverse, featuring Kinmiya shochu-based white Hoppy and baisu sour, fresh lemon sours, and mikan citrus highballs with fruit pulp. Bottled beer includes medium bottles of Asahi Super Dry and Marufuku, while cedar-box masu wine and shochu allow guests to pace their drinks comfortably.
Seating includes both counter stools and dining tables, accommodating solo patrons and small groups without fuss. Heartier late additions like kasu udon or grilled rice balls round out the meal, making this a reliable spot for unpretentious food and drinks in Otsuka.
