01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
On Kasai-bashi-dori, MARUYU (まるユ) is a standing bar with a crisp, white-toned interior, a considered drinks list and carefully prepared small plates. The bright, clean space is centred on the counter, with a relaxed feel that makes it easy to drop in alone.
Sake by the half-go, plus a distinctive drinks list
Sake is a mainstay, with a wide selection available by the glass in half-go measures, making it possible to try different styles a little at a time. The range includes Kiku-hime Nigori, Ukkari Hachibei Honjozo Karakuchi and Shichiken Yama no Kasumi Sparkling. You can also share your mood and preferences and ask for a recommendation. Beyond sake, the selection includes shochu such as Akayane and Warau Ichinichi, made with combinations including sansho pepper and ginger, as well as fruit liqueurs—plenty to pique the curiosity of a drinks enthusiast.
Thoughtful small plates to bring out the drinks
The small plates, displayed on narrow menu strips, show a level of care that goes beyond what you might expect from a standing bar. The Drinker’s Potato Salad has a pleasing crunch from nuts, while the smoked egg salad is made with gently broken-up whites and yolks and carries a smoky aroma. Either makes a fitting start to the first drink. There is plenty more to sample in small portions: chewy ko-mochi konnyaku, dried daikon and scallops with a bright salt-and-lemon tang, and house-made broccoli kimchi with a lively kick of heat. Warm dishes hold their own, too. The chicken paitan dashimaki tamago is soft and fluffy, with a gentle dashi flavour; the lamb and cumin salt-lemon ajillo stands out for its lemon notes.
Fragrant, separate grains in a popular fried rice
Though it is a drinking spot, the fried rice is also a favourite as a main dish or a satisfying finish to the meal. The egg fried rice is shaped into a neat mound, yet the grains separate easily, with savouriness coming through in each bite. Other choices include an old-fashioned fried rice and a flavourful garlic version. Whether you are grazing over a drink or settling in for a filling plate of fried rice, there is room to enjoy the meal at your own pace.
