Kazenori Merry in Roppongi brings back its lamb mapo tofu and taps Falò IPA
Kazenori Merry, a beer pub in Roppongi, announced on Instagram that its "Lamb Mapo Tofu Sweet Basil ver." is back. The post also highlights the recently tapped Falò IPA, pairing well with the pub’s lamb- and spice-driven menu.
Hop BroThere’s a dangerously tempting update out of Roppongi: at Kazenori Merry, the popular lamb mapo tofu with sweet basil is back, and Falò IPA is on tap.
MugiWait, mapo tofu with IPA? Does that really work, or does the spice just body-slam the beer?
Hop BroThat pairing is the whole point. Falò Brewing’s Falò IPA brings classic IPA hop character and a clean bitterness that plays well with lamb richness and spice.
MugiHold on, clean bitterness? What does that even mean? Did the bitterness take a shower first?
Hop BroIt means the bitterness lands without muddy off-flavors, so it resets your palate and makes the next bite of lamb and mapo taste great again.
MugiAnd this version uses shoulder minced in-house, right? That sounds less like cooking and more like the kitchen joined a fight club.
Hop BroPretty much. They switched from butcher-ground lamb to a coarser grind, so the dish has more lamb aroma and a much meatier bite.
MugiAnd they swapped lemon basil for sweet basil instead? So it leans less sharp and more round and herbal?
Hop BroExactly. Plus Kazenori Merry keeps 12 to 14 taps ready, and with counter seating it’s easy to drop in solo for a beer-focused meal.
MugiThat is dangerously efficient. If they also have bacon olive curry and striped Atka mackerel curry, I’m one impulse away from teleporting to Roppongi.
Hop BroSame here. With meat calls for IPA as the motto, lamb mapo and a fresh Falò IPA sound like the right way to end the day.
Featured dish
The Instagram post says the restaurant has brought back its "Lamb Mapo Tofu Sweet Basil ver." The kitchen used to have lamb minced at a butcher, but rising costs and sourcing changes led them to switch to shoulder meat, ground in-house. The result, they say, is a chunkier texture with more lamb character and better bite.
Beer pairing
The herb profile also changed from lemon basil to sweet basil. The post explicitly recommends IPA with meat and spicy dishes, and the recently tapped beer is Falò IPA. It is a beer from Falò Brewing, and its clean bitterness should work well with the richness of lamb and the heat of mapo tofu.
What the bar offers
Kazenori Merry keeps 12 to 14 carefully selected draft craft beers on rotation, alongside sake and wine. It also has counter seating, making it easy to visit solo. The food leans into spices and fermented ingredients, and the post also mentions the day’s curries: bacon and olive curry, plus striped-hokke mackerel curry. It is a good fit for drinkers who want beer first, with food designed to keep up.
Information may be inaccurate. Please refer to the venue’s official channels for the latest details.
Hop BroThere’s a dangerously tempting update out of Roppongi: at Kazenori Merry, the popular lamb mapo tofu with sweet basil is back, and Falò IPA is on tap.
MugiWait, mapo tofu with IPA? Does that really work, or does the spice just body-slam the beer?
Hop BroThat pairing is the whole point. Falò Brewing’s Falò IPA brings classic IPA hop character and a clean bitterness that plays well with lamb richness and spice.
MugiHold on, clean bitterness? What does that even mean? Did the bitterness take a shower first?
Hop BroIt means the bitterness lands without muddy off-flavors, so it resets your palate and makes the next bite of lamb and mapo taste great again.
MugiAnd this version uses shoulder minced in-house, right? That sounds less like cooking and more like the kitchen joined a fight club.
Hop BroPretty much. They switched from butcher-ground lamb to a coarser grind, so the dish has more lamb aroma and a much meatier bite.
MugiAnd they swapped lemon basil for sweet basil instead? So it leans less sharp and more round and herbal?
Hop BroExactly. Plus Kazenori Merry keeps 12 to 14 taps ready, and with counter seating it’s easy to drop in solo for a beer-focused meal.
MugiThat is dangerously efficient. If they also have bacon olive curry and striped Atka mackerel curry, I’m one impulse away from teleporting to Roppongi.
Hop BroSame here. With meat calls for IPA as the motto, lamb mapo and a fresh Falò IPA sound like the right way to end the day.
