Beer and Yakitori "Kopo"

At Higashimikuni's "Beer and Yakitori Kopo," you know the legendary Yakitori Beer Stand MECCA that used to be in Juzo? A former staff member from there went independent because he wanted to brew his own beer, and opened this place.

Exactly. And they've renovated a nagaya townhouse, making it a standing bar with a U-shaped counter. The brewing equipment is in the back, so you can watch them brewing beer over the counter.

The house-brewed beer is great too. The "Jabara Wheat" is a wheat beer made with jabara, a citrus fruit specialty of Wakayama, and it has a moderate tartness. The "English Bitter" is poured with a hand pump, giving it a faint carbonation and a texture like an English pub. The "Kopo Ale" is an English summer ale, with fine foam carrying a citrus aroma for a fruity finish.

Exactly. And what's impressive is that they even brew a "Barley Wine." Barley wine is a style that takes a lot of time and effort to age, yet they've made it easy to drink without any rough edges. I'm really impressed that a small townhouse brewery is tackling such a wide range of styles.

That's excellent too, with amazing freshness. The assorted chicken sashimi is their signature dish, and the yellow liver is said to melt in your mouth. Their charcoal-grilled yakitori also covers the classics well, with tsunagi, upper thigh, chicken neck, bonjiri, and more. It's so popular that even on Mondays it's fully booked.

It's a 3-minute walk from Higashimikuni Station, close to Shin-Osaka, so access is good too. But it's closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and there aren't many seats, so it's better to go early.