01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
At MaOya in Honcho, Nakano City, the fresh fish sashimi selection changes from day to day, alongside dishes with a thoughtful touch. Slices of red sea bream, water octopus and fresh herring sit alongside delicacies such as milt with dashi and simmered monkfish liver, prepared to showcase their ingredients. There are also plenty of dishes to accompany a drink, including potato salad with duck, tender stir-fried chicken liver and flavourful chicken thigh cured with kombu.
The drinks list is just as varied. It includes highballs made with Japanese whiskies such as Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki, as well as sake whose labels change with each delivery. Shochu options include Maou and Tomino Hozan, while sours and tea-based drinks offer a lighter choice. There is a drink to suit different tastes and pairings.
Ramen is another draw, served at lunchtime on selected days. Its rich soup brings together layers of seafood dashi, matched with curly noodles. The carefully prepared bowl is the kind that might tempt you to finish every drop of soup, and has become a lunchtime favourite. The L-shaped counter is the main seating area, and the friendly owner makes it an easy place to drop in alone and enjoy a leisurely meal.
