After the Golden Week, on a Saturday, I went out for drinks with Akira-senpai, parkpark, and kouzi, starting at the Ikoi Honten standing bar in Akabane. After a drink, we walked about 4 km and experienced the best gourmet food.Our destination was the famous Stamina En located at Shikahama Bridge. We left Akabane just after noon, picking up some drinks at a convenience store along the way, and arrived at the restaurant at 1:20 PM.There were 17 people ahead of us, but since we could line up as representatives, the first batch was a bit uncertain.While waiting, Akira-senpai and kouzi went to a nearby deli and brought back some roasted pork and fried horse mackerel, which we enjoyed with our drinks while we waited.As it got closer to the 3 PM opening, the staff came to confirm the number of people, and when we checked if we could be included in the first batch, they assured us it was fine, which was a relief.At 3 PM, the restaurant opened, and we were guided inside in order. We sat at a table for four in the back of the restaurant.Since we had already been asked about the meat while waiting, we started by ordering drinks. From the Japanese sake menu, we all ordered Junmai Ginjo from Kaoribito Kuheiji for JPY 900. It was surprising to see that other brands like Tanrei and Dassai, as well as Kubota Senju, were also priced the same at JPY 900.Here’s what we ordered:• Premium Outside Skirt - JPY 2700 The thickness and tenderness are remarkable, and you can really taste the sweetness of the fat.• Kimchi - JPY 750 A reasonable price with just the right amount of spiciness.• Potato Salad - JPY 650 The flavor of the egg really stands out.• Mixed Horumon - JPY 2900 Heart: my first time trying it outside of skewers. Omasum: my first time eating it. Horumon: delicious! Uterus: has a nice crunchy texture.• Medium Rib - JPY 2400 Just the right amount of fat and sweetness.• Salted Liver - JPY 1800 Please cook it well; it’s sweet and flavorful.• Beef Offal Stew - A very tasty side dish.• Salted Minow - JPY 2000 Just the right amount of chewiness; it’s rare to find such thickness.• Cut Kalbi - JPY 1900 Incredibly delicious.• Tri Tip - JPY 3500 As expected from a rare cut, the fat content is exceptional.• Pork Trotters - JPY 500 The first time I’ve ever eaten this; I was surprised by the gelatinous texture.• Strawberry Almond Tofu - JPY 700 (probably) A secret menu item; the almond tofu is dense and firm.The drinks we had included:• Junmai Ginjo from Kaoribito Kuheiji - JPY 900 It was my first time trying it, but it was easy to drink and paired well with the yakiniku.• Oolong Highball - JPY 550 A nice palate cleanser.We thoroughly enjoyed the fresh offal and delicious meats. The sake was surprisingly offered at a great price for such quality.After eating and drinking a variety of dishes, the total came to JPY 7700, which was about half of what I expected.The spacing between tables was tight, so I couldn’t stretch my legs, and I was almost touching the person next to me, which was a bit concerning, but I decided to accept it.After leaving the restaurant, we initially started walking towards Kawaguchi Station, but soon called a taxi through park’s app to move on.
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