“Echigoya Genroku: Charcoal-Grilled Dried Fish Restaurant” (Seafood Restaurant) While “Araki” specializes in straw-grilled fish, this place focuses on “charcoal grilling.” At a massive hearth, they grill fish like mackerel and horse mackerel until the skin is crispy and the flesh is tender. The fish menu is quite extensive, featuring mackerel, Spanish mackerel, horse mackerel, salmon belly, and more. There are also plenty of meat dishes, making it hard to decide what to order. The classic “Mackerel Cultural-Style Dried Fish Set Meal” was a masterpiece—the skin was crispy and the flesh was tender—making it impossible to stop eating the rice. It was fun to change up the flavor with the vinegar and soy sauce on the table, and the price was reasonable for this floor. I’ll probably end up stopping by here again and again every time I go shopping at Yodobashi.
New Stores Scheduled to Open in Late July In addition to these, new stores such as “Nemuro Hanamaru” (conveyor-belt sushi) and “Rokurinsha” (ramen) have opened and were each bustling with customers. Furthermore, more new stores are scheduled to open in late July, meaning the number of stores will continue to grow. Of course, at Yodobashi Camera downstairs, the approximately 10,000 tsubo of floor space is packed with sections for home appliances, hobbies, cell phones, and sporting goods; with the addition of dining options, the lineup is such that you can easily spend an entire day there without ever having to step outside. While nearby stores like Bic Camera, Sofmap, Yamada Denki, and Nojima are trying to compete with price matches and bonus points, it’s clear they’re already no match for the colossal Yodobashi. While keeping an eye on how the battle among Ikebukuro’s giant electronics retailers plays out, it might be a good idea to take a break in the gourmet food court, which offers a selection of exquisite dishes… though, at this point, long lines are practically inevitable.
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