UPDATE: I am sad to say that this fine establishment has now closed.
あさひ水産: is a cheap and cheery izakaya on Kiyamachi that Mewby introduced me to not too long ago. I like this kind of place: all rough and ready with cushions strapped to packing cases for seats. We went early one evening when it was super quiet, but Mewby told me that it really fills up later on. As the place is open all night long a lot of people come here after finishing work in nearby bars and restaurants. And Asahi Suisan has all kinds of cheap nomihodai/tabehodai (all-you-can-drink/eat) deals here that make it very popular.
The specialty here is super fresh seafood straight from the market – hence the packing cases.
Each table comes with it’s very own grill, so you can have your own little barbecue. Seen below are すなずり (chicken gizzards), はまぐり (clams), and もち (rice cakes).
It’s fun waiting for the ほたて (scallops) to pop open.
And everything, drinks included, is super cheap! A beer here will cost you 280 yen. Or if you’re a real cheapskate you can get Kirin Tanrei (a kind of happoshu or pretend beer) for 180 yen!* That’s great if you’re economizing – but personally I think life is too short for pretend beer.
Asahi Suisan is located on the east side of Kiyamachi a short walk south of Sanjo. You can find it sandwiched between the Golden Building and the Kiyamachi Building. Here is a map (and coupons!) a new map!
Open: every night, all night from 6:00 p.m till around 8:00 in the morning.
Tel: 050-5816-8872
*Prices quoted are correct at the time of writing.
Mike says
June 4, 2014 at 1:36 amHi Michael,
Should I assume that smoking is permitted if you don’t say anything about that? I’m only looking for non-smoking establishments.
Thanks.
Michael Lambe says
June 4, 2014 at 1:37 amI honestly can’t remember, but I would assume so as that is sadly the norm here.
Tess Santos says
March 21, 2015 at 3:11 pmHi Michael, I read your 2010 post on Asahi Susan and would be very much interested to try it with my family (with 2 teenage girls) when we visit Kyoto this April 2015. Would you still recommend the place? Thanks for the help!
Michael Lambe says
March 21, 2015 at 9:03 pmHi Tess,
Asahi Suisan is still there and still good. You might find it difficult to order though if you can’t read Japanese. There is no English menu and the Japanese menu has so many items on it, and all in hand written Japanese (with no pictures) that you really need someone to help you with it… Good luck!
Michael
Tess Santos says
March 22, 2015 at 10:03 amThank you very much for promptly replying to my e-mail, Michael! I greatly appreciate your well meaning advise and your ‘good luck’ note brought a smile as it gave me a glimpse of an entirely different culture from mine .
Michael Lambe says
March 26, 2015 at 12:16 amHi again,
I’ve been thinking so… Here’s a couple more suggestions for you, of fun eateries in town. This one has pictures in the menu: http://www.chimney.co.jp/shop/kansai/0633ikedaya/ It also has some history which you can read about here: http://www.insidekyoto.com/kyoto-samurai
And I haven’t been to the Ninja Restaurant but it might be fun and it seems to have an English menu: http://www.ninja-kyoto.co.jp/en/
Tess Santos says
March 26, 2015 at 10:36 amThis is great! Thank you so much, Michael, for the kind help and the info. Will check out the links you gave. Kind regards:)
Michael Lambe says
March 26, 2015 at 10:56 pmYou are welcome. Hope you have a great trip!
Mikey says
July 17, 2015 at 9:39 amGday Michael,
I was just taking a walk down memory land looking at old Kyoto photos of mine from 2009 and there was Asahi Suisan!! And then here I am! Im glad its still going – I had such a great time there! The food was outstanding!! I ate live prawns wriggling in my hands and shirako!! Amazing!!