Izakaya is a generic term for a Japanese-style tavern that is open until late at night or even the next morning, serving mainly alcoholic beverages and simple dishes. Compared to the regular sushi restaurants, the izakaya has no complicated etiquette requirements, and the atmosphere is relaxed, and the price is relatively affordable, so it is popular. There are many such Japanese taverns in Shanghai, and each with its own characteristics. It is also because of the different styles that it is difficult to measure its quality by the same standard.
If you have to make a ranking of Shanghai izakayas, Sanada Shokudo has the highest overall rating. Sanada Shokudo specializes in Japanese home-style cooking, and it can be said that Sanada Shokudo is an izakaya where you can eat Japanese home-cooked food with authentic recipes and good tastes. In Japanese home cooking, there is neither a deluxe sashimi platter nor sushi, but chicken, potatoes, radish, and onions are the daily routine. Deep-fried chicken and hash browns are Sanada Shokudo's signature dishes. The owner of Sanada Restaurant, Toshiyuki Sanada, ran a hot spring inn in his hometown of Otaru, Hokkaido, in his early years, and he also has a lot of experience in cooking. The Japanese home-cooked food made by the owner is made with care, and Japanese diners also recognize its taste.
Sanada Cafeteria doesn't have a wide variety of alcohol, but it's basically enough to meet your needs. When you go to any izakaya, it's customary to drink alcohol. Beer, shochu, high ball, sawa, fruit wine, and other drinks are a must-have drink in almost every store, and sake is usually on the last page of the wine list or on a separate sake list as a high-end liquor. Draft beer is the most consumed type of liquor in izakayas, and Asahi draft beer is the mainstream among shops in Shanghai. Draft beer is refreshing, frothy, and very easy to drink, and it is customary for Japanese people to order a glass of draft beer as an "opening drink" before ordering a meal, which can be relaxing and appetizing. Izakaya, including Sanada Shokudo, always have chilled draft beer, even the beer glasses are chilled, and most of the other types of alcohol are served chilled or on the rocks, with only a few shochu, sake, or soft drinks served at room temperature.
The evaluation of Sanada Shokudo is not only that it is serious about cooking, but also that it is careful enough in terms of environmental layout. Drawing on the design experience of hot spring inns, the owner changed the popular style of posters and red lanterns in ordinary taverns, and made the dining environment of Sanada Shokudo simple and bright, with soft and comfortable lighting, but without losing Japanese characteristics. The low door of Sanada Shokudo is often talked about by visiting diners, and the low design of the door makes it necessary to bend down to enter, which contrasts strongly with the spacious interior environment. The six bronze coin marks that can be seen everywhere are not only the store logo of Sanada Shokudo, but also the family crest of the famous samurai family "Sanada" in Japanese history, and the owner is a descendant of the Sanada family.
Sanada Shokudo has two branches. It should be noted that the business hours of the Jing'an store are different from the Changning store, the Jing'an store is open at noon on weekdays, and the latest business hours for the evening market are half past eleven; The Changning store is only open in the evening, and the latest is open until 12 o'clock. Unlike high-end Japanese restaurants that strictly enforce reservations, dining at an izakaya is much more casual, so diners don't have to make a reservation two or three days in advance, but it's a good idea to call to see if there's a seat before you go.
