Yasubee at Omoide Yokocho Memory Lane

Yasubee is an Omoide Yokocho institution founded in 1940, serving fresh seafood from Toyosu Market alongside an extensive

Yasubee is a long-standing restaurant in Shinjuku's Omoide Yokocho, founded in 1940 and recognised as the alleyway's only large establishment under private ownership. Situated just a three-minute walk from the west exit of JR Shinjuku Station, it has been a fixture of the area for over eight decades, surviving the post-war transformation of what was originally a black market district into one of Tokyo's most famous drinking lanes. The main store sits alongside the railway tracks, whilst a separate annex operates as Omoide Yokocho's first cup-sake bar.
The kitchen receives fresh ingredients daily from Toyosu Wholesale Fish Market, ensuring that the seafood dishes reflect the seasonal best of what Tokyo's fish trade has to offer. The drinks menu boasts the most extensive selection of nihonshu sake in Omoide Yokocho, featuring local rice wines from across Japan, making it a favoured destination for those wishing to pair food with regional sake. The annex complements this with a wide variety of other beverages and gourmet snacks designed to accompany a tipple.
The main store operates daily from 11:00 until 24:00, with the annex opening from 16:00 until midnight. The interior is notably more spacious and polished than the typical cramped stalls of Omoide Yokocho, offering elbow room that makes it suitable for solo diners and small groups alike.