TOKYO 23
Marumasuya
A photograph of this place. Akabane 赤羽 (50296699541).jpg · nakashi · CC BY-SA 2.0
Alley Gourmet  ·  No. 161 Only here

Marumasuya

鯉とうなぎのまるます家 総本店  ·  Marumasuya

Ward
Kita
Price
¥1,200~2,500
Hours
weekdays 10:00-20:30 (L.O.) /
Closed
Mon
Getting there
1 min from Akabane Stn east exit, on Ichibangai
Founded
1950
Local tip
  • Doors open at ten on weekdays, nine at weekends
  • Founded 1950
  • The staff call out loudly
See real photos

We do not republish copyrighted photographs. Use the links below to see the actual venue.

Local Knowledge

Obvious to locals, invisible to visitors

There is a simple reason guidebooks leave this out: to the people who live here it is too obvious to be worth explaining.

Local timing
Doors open at ten on weekdays, nine at weekends

Doors open at ten on weekdays, nine at weekends. The area was full of munitions factories, and bars opened early for workers coming off night shifts — which is why Akabane still has morning drinking. Queues form before opening.

The backstory
Founded 1950

Founded 1950. With an established eel house nearby, the founder hesitated — until his wife pointed out that Osaka streets carry several okonomiyaki shops apiece. He kept the eel and added carp, and the place found its niche.

Unwritten rule
The staff call out loudly

The staff call out loudly, but most customers come alone and say little beyond their order, so it is busy without being noisy. Two connected U-shaped counters make solo seating easy, and there is no cover charge.

What it is

Kita is a ward known for Akabane's drinking quarter. The kitchen is bigger than the dining area. Sound and smell carry straight over, so the wait never drags. Portions run generous — think twice before upsizing. After six in the evening the atmosphere shifts completely — pick your hour to match your purpose. Carry a little cash for peace of mind — cards are still not universally accepted. Rather than anchoring your itinerary, it slots naturally into the gaps between other stops.

What to order

Why locals keep coming

The layout suits solo diners: mostly counter seats, and nobody encourages you to linger. Most customers live within walking distance. Disappoint them once and they never return — which keeps the floor high.