01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Tucked into a residential pocket a short walk from Kumanomae Station, Kurumada is the kind of neighborhood izakaya that draws diners in for comforting, homestyle cooking and straightforward drinks. Starting off with a white Hoppy often brings a generous pour of shochu in the glass, providing an immediate, thirst-quenching start to the evening.
The food menu leans into simple, well-executed drinking snacks. Edamame with a rich aroma and old-fashioned diced French fries—hearty, golden, and satisfyingly fluffy inside—make ideal companions for the first drink. A simply salted mackerel, grilled until the skin is crisp and fragrant while the meat remains tender and juicy, offers unadorned comfort that keeps the drinks flowing.
Alongside classic izakaya bites, the kitchen stands out for its well-rounded Western-style plates. Handmade hamburg steaks, croquettes, and crisp fried cutlets all deliver comforting, gentle flavors, functioning equally well as drinks accompaniments or as the core of a relaxed dinner. Seafood options are plentiful as well, ranging from freshly fried octopus karaage to seasonal sashimi.
The beverage selection is equally wide-ranging. In addition to standard draft beer and bottled Kirin Classic Lager, the bar mixes an assortment of fruit-forward chuhai such as fresh lemon, tomato, yuzu, and apricot sours. Health-minded options like black vinegar sours, Tartary buckwheat tea highballs, and green juice highballs share the list with house-made plum liqueur and, during colder months, warming hirezake made with blowfish fin, ensuring there is a drink suited to any mood.
Whether you are settling into a counter seat for a casual drink on your own or lingering over honest, home-cooked food in an unhurried room, Kurumada offers an easygoing haven in east Tokyo.
