01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
A standout dish to look forward to once seated is the seafood chawanmushi, a savoury steamed egg custard generously filled with shrimp, shellfish, and other treasures of the sea. Its gentle dashi aroma spreads soothingly, setting a warm, comforting tone for an evening of drinks. Located in Mukojima, Iwateya is an izakaya where diners can relax into the evening surrounded by approachable, reasonably priced small plates.
The menu features a welcoming spread for drinkers, from fresh catches like the daily three-fish sashimi platter and salted sea pineapple to thoroughly fermented 80-year-recipe nukazuke pickles and fried eggplant loaded with aromatics. For meat dishes, the fragrant seared Iwai chicken and juicy fried karaage come well recommended. Playful downtown touches also appear across the menu, including sizzling downtown-style cheese monjayaki and takoyaki-style cheese omelettes.
The beverage selection provides wide variety as well, offering draft beer, black Hoppy, and crisp highballs alongside bottles like Iwate's Shichifukujin sake, Seikou Udoku sweet potato shochu, and Korean Bidan shochu. Wrapping up the meal is just as satisfying with comforting options such as smooth kamaage udon noodles or gently sweet, warm kuzukiri starch noodles.
Despite the intimate footprint, considerate touches such as partition curtains between table seats make the space feel comfortably private. It is a reliable neighborhood destination, whether you want to enjoy a quiet drink on your own or share a selection of dishes over conversation with good company.
