Inoki Sakaba

Round 2 not as Great as round 1 but still a great enkai spot

If you’re into Japanese pop culture, pro wrestling, or politics, Antonio Inoki is a fascinating figure. One of the great ways to immerse yourself in the spectacle that is Antonio Inoki is to go to this theme restaurant in Shinjuku. Inoki Sakaba has been around for several years now, though the original Inoki Sakaba shut its doors a year ago and the new location opened up closer to Shinjuku station. Many things I loved about the old Inoki Sakaba are still there—delicious food, reasonable prices, memorable ambiance, and fun games like the Janken Taikai (a rock, paper, scissors tourney)—but it’s lost the wide open space that made it the perfect gathering place. That said, the location makes it more convenient (it really is just a stone’s throw away from the station—across the street, in fact), and the loss of space is not a deal breaker. All it means is that you need to be sure to call ahead and make a reservation. Inoki Sakaba is open daily from 17:00 to midnight. The telephone number for reservations is 03-3354-1339. Also, a personal tip: if you go for an enkai, order everything a la carte--don't go for the set course. You'll pay less and get better food and drinks!