Kakehashi

At Kakehashi, an izakaya in Sumiyoshi Ward, tofu takes centre stage in a choice of individual dishes. Diners who have tried the agedashi tofu and mini tofu chige say the house-made tofu stands out for its smooth, rich texture. Choose it served in a savoury broth or in a spicy stew: even with tofu as the starting point, the two dishes make for quite different meals.

The menu also includes house-made tofu steak (480 yen) and tofu topped with egg and sauce (490 yen). For a meal of several small plates, you could build around the tofu dishes and add rolled omelette or an assortment of house-made rice-bran pickles. Drinks include draft beer (520 yen) and sake (520 yen), offering options whether you are in the mood for snacks with a drink or a more substantial meal.