There’s a quiet little obanzai restaurant called “花づくし” just a 1-minute walk from Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi, tucked away along the tracks toward Umeda.
Do you ever have those days after work when you feel like, “I just want a quick drink,” or “Maybe just one beer”?
So, switching things up a bit from Daa-san’s “Izakaya 3,000 Yen Drinking” series, I thought I’d also try visiting places where you can stop in for a quick drink.
The budget is roughly “1,000 yen.”
The “roughly” part is key! Since it’s a “quick drink,” going just a little over budget feels acceptable. Not that anyone gave me permission, but I figured we’d keep things a little relaxed.
So rookie writer “Niko” went to enjoy a quick drink.
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Obanzai “花づくし” Exterior
The outside of the restaurant looks like this. It has a nice, atmospheric feel to it.
Doesn’t it feel reassuring when you can peek just a little inside from under the noren curtain?
When it’s your first time going into a place, or when you’re going alone, being able to see a bit of the interior helps you mentally prepare and feel a little more at ease.
Inside Obanzai “花づくし”
※Obanzai 花づくし on Tabelog screenshot
Inside, there are only 8 counter seats, giving the place a cozy and calm atmosphere.
Obanzai “花づくし” Menu
As you’d expect from an obanzai place, the menu has that classic “home-cooked comfort food” feel.
They have beer, shochu, whiskey, sake, wine, plum wine, and more. I also saw bottles lined up with name tags, so it looks like you can keep your own bottle there too.
The Food at Obanzai “花づくし”
The counter is lined with large plates full of obanzai dishes.
Simmered green peppers, hijiki, lotus root tsukune
Simmered eggplant, buri daikon, mapo tofu, potato salad
Beef tendon konjac, harusame noodles, simmered sea bream head and bones
Grilled fish
Now then, since this is supposed to be a quick drink, what should I order…? Quite the dilemma.
A bottled beer is 500 yen, so I’d need to choose one dish from today’s recommendations.
Even though it’s just a quick drink, having to pick only one item from such a delicious-looking menu feels almost cruel.
But don’t worry!!
According to Tabelog, “The recommended option is the ‘Obanzai Set’ (1,080 yen), which includes three daily obanzai dishes and a bottled beer.”
So, after talking it over with the proprietress, I chose these three dishes.
From the left: potato salad, apparently a popular menu item, simmered eggplant, and beef tendon konjac, along with a bottled beer, medium size.
The potato salad had a nice peppery kick and went really well with beer. No wonder it’s popular. The eggplant was just as I imagined, thoroughly soaked with flavor and very tasty. The beef tendon konjac was good too, with a nice springy texture to the konjac.
All three dishes paired perfectly with beer, and I enjoyed them slowly while chatting with the proprietress.
The bill came to “1,080 yen,” just as the Tabelog information said.
It might not be quite enough if you’re really hungry, but for days like the theme of this visit, when you feel like “I just want a quick drink” or “Maybe just one beer,” I think this place is perfect.
Since it’s an obanzai restaurant, the dishes change depending on the day and season, so you might not get tired of it even if you went every day.
They apparently have many regulars, but also plenty of first-time customers and women dining alone.
One final word:
“With a quick drink, just short of enough is just right.”
Menu from 2024/1/30 below:
Obanzai “花づくし” Restaurant Information
★Business hours
[Tue–Sat] 17:30–22:30
★Closed: Sunday, Monday
★Phone: 0798-67-8008
★Address: 兵庫県西宮市高松町10-5 原田ビル 1F
★Payment methods: Cards not accepted
★Seats: 8
★Smoking: Fully non-smoking allowed
★Related link: Tabelog
