Food & Dining— Page 5

Build-your-own malatang specialist near Ikebukuro West Exit, with 65-plus ingredients and a herbal Sichuan broth.

A vegetable-focused organic Italian bar in east Ikebukuro, pairing organic produce with a huge drinks list.

A Kyoto-founded chicken-nabe specialist on the 12th floor of Tobu Ikebukuro, known for mizutaki, duck sukiyaki and oyakodon.

A Kyushu-style restaurant on Ikebukuro PARCO's 8th floor, famed for an oversized crab tempura bowl and Nagasaki champon.

Long-running charcoal yakiniku off Ikebukuro's north side, praised for good-value premium cuts and a warm welcome.

Charcoal yakiniku with kuroge wagyu all-you-can-eat, three minutes from Ikebukuro Station.

A5 kuroge wagyu charcoal yakiniku in Ikebukuro, with all-you-can-eat from 1,980 yen.

Hand-drip speciality coffee and house-baked pastries in a calm, light-filled cafe a minute from Ikebukuro's west exit.

A Nagoya-style eel specialist on PARCO's 8th floor, serving unsteamed binchotan-grilled unagi with a rich tamari sauce in the traditional hitsumabushi style.

Japan's first Boston cookie brand, landing in Ikebukuro PARCO with thick, chunky cookies and a cookie-and-ice-cream crunch.

Friendly craft beer bar in Minamiikebukuro pouring 15 taps of Japanese and imported brews with American snacks.

A grown-up back-alley wine bar in east Ikebukuro, with monthly glass pours and handmade Italian plates.