Momochidori

Near the middle of 5th Street in Shinjuku Golden Gai, a narrow staircase leads up to a second floor split in two: turn right for Momochidori, left for its sister bar Beni-Kujaku (Red Peacock). Open since April 23, 2021 and still going strong into its fifth year in 2026, the bar is run by Shin and Asuka. What sets it apart is the food — on any given night, owner Shin may arrive with the day's catch and serve it as hand-crafted small dishes: squid cured with kombu, flatfish liver dressing, or a rich fish-bone broth. The menu follows the fish, not the calendar. The lighting is low, the counter close enough that asking "what did you catch today?" feels natural. General hours run around 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., with earlier openings from 5 p.m. on some days. Good for solo drinkers and seafood lovers alike — follow the glow on the second floor of 5th Street.