Takahashi

In the lively student neighborhood around Nishi-Waseda, Takahashi is a welcome destination when you want a hearty Japanese set meal built around seafood. Diners from all corners—neighborhood students, university staff, and office workers on lunch break—pack the seats for the daily blackboard rotation of simmered, raw, and grilled fish.

Flavor-Soaked Simmered Fish and Vibrant Fresh Sashimi

Among the dishes on the menu, the simmered fish teishoku holds an especially strong reputation and can sell out early. Fatty cuts like silver toothfish soak up a sweet and savory braising liquid, yielding deep flavors that pair seamlessly with bowl after bowl of dashi-infused white rice. The sashimi set meal, featuring seasonal catches, stands out for freshness and comes accompanied by hand-shredded daikon tsuma and dashi-scented miso soup, grounding the meal in unpretentious substance. For grilled fish sets, generous options like aromatic salted mackerel half-fillets or substantial salmon portions offer a reliable pick for fish lovers.

Meat Classics, Seasonal Fried Specialties, and Handmade Sides

Seafood is not the only draw: tender sliced pork simmered in a sweet-savory glaze for the shogayaki (ginger pork) set and richly braised, hearty niku dofu (tofu simmered with meat) have devoted followings as well. In winter, seasonal fried oysters arrive plump with crisp exteriors, making for a substantial plate. Set meals also feature meticulous small touches, such as fluffy, lightly sweet tamagoyaki rolled omelet or double-tiered bento boxes packed with an assortment of braised side dishes.

Set slightly below street level in a building near Okuma-dori, the interior offers an unhurried, approachable ambiance with communal tables and standard seating where solo diners can settle in without hesitation. The restaurant operates for lunch from 11:30 to 14:00, and payments via PayPay are accepted.