Izakaya 017 Yokaban

Looking for an authentic local Izakaya experience yet still friendly to non Japanese speaking folks? Yokaban is the place to go Reina and Hide were super friendly and introduced us to Kagoshima food and culture Food was really good. We really like this braised pork dish and cold tofu dish w bonito flake and soy sauce. The local kibinago dish and chicken sashimi were very interesting and delicious too. The shochu recommended was very easy to drink. Thank you for the Yokaban!

What a great izakaya! We originally found this place on a Saturday evening but it was crowded and we were too hungry to wait so we decided to make a reservation and come back the next evening, and it was a great idea! Reina, the owner, along with all of her staff, was super friendly and we didn't feel like we were standing out as "the tourists" in the middle of the locals. The place serves many different shochu types (as well as beer), in a "self-service" style. There are many local specialities to try, and everything we had was delicious. We can highly recommend the braised black pork, the homemade tofu, the tulip chicken and the lava plate grill selection! We didn't go for chicken sashimi tonight, but it looked great too. We had a great evening and would definitely love to come back one day. So don't be afraid if you're a foreigner, it's okay, they have an english menu with pictures and it's not a tourist trap! Vielen Danke liebe Reina ❤️

What a place! Is not only an Izakaya but a wonderful journey into Kagoshima culture and food, guided by the great energy of Reina (owner). Definitely a must try! Chicken Sashimi and fried sweet potato with honey are incredible!!!

Do not miss out on visiting Yokoban if you’re in Kagoshima! What an amazing two nights I had as a solo traveler. Reina is incredibly welcoming and her English is amazing! I visited two nights in a row and cannot wait to be able to come back again in the future. Thanks Reina for such amazing memories of your awesome city and bar!!

We had a fun time dining at Izakaya 017 Yokaban. We ordered a variety of dishes and we loved the braised black pork, karage (Japanese style fried chicken), baked sweet potato fries and the rice with egg. Their house sauces go well with pretty much everything served. Their pineapple shochu was quite tasty (note: the drinks are self-service which is pretty different and fun). Reina, the owner and chef, is a great host. Very passionate and full of zeal. Some of the dishes here were quite new to us, or served in new ways that we are not used to. Like for Yakitori, guests can self-cook the meat with a mini gas range, cooked on a volcanic stone slab. If you’re looking for good food & experience, I would recommend this Izakaya!

My first authentic izakaya experience and it was marvellous! Reina-san is a legendary host. She went out of her way to help us choose what to eat and her homemade dishes were so yummy! The fried sweet potatoes with misu honey and braised kurobuta in particular were stand-outs. Also, give chicken sashimi a try. It might sound scary but it actually tastes pretty good. The selection of drinks is superb too! Got to try quite a few shochus and a draught beer. Honestly, it doesn't get better than this if you are looking to try some local delicacies. Easy 5 stars!

The owner, Reina, and her staff really made us feel welcome. They were friendly and efficient. The food was delicious and many dishes were local, including the home mate tofu. Beer was self serve (😋), and we ordered the meal set which we cooked on a volcanic rock slab. Fun to cook and delicious. I rarely rate places, but when they are this good, I feel I need to write a review.

What a great izakaya! Reina makes it a point to make sure all her guests have a good time. “Yokaban means a wonderful night in Kagoshima dialect” and with her delicious food, self-serve drinks and warm presence she makes sure you do have a wonderful night.