This fourth branch of the popular Yona Yona beer bar, its first venue outside central Tokyo, offers the same lineup of a dozen or so beers from Nagano brewery Yo-Ho, including seasonal specials. The stylishly appointed, massive dining room is far flashier than pretty much anything else we've seen in Kichijoji, and it makes a lively and fun setting when the place is full.
Yona Yona's beer-friendly food menu is well put together; in fact we'd probably recommend this restaurant even for non-beer drinkers. Fifteen types of specialty sausages are a main draw, with spicy varieties (yuzu-kosho, chorizo, squid-ink, curry), unusual meats (venison, pork organ meats), and intriguingly offbeat combinations (spinach-lotus root, squid-scallop-milt).
There are also interesting beer-infused dishes like the nicely crunchy menchi katsu (fried minced pork) with IPA sauce and the shrimp okonomiyaki made with barley wine. Our whole roast chicken didn't quite have the same perfectly crispy skin that we've enjoyed at other Yona Yona branches, but the meat was at least juicy and flavorful, and the portion size was more than big enough for our party of six.
The eight regular beers in the line-up come in three sizes, while "special" beers like barley wine and hand-pumped real ale come in one size only. Same-day reservations aren't allowed, so call a day ahead of time or prepare to wait on line if they're crowded. Open all afternoon on weekends. Budget around Y3000-4500 for ample food and drink.