Eat the Moving Squid Arms at a Bar Restaurant IKA CENTER イカセンター in Tokyo - Calamari 烏賊

イカセンター Squid Bar Restaurant - 烏賊 Calamari

A Japanese bar restaurant IKA CENTER イカセンター specializes in fresh squid sashimi. (Squid is called IKA in Japanese.) Some squids are kept alive in the fish tank of the restaurant. Immediately after the customer orders, it is sliced as sashimi.

I have been to 2 restaurants in Tokyo, such as in Ueno 上野 and Shinjuku 新宿.

Table of Contents

IKA CENTER - Ueno 上野
IKA CENTER - Shinjuku 新宿
Information

IKA CENTER - Ueno 上野

At Ueno branch, you can catch the squid yourself with fishing rod, but I've heard sometimes it is not available. (I'm not sure if it is available at the other branches.)

In addition to squid, other seafood is also kept alive in the tank.

Ueno branch has spacious seats.

They offer many kinds of Japanese seafood.

When you choose a la carte menu (not main course menu), cover charge is 300 yen per person and includes a bite to eat.

Sparkling sake

SUIGEI 酔鯨 is one of my favorite sake brands.

Field Trip to a Sake Brewery SUIGEI in Kochi Pref. 高知の「酔鯨」で酒蔵見学

SUIGEI built new sake brewery TOSA-KURA 土佐蔵 in Tosa City 土佐市 Kochi Prefecture 高知県. This brewery looks like a modern factory.I attended their field trip.

Cloudy and undiluted sake にごり原酒

Mixed Sashimi 刺身
1 plate for 2 persons as shown the photos: 1800 yen
1 plate for 3 - 4: 2480 yen

It was really fresh and delicious.

Restaurant's Special
Fresh Squid Sashimi 2480 yen to more
活イカ刺し Katsu Ika Sashi
The price of the dish depends on the size and type of the squid. It is cooked and served whole. These type of dishes typically start at 2480 yen. (Please check the prices when you order it.)

‎This restaurant offers fresh squid sashimi which straight from fish tank. You need to order the whole body if you want this.

The squid sashimi is popular and often sold out quickly.
I recommend you arrive at the restaurant as soon as possible in the evening. When you are ordering the first order, you should order the squid sashimi.

The squid arms are still moving a bit. When you put soy sauce on it the arms reflexively twitch. Let's eat the moving squid arms! What a fresh squid it is!
* The arms are included with the squid sashimi above.

Calamari Rings
イカリング Ika-ring
Half size 680 yen (as pictured above), Large 1280 yen
If you are 1 or 2 person, I recommend ordering the half serving because the large might be too much.

Marinated Squid on Rice
イカ沖漬け飯 Ika-okizuke-meshi 680 yen

Japanese Raw Egg is Safe to Eat. 生卵（生玉子）、温泉玉子（温泉卵）

In Japan, we often eat raw eggs, typically those of chicken or quail. Many types of dishes are served with raw egg or a half boiled egg.

At Ueno branch, smoking is prohibited in the dining rooms but there is a small smoking room inside the restaurant.

IKA CENTER - Shinjuku 新宿

Draft Beer 550 yen

This restaurant's chopstick rest is cute squid.
Cover charge with a small side dish is 300 yen per person.

SUIGEI 酔鯨 is one of my favorite sake brands.

The staff fills up sake like this picture when you order a glass of cold sake.

Fresh Squid 2900 (or 2480) yen to more
活イカ刺し Katsu Ika Sashi

When you eat raw squid arms, you should take your time to chew them very well, because in rare cases, raw squids carry very small parasites that the chef might have missed when preparing them so they are still inside.
Taste very good!!

When I went there they offered sliced raw squid with sauce from squid guts.
When you are served this, first you need to pestle the guts yourself to make the guts paste, and then put a little bit soy sauce in it.

You should pestle it very well because if there are parasites in the guts, you have to kill them by pestling.
This sauce is very good for squid sashimi.
It is worth trying!

Ajillo of Squid and sea vegetable MOZUKU 600 yen
イカと岩もずくのアヒージョ Ika-to-iwamozuku-no-ajillo

Squid Tempura 680 or 1280 yen
イカ天 Ika-ten

Grilled Fish Head

Sushi
握り Nigiri

Clam Miso Soup

The photos of Shinjuku restaurant were taken in 2017, but the rooms were renovated in 2018.

There are some fish tanks in the restaurant.

After trying to escape, it was cooked.

* The entrance is located on the 5F. However, they also have another floor on the 4F.

Information

Bar restaurant name
IKA CENTER イカセンター

Website (in Japanese)

イカセンター

ikacenter.com　日本随一の活イカ卸直営ならではの「イカセンター」横流しクオリティーをどうぞお愉しみください。

Cover charge is 300 yen per person.
Prices on the menu are not including tax.
There is no English menu and no picture menu.
Open 5:30 (6:00) pm at the latest
(A few of the restaurants open earlier or also open lunch time.)

About budget
In total, 6000 - 9000 yen per person would be suitable for a lovely dinner at IKA CENTER.

Note
Squids in the tanks are often sold out or no stock because of purchasing from a fish market and this restaurant is really popular.

There are 7 restaurants in and around Tokyo.

To be honest
I definitely recommend Ueno 上野 branch more than Shinjuku 新宿 branch above.
Ueno 上野 branch's seats are more spacious, comfortable and no-smoking.

I introduce some restaurants around popular sightseeing places in and around Tokyo.
Check out Google Maps below!

in downtown Tokyo

in Kanagawa 神奈川 Prefecture

Yokohama 横浜

Photos were taken in 2017. Prices and information are as of October 2019.

Fishing Restaurant