You’ll feel better after downing a few Rei cocktails and eating rampaging Angel Sachiel.
Despite its unquestionable status as one of he most iconic and influential anime of all time, Evangelion can be traumatizing to watch. A complete viewing of the franchise so far means going along with its characters on a ride that includes coping with parental death and abandonment, biomechanic cannibalism, and catatonic masturbation material.
After all that, many Eva fans find themselves in need of a stiff drink to help them settle their nerves, and there’s no place more appropriate for that than Tokyo’s new Evangelion Bar.
Set to open in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro neighborhood (the second-largest gathering spot for otaku in the downtown area, after Akihabara), the Evangelion Sakaba, as it’s called in Japanese, is a collaborative affair with 46 Shokudo, which rotates between anime themes every few months. The Evangelion Bar is an izakaya (Japanese-style pub), serving up a variety of small plates of food to munch on while knocking back drinks, several of which have an Eva influence to their presentation, like the Sachiel squid ink seafood pilaf or gunkan-style sushi with minced tuna and salmon roe.
The insignia of Evangelion war machine operator Nerv also shows up in the sweet dashimaki tamago omelets and hot plate fried rice.
Other nods to the series include the Lilith Spicy Chicken, skewered with a culinary “Spear of Longinus” like the creature crucified in Nerv’s basement, and the Autumn Tempura A.T. Field.
Oh, and don’t forget to save room for sweet temptations like the ominous Second Impact Pudding, or, if you want to be like mad scientist Gendo and take the First Angel into your body, the disturbing Adam Cheese Cake.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a bar without themed cocktails, like the Eva Test Type Berry Sour, Unit 02 Highball, Mark 06 Highball…
…the cool blue Rei Sour, and the more extrovertedly garnished Asuka Sour.
The special cocktails are all priced at 390 yen (US$3.50), while food is mostly in the 300-650 yen range, per plate. There’s also a lineup of non-alcoholic drinks if you’re made of such stern stuff that Evangelion doesn’t have you craving liquid courage, plus single-plate pasta, rice, and steak dishes in the 900-1,200-yen area.
The interior decorations for the Evangelion Bar are still a mystery, since 46 Shokudo is still in the middle of its Cells at Work anime collaboration. We do know that at the very least the Eva eatery will be decked out with noren entrance tapestries and hanging lanterns featuring Nerv’s logo and special shade of crimson, but beyond that, we’ll have to wait until the Evangelion Bar opens on November 16 and begins its limited-time run until January 6.
Restaurant information
Evangleion Bar / エヴァンゲリオン酒場
Venue: 46 Shokudo / 46食堂
Address: Tokyo-to, Toshima-ku, Higashi Ikebukuro 1-29-4, Narita Building 4th floor
東京都豊島区東池袋1-29-4成田ビル 4F
Open 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
November 16, 2018-January 6, 2019
Website
Source: Evangelion Bar, PR Times via Otakomu
Images: Evangelion Bar
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he’s still partial to the jazzy Ayanami Version of the Eva opening theme.