Ahiru Store — Restaurant in Tokyo

Ahiru Store is a small wine bar near Yoyogi Park. It’s been there for a while now and had been on my bucket list for a long time, but it took me a few years to finally make it here because they don’t take reservations and it’s always packed even on weekdays.

The place specializes in natural wines and you can order by the glass or bottle. All of the wines by the glass seemed to be priced the same. There is only one choice for a glass of sparkling wine, but for both reds and whites they give you a choice of three daily selections.

The service is great and their delicious food goes well with the wines. We highly recommend ordering the egg with mayo, hummus, and the octopus with avocado. They also have a large selection of bread that you can order by the slice. We recommend getting several types of bread, especially the focaccia.

Ahiru Store opens at 3pm (as of March 2022, they are closed on Wednesdays and Sundays), but there is always a line even before they open. Since we went on a Monday we thought that we might be able to get a table even if we got there a little past 3pm, but we ended up waiting for over a hour for a table to open up. This place is worth waiting for even if you have to wait for a while, but make sure you come here only when you have a lot of time and aren’t in a rush to get...

Utterly Overrated – A Masterclass in Wasting Time

If you enjoy waiting in line for hours just to stand while you eat, this is your place. Ahiru Store has somehow turned basic inefficiency into a cult experience. After a painfully long wait outside, you finally squeeze into a space so cramped they couldn’t fit five stools even if they tried. “Cozy” isn’t the word — it’s claustrophobic.

Once inside, the real endurance test begins: a glass of wine might arrive after 30 minutes, food after an hour and a half (yes, even a simple hummus plate). The queue outside isn’t because the food is exceptional — it’s because everything moves at a glacial pace.

There’s no English menu, no effort to explain the dishes, and yet when they want to, they suddenly speak perfect English — usually to tell you that what you ordered isn’t available. Ordering here feels like trying to solve a riddle while someone sighs impatiently next to you.

The wine list is fine, the food acceptable, but nothing remotely worth the ordeal. The hype surrounding this place is baffling — Tokyo has hundreds of wine bars where you can actually sit, be served within the hour, and not leave wondering why you just sacrificed your evening to a concept built entirely on pretentious scarcity.

In short: Ahiru Store is not a hidden gem. It’s a...

I had high expectations when visiting, known for its hipster vibes and natural wine selection. Unfortunately, my experience was marred by rude and xenophobic behaviour from the staff.

Upon entering, I was greeted with dismissive and condescending remarks, I was also told to put my mineral bottle on the floor and not on the table ???!! Hospitality should be a cornerstone of any establishment, and the lack of professionalism here was unacceptable.

I hope the management takes this feedback seriously and works towards fostering a more respectful and inclusive environment for all guests. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this place to others.especially disgusting is the middle age lady working there. Xenophobic to the max . roll...