Izakaya taverns will invariably bring you a small dish of appetizer called “otoshi,” generally in the neighborhood of 300 yen. This is not something you order but something to nibble on until your order comes and sometimes it is explained as the izakaya’s service fee. Before you start wondering “I didn’t order this so why should I pay for it?”, remember that it is part of the izakaya culture and a chance to try a delicacy you hadn’t considered!
