My Guide to Japanese Izakayas on LAist
There's a lot more to Japanese cuisine than sushi or ramen. Izakaya, which literally translates to "stay-in sake shop," was traditionally a bar-like place where you could sit, drink, and bring your own snacks to munch on. Fast forward to today, izakayas are essentially Japanese pubs that serve unique small (tapas) dishes that are meant to be shared family-style. At more traditional izakayas, patrons have a choice of sitting on the floor on tatami mats or at the bar. Food options are plentiful and include the likes of grilled meat and vegetable skewers, fried chicken, sashimi, tofu, rice dishes, noodle dishes, and even dishes with a fusion twist. Since the portions are small, izakayas are the perfect opportunity to try things you'd never normally try.
