Came across this Japanese izakaya bar randomly, and what a pleasant surprise! The service was super friendly and chill, and the whole place had such a fun, relaxed vibe with a cool cocktail bar atmosphere. The food was delicious and came in generous portions. I highly recommend the creamy uni udon and the torched inari bombs--truly da bomb! read more

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The food was really,really good! The service was great! I would really recommend to go here!!! read more

Oyster noodle night plus great food and FIFA was playing which was a great evening The west coast oyster is bigger and more delicious the east coast was a bit small Stuffed wings, shrimp stir fry udon, torched salmon was very delicious Great service, the environment was great and seats were comfortable read more

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Service was awesome, the decor and atmosphere is amazing. The food is less than desirable. But I will still give 5 stars for the service and decor. We were well taken care of by the servers who seemed always to be around. Whether to fill my tea or clear an empty plate. It was done promptly and efficiently. Inside also the atmosphere and overall aesthetics of this establishment is top notch. I will say the food was not to our liking as the sushi rolls were described to me by my party as supermarket quality. I did enjoy the "rye sliders" though but if judging a izakaya sushi place by their slider burgers. It doesn't match the experience. We did however attend on a birthday though and the complimentary cake exceeded our expectations. AGAIN The service is not lacking as I have previously stated, just to prove my point. ;) read more

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I was exploring new Japanese spot and tried this izakaya recently for dinner. Same as most izakayas, it's a bit pricy yet the food quality and service was not bad. The restaurant offered very spacious sittings and food was served quickly too. We tried fish tacos, creamy mushroom udon, heavy hitter rolls, miso cod, spicy grilled oyster, chawanmushi and fried rice with uni, salmon roe and unagi. Most of the dishes were on par. My favourite included fish tacos (like the crispy skin), creamy mushroom udon (flavourful and decent portion) and the miso cod (delicious and not overcooked). The rest of the dishes were okay too. The grilled oyster was unexpectedly spicy, and the way they cooked it was more Chinese than Japanese. The fried rice was a bit too greasy and I could hardly taste the flavour of uni. Overall, this is a restaurant I would want to revisit occasionally. read more

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Had made reservations for dinner as I thought it would have been busy since on Tuesdays and Wednesdays they have a $1 oyster deal. But because the restaurant is so big, there wasn't a need to as we could have walked in. The ambience is really pretty as well. Great for just small groups as well as large groups. Service was great from the beginning! Was seated right away and water was also provided. Food arrived at a good pace and we were checked up on every so often. Food overall was also good - nothing was jaw-dropping, but we also did order pretty standard dishes. They actually ended up giving us more Grilled Oysters than the menu indicates. Aesthetically, dishes were presented well too. I had added a note on the reservation that we were celebrating a birthday, but didn't think much of it. But after we paid the bill, they came out with a slice of cheesecake for the birthday person, so that was a great gesture. Shows that they pay attention to their customer requests. read more

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How is this place still not fully booked every night? They must not do a lot of promobecause the food is amazing!It's definitely one of the top 5 Japanese izakaya places in the Richmond Hill/ Markham area. in the Richmond I've been here fordinner many times and they are consistent in preparing the food to be always very tasty. Honestly, I've never came here disappointed . I do tend to order the same dishes because these items are so tasty. Here are the must try items: 1) Mantaiko shrimp udon (my#1 favorite-must try!) 2) mixedBBQ skewers setKushiyakiset-there are5 skewers of chicken and beef and onecherrytomato wrappedbacon(yummy!) 3) Beef burger sliders (3 pieces per order). It's so good that you might want 2 so keep that in mind when decide how many to order. Everything is so good here So happy that I don't need to go downntown anymore for really good Japanese izakaya .food! They also offer 5%off if you pay in cash. The service is excellent and the place is very warm and cozy! We will definitely be back. read more

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A good idea to come with a large group so that you can try many dishes and justify splitting items that you were not ordered on your own. We liberally ordered and the standouts were the Gyu sando (expensive but worth it), stuffed chicken wings, Parmesan Brussels sprouts and the corn riblets. All the dishes were actually very good, and most came in generous portions. read more

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Oh why I haven't been to this place is a mystery I'll never understand! My friend recommended it and I was craving this exact cuisine... First off, I visited on a Wednesday to catch their oyster specials. These oysters were from the west coast and appeared larger than what I usually expected. They were delicious! The rest of the food was great too...the negitoro don was my favourite!! This restaurant was surprisingly very spacious and although there were more and more people trickling in, it never felt full and loud. It was easy to catch up with a friend without yelling over yourself. Overall, a great place for great food. read more

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The food here is SO FREAKING GOOD!!! This is definitely one of my favourite restaurants to visit with friends because its guaranteed good food and who can pass on buck a shuck? Hostesses and waitstaff are always nice and pleasant. Very mindful and observant. Not too pushy. Love the service. And the space is beautiful. Only downside is the parking situation just outside of the restaurant but across the way theres a bigger lot. Definitely pay this place a visit! You won't be disappointed!!! read more

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I keep coming back to Ryu Izakaya for their creamy uni udon and buck-a-shuck oysters on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Their other menu items are solid choices as well, but it's those two that keep me coming back. The service is decent and there's usually seating available without reservation, though if you're going on a Friday evening, you might have to accept a bar seat. The restaurant is quite spacious, so it isn't too loud even when it's full. I will definitely be back again! read more

Ryu Izakaya - creamy uni udon - Japanese Near Me - Richmond Hill, Ontario

Sunday Happy Hour. I had everything! Chicken Kararrage, unpleasant fried wads of dark meat and fat, Takoyaki, unpleasant fried wads of something that included octopus, and Kushiyaki, skewers of meat, including pork cartilage. No I was not happy with food. Atmosphere and service were nice read more

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A great izakaya spot that's definitely worth visiting. Came here for dinner mainly to take advantage of their $1 oyster deal on Tuesdays. My friends and I ordered tequila shots, a few dozen oysters, the gyu beef sandwich, kushiyaki set, chicken karaage, and shrimp udon--everything was delicious. I also tried the Okinawa Breeze cocktail, which was refreshing and well made. Good service, waiter recommended popular dishes to order. Overall, a really enjoyable experience and I'd recommend others check this place out. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Richmond Hill, Ontario

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This place was ok. A large spacious restaurant with lots of tables. Parking was hard to find on a Friday night. Their plaza parking was full and I had to park where all the other restaurants was by the Keg. The restaurant was loud and it was hard to hear the conversations between the people At my table. We were sitting at the booth by the bar. Atmosphere was nice . However, customer service was so so. No one came to fill Our water. It was hard to even locate any staff. The food generally was ok, There wasn't one dish that was a wow for me. read more

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Amazing matcha! Hidden inside a restaurant. Service was quick and it had a modern ambiance which was nice read more

Ryu Izakaya - We got the strawberry and the pistachio matcha! Decent price for the size with an amazing taste! Definitely recommend getting! - Japanese Near Me - Richmond Hill, Ontario

Discovered this Izukaya resto and decided to try it out. Over, it's not bad but I'm on the fence of whether I would return for another visit. The space is very nicely decorated, had nice big booths for seating. One complaint was that our table was really sticky so we had to wipe it down ourselves when we sat. Staff were friendly. We ordered the east coast oysters, beef tartare, stuffed chicken wings, spicy tuna maki roll, and the amazing salmon maki roll. The beef tartare was definitely the standout dish for us. The beef was well seasoned and the baguette it came with was nice and buttery and crunchy. The most disappointing were the stuffed wings. I don't know why but they were so soggy. Just didn't have a nice bite to them at all. Everything else was ok, nothing spectacular. Not sure if I'd return! read more

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Came here for lunch and was quite impressed. The space is much bigger than I expected - very roomy inside, and they even have an artificial cherry blossom tree right at the entrance The service was friendly. That said, I found the menu a bit hard to read - the font was really tiny and printed on dark paper. Combined with the dim lighting, it took me a while to make out the items. I shared the feedback with the staff, so hopefully they'll consider updating it. Now on to the food: Colossal Ebi - LOVED this dish! It's like an upgraded version of shrimp tempura. The batter was super crispy, the jumbo shrimp were fresh and meaty, and the salted egg yolk mayo added a nice creamy, tangy touch. It was served on a bed of crunchy tempura bits, making it look like a little nest. Fun presentation and super tasty - just don't eat too much of the bits or it can get a little greasy. Unagi Don - Served in a cute donburi box with a lid. The eel was fresh, fatty, and grilled just right. A classic comfort dish done well. Kushiyaki Set - A nice variety of skewers: chicken thigh, beef, pork belly, bacon-wrapped tomato, and even chicken cartilage. Everything was grilled nicely - juicy, flavorful, and satisfying. Great option if you want to sample a bit of everything. Overall, I'd definitely come back to try more dishes. The food was solid, the vibes were trendy and chill, and the service was nice. Just hoping they'll improve the menu accessibility for folks like me with not-so-great eyesight Food (quality, creativity, consistency) - 4/5 Drinks (quality, variety) - NA/5 Ambience (interior design, cleanliness) - 5/5 Service (courtesy, knowledge, timeliness) - 4/5 Value (quality vs. price) - 3.5/5 ($$$) Overall - 4.1 read more

Ryu Izakaya - Colossal Ebi - Japanese Near Me - Richmond Hill, Ontario

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Food, oysters are fresh Service, even we just got the oyster special, the server was very nice Ambiance, love the bar, love the big tv Will definitely be back for more read more

Ryu Izakaya - $1.50 per oyster west coast - Japanese Near Me - Richmond Hill, Ontario

Had a fun time with three others trying a variety of dishes. We got the mentaiko udon, chilled spicy okra (could be spicier), bakudan roll (seared scallop and salmon on top), popcorn chicken cartilage, the skewer set, and dango for dessert. Portion sizes were alright and the flavours of everything was well done. Will be back to try other dishes! read more

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I came here for dinner a month ago to celebrate my job promotion. I was really craving izakaya food and Ryu had been open for a bit and I had never tried it yet so it was the perfect opportunity. The inside is very beautiful but we were seated right at the front where the front door brings in a huge wintery cold draft so we didn't really even get to experience the nicer part of the restaurant. It was quite busy when we went and it seemed like they were extremely short staffed. It took almost 45 mins for them to take our order! And it wasn't just our table, I looked around at those who were seated before us and after us and they too were waiting around for a long time. We then ordered everything off the menu that had the chef's recommendation symbol on it and it literally was so disappointing. The karage was spongey and chew instead of biting into it being crispy and juicy. I was sooooo disappointed at that. The pressed sushi tasted good but their rice to fish ratio was off. I liked their japa poutine but but it was just costco fries, you can't really mess that up. We ordered the Ryu sliders and those were just mid. I think the japa burgers at nome are way better. We also ordered the miso black cod which we always know is expensive every where for a tiny piece but we thought it would just taste better. I think the only thing we liked were the cocktails. Overall, the service and food really let me down. I don't think I could recommend this spot. read more

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We really enjoyed our visit here! We came here for the $1 oysters but ended up really liking the other dishes as well. The creamy uni udon is delicious, we would come back just for that! We also got the Bakudon roll, beef tartare and some skewers. The Bakudon roll was good and is a good filler to keep you full. I wouldn't order the beef tartare again as it was just okay - the flavour was a bit bland. My husband really liked the skewers and the Kushiyaki Set is a good variety. read more

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Came here for $1 oysters but really enjoyed the other dishes as well. The oysters were fresh and came with lemon, soy sauce, and horseradish. Also tried the sliders and they were very good. The calamari wasn't the best as it was very breaded and didn't have much seasoning. The sushi rolls were really good and quite large. We tried the bakudan and amazing salmon rolls which both came with torched fish which added nice flavour. I would also recommend trying the soju cocktail. You can choose any soju flavour. We did strawberry and it was really good. The restaurant has a nice interior and has a cool vibe. The service was good and the food came out quick. It is fairly pricey but I would recommend trying this place out read more

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Every dish was amazing and perfect for sharing. Would recommend the gyu sando, the brussel sprouts, and the yakitori set. Ambiance is nice, but with loud music. Service is attentive. read more

Enjoyed my time here last night when I came with my best friends for a belated Galentines! We got the following: - Tuna Tacos: This was an amazing starter. I think this is a must try - it has a tuna tartare filling in a deep fried nori "taco" shell. I was most impressed because I thought it would just crumble when I bit into it, but it actually has great structural integrity haha! 10/10 - Ryu Sliders: Juicy beef patties and very nice bite sized sandwiches. I quite liked it but in retrospect maybe I would've tried the shrimp sliders or the wagyu sandwich for novelty instead. 8/10 - Chicken Karaage: Very large pieces and it came with an aioli sauce. I wasn't super impressed but it was well-made for sure! They were very juicy pieces. 7/10 - Japa Poutine: I saw the vision on this but it was too heavy for my liking. The tonkatsu sauce was nice but I found it was a little odd with the cheese on top. We didn't finish this and took it home. I think I'll stick to truffle fries next time. 6/10 - Chirashi Don: I have to say I was a bit disappointed. Maybe because I was expecting cubed sashimi style chirashi don (and they have this type on the menu's picture on the website), but mine came in sliced sashimi. Fine, just not was I was expecting. I think it just made it a little harder to have bites of both rice and fish, you are kind of forced to eat the sashimi and then take a bite of rice. However, I know this is more traditional so totally debatable! 7/10 - Uni Fried Rice: I didn't try this one but the portion and presentation was very nice, it comes in a bowl recessed in a wood platform. 9/10 - Mentaiko Shrimp Udon: Huge shrimp on this! Was great and the sauce was very creamy. 9/10 For cocktails, we had: - Razu: We got 2 of these. Very pink and right on theme with Galentines! Was delicious and highly recommend! 9/10 - Lychee Koori: Didn't try this but my friend said it was also very solid. 8/10 Overall, everything here had great portion sizes, taste and presentation. I was very impressed! We had an earlier reservation but as the night went buy the place got very busy and the vibe was great! Decor, music lighting made it an enjoyable night. It's definitely loud and rowdy in there for sure (there was a lot of screaming in there) as with any izakaya! Be sure to take some pictures at the beautiful tree near the front door! read more

Ryu Izakaya - Left to right: Tuna Tacos, Razu, Lychee Koori, Ryu Sliders - Japanese Near Me - Richmond Hill, Ontario

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Got here around 7pm on a Saturday and it was going to be an hour wait for a table for 2 but the bar was open so we went with that. Service was good. The place was quite nice, spacious and clean. Food was great, we ordered Truffle Fries, Ryu Sliders and the Mentaiko Udon. Everything we had was really good and would definitely recommend. I would definitely go again [: read more

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Came here to celebrate my friends birthday and wow the atmosphere is just as advertised on social media, its easily recognizable by the sakura tree and bar. We had an assorted set of appetizers such as the fried gyoza, tacos and sliders. I ordered the torched salmon and creamy cheese udon. Personally my favourites were the sliders and salmon. The udon was heavy and I would have went to a specialty restaurant for it instead. read more

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My friends and I always come here for group dinners. here is super busy even on weekdays! Their uni creamy udon, sashimi deluxe platter, spyder crab sushi, and tuna tacos were all delicious! If you're not into cocktails, definitely try their sparkling Darjeeling tea -- super refreshing, surprisingly paired really well with oysters. They have $1 oysters on Tuesdays and Wednesdays! read more

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We came on a Tuesday for their $1 oysters and it did not disappoint. The server was accommodating and attentive to our orders. The oysters came with different sauces. The ambiance and music gave us a great vibe. read more

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Our little food gang had reservations for 6:00 PM, and from the moment we walked into Ryu Izakaya, the night felt special. We were greeted warmly, seated right away, and even allowed to wait comfortably for our third member without any rush--already a great start. We dove right into their buck-a-shuck oysters deal: East Coast for $1 and West Coast for $1.50. The East Coast oysters were an absolute dream--fresh, briny, and addictive. The West Coast ones were larger and plumper, a little intimidating at first, but once dressed with their house cocktail sauce and horseradish, they were just as satisfying. The vibe of the restaurant was one of my favorite parts. Huge, spotless, and beautifully designed, Ryu Izakaya truly transported me into another era. The glowing tree at the entrance was such a stunning touch--welcoming, whimsical, and Instagram-worthy. The atmosphere was lively yet comfortable, and the whole team was attentive. What stood out most was that service wasn't tied to just one person; everyone helped everyone. Still, our main server Steph was incredible--patient, friendly, and super knowledgeable. She guided us through the menu, explained the oyster differences, and helped our indecisive trio land on the perfect dishes. Her recommendation, the Creamy Uni Udon, was hands down the star of my night. The uni was luxuriously creamy, the noodles perfectly cooked, and the unexpected hint of shiso leaf tied the whole dish together in the most unique way. Pricey, yes--but worth every bite, and I'd order it again in a heartbeat. Trev went for the Gyukatsu and could not stop raving about it. He also added karaage, which he polished off happily. Carol chose the Uni Fried Rice, and wow--it was smoky, crispy, and packed with bold flavor. Each dish felt thoughtful and elevated. Sadly, we missed their specialty matchas (the menu cuts off at 6:00 PM), but that just gives us the perfect excuse to return for lunch next time. What really set Ryu Izakaya apart, though, was the overall experience. Many popular restaurants will rush you out once you've lingered a little too long, but here, we were allowed to relax, laugh, and catch up without pressure. That simple courtesy turned dinner into a night of true connection. Between the gorgeous space, the phenomenal food, and the welcoming service--especially from Steph--our first visit to Ryu Izakaya was an absolute success. Yes, it's on the pricier side, but every dollar was well-spent on an experience we'll remember. We came for the food, but Ryu Izakaya gave us so much more. Can't wait to come back! Happy eating fellow helpers! read more

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Ambiance is good for dating, not for family, a bit too dark. Food is decent , slightly pricy. Service is fair, a little hard to find the server. read more

Was excited because this place was all over tiktok and here is my personal opinion. The space itself was gorgeous, beautifully decorated. The service was good, our waitress was fantastic explaining everything and giving us time. The downfall was the food itself, lacked flavour and seasoning. This was the theme of all the dishes we had which was so unfortunate. There was nothing I would come back for, which is so disappointing because I wanted to badly to like this place. read more

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overall experience is great. food are delish and service is excellent. definitely recommended. vibe at night is good Price wise is reasonable..good for big groups as well. read more

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Had a great dinner here again with my friends.service is still good. Like the vibes here. Ordered a lot of foods, they're all good, except the 和牛寿喜锅， it's a way too sweet for me. They have a very beautiful cherry blooming decoration inside, however the seating space are not classy as expected. read more

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I went to this restaurant to celebrate a friends birthday and it made the event a memorable one. The interior is very modern but still screams izakaya from their bar to their classic bar menu. There is a beautifully lit tree at the entrance of the restaurant, making it a great spot for pictures. We ordered sliders, fries, oysters, and sushi and no one had any complaints about the flavour or presentation!! Although I didn't order drinks, they looked carely crafted and photogenic- I would try that in the future. I would definitely be back for an occasion as it's not the most affordable option for an Izakaya. read more

Ryu Izakaya - Japanese Near Me - Richmond Hill, Ontario

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+.5 for service Ryu Izakaya is an izakaya restaurant in the Beaver Creek Business Park, where many restaurants converge in an area with plenty of parking. I've been here twice now, once in 2022 and once in my most recent visit back, dining here with a friend on a Wednesday night. This review is for my most recent visit, as I honestly forgot what I had in my 2022 visit. Wednesday night was buck a shuck night, so my friend and I shared a dozen of east coast oysters. Pretty solid and can never complain about 12 oysters for $12. I also had the torched salmon sushi. Again it was very good! For $18 and 8 pieces I definitely think this is a reasonable deal for aburi sushi, especially considering the size. Service was very good. Was it the best izakaya place I've been to? That might be pushing it, but for an izakaya place in the suburbs this place more than does its job. read more

Ryu Izakaya - East Coast Oysters - Japanese Near Me - Richmond Hill, Ontario

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SPACIOUS DINING AREA BUT MEDIOCRE FOOD :( There aren't that many izakaya in the suburb, so we thought we'd give it a try. First impression was good - dining area is quite spacious, and the table positioning isn't crowded at all! The servers were friendly too, so I'd say the overall environment is a solid 3.5 / 5. The food quality though was just mediocre (say, 2.5 / 5). We started with some sashimi appetizers. Both the hamachi and scallops were quite fresh, although it lacks a bit of "wow" factors. Then we ordered fries and karaage - fries were freshly prepared and was probably the best food item for the night. We wrapped up our night with pressed sushi, which really turned us off. The fish and the rice weren't sticking together at all. I don't know how to describe, but it's like I had to eat the fish on top first, then eat the rice in a separate bite. In addition, it could just be a personal preference, but I found the sauce to be too overwhelming. I'd recommend this place for "Happy Hours" (drinks and snacks) given the spacious environment, but I probably won't visit again for a full meal. read more

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I've been here multiple times and they do not disappoint. The food is fresh and delicious, we came for buck a shuck and the oysters were pretty good. The rolls are huge and have lots of filling. The waitresses were very nice and friendly and the food came out pretty quickly. The interior of the restaurant is very clean and has a nice ambience. Overall, it is a great place to go! read more

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Visited many time, everything was good, price very reasonable and tasty. Highly recommended tampura set only $15 Sashimi set $75 Service was friendly and helpful Always hangout with friends during weekend, super love their vibes read more

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Location/Service This place is located right off highway 404 - by east Beaver Creek - near the section with a lot of restaurants like Marlowe and Moxie's. It's not hard to miss cause they have a really big sign. Plenty of parking available - just gets a little busy during peak hours. Very nice interior - love the big sakura tree they have right at the front - very photo friendly. They can definitely do small to big tables - so consider this place as your next big celebration. Staff were very friendly and orders came right on time. Food They had a promo for a little while on $1 oysters - so definitely check their instagram for any deals. The oysters were just limited to a few selections - mostly from east end, but they were still pretty fresh and good in size - perfect appetizers. Since I was there with a few friends, we ordered a few shareable items like tuna tartare tacos and fries - which were pretty standard to what you see at other places. We tried a few mains - like the oden bowl and the gyukatsu - those were very hearty, pretty good in quality and overall okay good taste. I think this is a good place to try if you are curious - but I didn't find a lot of the dishes super amazing or memorable. read more

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Looking for an Izakaya place uptown that closes slightly later at night? This is it. Got to try out this place as I got back into town close to midnight, and most other places were already closing up. They have roomy booths and a nice atmosphere. I enjoyed their dishes, but keep in mind the sushi bar does close earlier so the menu shrinks a bit later at night. Service was great, would definitely return when I've got late night cravings! read more

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