"This cozy izakaya in Brookline Village has been serving no-frills Japanese bar fare for years and can get quite busy on weekends, thanks to its $7 mai tais and $5.50 draft beer. To help the drinks go down, its yakitori and kushiyaki menu offers a great selection of poultry and non-poultry skewers cooked over a bed of hot charcoal. For something that’s more elevated and special occasion-worthy, the chef’s omakase comes in a box divided into nine sections, each compartment featuring a sashimi or onigiri that’s decorated in exquisite detail. It has a sibling location in Malden." - Valerie Li Stack