Izakaya Fishtown

"There’s no shortage of restaurants for ramen, premium fish, and long lists of maki in Fishtown (we’re looking at you, Hiroki and Dawa). While Izakaya Fishtown doesn't quite pull off the ramen, maki, and small plates bit, it's a spot where you can comfortably stick to Happy Hour, hand rolls, and highballs, and leave satisfied. photo credit: EMILY SCHINDLER photo credit: EMILY SCHINDLER photo credit: EMILY SCHINDLER photo credit: EMILY SCHINDLER Happy Hour is the perfect time to drop in because, unlike most places where a handful of items get a dollar or two knocked off, it feels like the entire menu here gets the Prime Day deals treatment, including the drinks. The gin-based highballs (we’re partial to the Seasonal with grapefruit and sage) can get dangerous—they’re perfectly blended, extremely refreshing, and pair with everything on the menu. You can expect a variety of hand rolls here, like salmon belly, shrimp, and buttery toro scallion (there’s not a bad one to be had–we checked). The raw bar items like oysters and tuna tartare are more filling but unremarkable. You'll forget about small plates like grilled chicken thighs and flavorless pork gyoza by your second sip of sake. And the ramen can be so oily that it's close to inedible. Stop by with a few friends and stick to what's best: hand rolls, sudsy drinks, and spending less than the full price on both during Happy Hour. Food Rundown Tuna Rice Crisp Who doesn’t love a satisfying crunch? The tuna rice crisps are rectangles of crispy rice topped with creamy spicy tuna and serrano pickles. Each bite has just the right amount of heat and tanginess balanced out by the fish. Order it. photo credit: EMILY SCHINDLER Chicken Robata This chicken skewer is about as memorable as the meal from your weird cousin’s wedding. The yakitori sauce does nothing to enhance the flavor. It’s a dish you should skip. Shrimp Handroll Jumbo shrimp, sticky white rice and scallion might not be the way to everyone’s heart, but it is to ours. Order a few of these refreshing handrolls for the table. Yellowtail Handroll This hamachi handroll, full of chunky Kizami wasabi, scallion, and nori will have you thinking about replacing your birthday cake with a handroll tower. Each bite is light, and the avocado adds the perfect richness. Kawasaki Chicken Ramen You would think a mix of Kawasaki-style chicken soup, tender chicken breast, and salty anchovy oil would pack your bowl with flavor. But this ramen–like many others here–is disappointingly bland." - Candis R. McLean

"For an authentic izakaya and omakase experience reminiscent of those found in Japan, visit Izakaya by Yanaga in Fishtown. The four-course okonomi tasting option blends “choose your own adventure” and chef’s recommendations, allowing diners to select from a variety of small plates, makis, and ramen. Its exclusive 60-minute omakase experience (Sushi by Boū) includes 12 courses and is guided by a private chef. Reservations for either experience are highly recommended and can be made via the restaurant’s website." - George Banks-Weston

"As the name suggests, the cool, casual restaurant’s menu includes more than just sushi — classic Japanese pub fare like ramen, gyoza, and bao, for example — but the move is the sashimi bar and one of Izakaya’s excellent cocktails. For an even grander experience, you can also book a 25-course tasting at the eight-seat omakase bar ($195 per person). Make reservations for the different areas on the restaurant’s website." - Ernest Owens

"This Japanese restaurant in Fishtown will offer a prix-fixe meal with Beau Solei oysters, tuna rice crisps, crispy rock shrimp, and the chef’s selection of rotating sashimi from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, December 22, and Friday, December 23. A seat at the table is $75, and reservations can be made at Resy or by calling the restaurant at 267-310-3554." - Carolyn Desalu

"It’s one thing to open an upscale restaurant, and quite another to put it steps away from existing heavy-hitters like Hiroki and Suraya in Fishtown. But when you’re serving up unparalleled cuts of fish, plating sashimi with gold Louis Vuitton chopsticks, and offering extraordinary sakes, it doesn’t take long to convince the entire city–including us–that this is the new neighborhood showstopper. The Omakase only offers a 25-course, $195 tasting menu, and it all happens in a private space tucked away in the back of Izakaya by Yanaga. You can expect a procession of decadent bites like scallops coated with preserved lemon, a toro tartare served on crunchy milk bread, and crispy yellowtail topped with a miso caramel glaze. The next time you’re celebrating something, head to this fancy eight-seater." - Alison Kessler, Candis Mclean