Izakaya Sozai

Cozy atmosphere, with nice lighting and very few tables. The service was excellent, as the waitress was efficient and there was also another super friendly woman who checked on us regularly. The food was perfect – the tonkotsu ramen was probably the best I’ve ever had. They brought us free dessert, as they were out of the one I ordered. The yuzu cheesecake was also amazing. My only complaint, though, is that it was a bit too noisy.

After coming home from Japan my wife and I miss the quality and taste of authentic Japanese cuisine. When the craving become to much to bare we go to Izakaya Sozai. With a wide variety of delicious street food and Yakitori dishes, fresh daikon salad, and the centerpiece the tonkatsu ramen you will never miss. If you're looking to step out of your comfort zone i recommend the chicken cartilage. If you want to keep it simple the dry pepper chicken wings. You can never miss. If you are in the sunset or visiting Golden gate park please stop in you will have a wonderful time.

Now I have to say, for a small joint like Izakaya Sozai, they can sure serve up mini courses that will absolutely get your eyes wide open. Most of the dishes were very delicious and for a very decent price. Izakaya style, of course. My top favorite dishes were the Tako Wasabi, bacon wrapped enoki mushroom and mochi, and Ankimo pate. If you are a foodie like me and are adventurous, I recommend you come here to try it.

Visited this restaurant with a friend visiting from Denver who was craving Asian food. We ordered chicken karaage, gyoza, and ramen. The karaage was fantastic—crispy, flavorful, and one of the best I've had in the city. Definitely a highlight. The ramen was decent—nothing memorable but satisfying enough. The gyoza, however, was disappointing. None of us enjoyed it; the flavor and texture were just off. Unfortunately, everything we ordered arrived lukewarm, which was a letdown. Service was a bright spot—friendly and attentive staff made sure we were taken care of. The biggest issue was the atmosphere. The restaurant was so smoky that we almost walked out upon arrival but stayed since we had a reservation. Throughout the meal, the smoky environment was unbearable. I coughed the entire time and couldn’t wait to leave, and my friends felt the same way. They really need to check out their ventilation system—it completely ruined the experience. Overall, the food and service had potential, but the smoky environment was a dealbreaker for us.

We arrived 20 minute prior to our reservation and the table was set and ready to receive us. We were seated within a few minutes and put in an order for a bottle of Sake. Our 2 other friends arrived in time when the bottle showed up at our table in an ice bin. After a round of Sake to quench our throats, we were ready to place our food orders. We scanned the QR Code on the table. We not only orders foods off the menu but from the Chefs Menu posted on the wall. This is a Tapas concept so hope other customers don't expect portions to be plentiful. It's all about the varieties, great place for groups and a wonderful selection of Sake offered. Our party of 4 sat indoor, next to the entrance. The place was cozy and the staffs were really friendly. I noticed there's a chefs table for 2, at the high counter. A party for 2 would be perfect for that spot. Maybe I'll request for that spot on a future visit.

LOVED IT. For some reason, I’m quite picky about my ramen. We started with wagyu sausage, which was good — although I wished there were more. My partner and I both ordered the tonkotsu ramen, but I added on the spicy miso and garlic chips… chefs kiss. I used about half of the spicy miso to get to desired heat. The host and server were super nice and HUSTLED all over the full restaurant. We’ll definitely be back!

A very homey feeling as you walk in you're greeted right away. I tried some bbq items and their ramen. I gotta say i was extremely impressed with the food! The skewers were very flavorful with a lot of different options. The ramen was flavorful and creamy very rich with flavor. And the service was awesome! I don't think my water cup ever got empty or without someone tending on us.

Nice place but just think we ordered the wrong dishes on our first visit. Tonkotsu was strangely peppery + chicken flavored, like no tonkotsu I've ever had. Tsukemen broth was yummy, more what I expected but the noodles served to dip with were so undercooked that the dish was tough to enjoy. Chicken thigh skewers were the yummiest thing we ordered, and recommend those. Maybe it's best after all to stick to smaller plates and skewers at an izakaya. Unfortunately don't think I'd return, with the price point and food I received.