Eddy K
Google
ATMOSPHERE:
The outdoor tent in the parking lot gives Izza a nice atmosphere in the evening. Located right in the heart of the trendy Temescal area, Izza feels lively and gives a good vibe.
FOOD:
We opted to order more of the izakaya style food (grilled meats) since this seemed like Izza's specialty. And given that Marufuku ramen is just a couple blocks away, I felt like we should really try more of the items you can't get elsewhere.
Skewer Sampler (4 out of 5): The waiter made it sound like which skewers you get in the sampler varies from table to table. The best one of the bunch was actually the eggplant, which had some creamy sauce on top that was really delicious. Next best were the chicken skewers, really tender and had that grilled flavor. I was less of a fan of the beef one, it was a bit too chewy for my liking (as beef skewers are in general).
Quail skewer (3.5 out of 5): Really good flavor. I enjoyed it a lot, but as somebody else on Yelp mentioned, it was a little bit on the firm side, and I think it would have been so much better if it was cooked to be a bit softer.
Pork Sando (4 out of 5): Really good Tonkatsu with pickled cabbage served in the crispiest bread to make a perfectly shaped and cut sandwich.
Tuna Tartare (5 out of 5): Seaweed fried with tempura batter that serves as a chip for putting on tuna tartare. But what really made this dish a 5 was this guacamole topping that added some citrus and acidity that really made this a hit.
OVERALL:
A solid spot if you're in the mood for grilled meats.