Little Monkey Niece is sick, so we had dinner with just Mr. Monkey's brother and father at Izayoi (132 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles).
In Japan, the izakaya is a small tavern popular with the after-work set. The main focus at these places is alcohol, but they are also known for the tasty treats that accompany the booze.
A good way to describe Izayoi is "Japanese tapas." The "snacks" at Izayoi are delectable and elegantly prepared. My only complaint is that the dishes are expensive for their small size. Needless to say, it was lovely that Mr. Monkey's father picked up the tab.
Mirugai. That's geoduck sushi!
A crowd favorite at Izayoi -- buta kakuni ($8.00) -- is a most delicious tender simmered pork belly that falls apart in your mouth. The tiny accompanying dollop of spicy mustard and pool of hot broth are sublime.
The kamonasu ($8.50), i.e., sauteed duck and eggplant, was not as good as I'd hoped. I love duck, and this dish failed to meet my expectations. The duck was slightly breaded, which just didn't feel right to me. I did like the flavor, though.
I savored every succulent morsel of the gindara ($10.50). This black cod marinated in miso and sake merited its price. Excellent.
Ebi chili fondue ($9.50) is Izayoi's fancy name for shrimp tempura on sticks with chili-cheese sauce. The rich sauce has the most fabulous little kick.
The shrimp and scallop macaroni gratin ($7.50) bubbled with golden goodness and creamy creativity. And the mini wooden spoons sure were cute.
I always like hamachi kama ($14.50), although I think the cod above beat the grilled yellowtail collar this time -- a difficult feat, considering how much I like hamachi. Maybe this needed more ponzu.
The fried assorted skewers special ($8.00) included shisito-leaf-wrapped shrimp, fish, pork-stuffed eggplant, mushroom, and bacon-wrapped asparagus. Yummy but nothing truly special. I could take it or leave it.
Izayoi is not so easy on the wallet if you want to eat to maximum stomach capacity, but, really, who wants to waddle out of a restaurant? Choose your plates wisely, and appreciate each bite. You'll be happy you did.
Mirugai. That's geoduck sushi!
A crowd favorite at Izayoi -- buta kakuni ($8.00) -- is a most delicious tender simmered pork belly that falls apart in your mouth. The tiny accompanying dollop of spicy mustard and pool of hot broth are sublime.
The kamonasu ($8.50), i.e., sauteed duck and eggplant, was not as good as I'd hoped. I love duck, and this dish failed to meet my expectations. The duck was slightly breaded, which just didn't feel right to me. I did like the flavor, though.
I savored every succulent morsel of the gindara ($10.50). This black cod marinated in miso and sake merited its price. Excellent.
Ebi chili fondue ($9.50) is Izayoi's fancy name for shrimp tempura on sticks with chili-cheese sauce. The rich sauce has the most fabulous little kick.
The shrimp and scallop macaroni gratin ($7.50) bubbled with golden goodness and creamy creativity. And the mini wooden spoons sure were cute.
I always like hamachi kama ($14.50), although I think the cod above beat the grilled yellowtail collar this time -- a difficult feat, considering how much I like hamachi. Maybe this needed more ponzu.
The fried assorted skewers special ($8.00) included shisito-leaf-wrapped shrimp, fish, pork-stuffed eggplant, mushroom, and bacon-wrapped asparagus. Yummy but nothing truly special. I could take it or leave it.
Izayoi is not so easy on the wallet if you want to eat to maximum stomach capacity, but, really, who wants to waddle out of a restaurant? Choose your plates wisely, and appreciate each bite. You'll be happy you did.
