Izayoi
Lost in the shuffle of Sushi Gen (sushi), Daikokuya (ramen) and the other mainstays of Japantown is this intimate den of high-end pub plates, Izayoi.
I stopped by here with a few friends after work the other day, and I was in a downtrodden mood. First off, I had just signed up for a gym membership at LA Fitness only to see a one-star rating on Yelp. I should have known considering the conversation went like this:
Gym manager: “We will totally waive the initiation fee.”
Me: “Um, is that how you always answer the phone?”
Gym manager: “Like I said, month-to-month, you can cancel at any time, and here’s 3 free training session vouchers. My name is Steve. But you can call me whatever you want.”
Me: “Jesus, you must really need members. Sign me up, compadre!”
This textbook contract negotiation, coupled with perusing Match.com profiles with representative headlines such as “AzN pRydEful Gurl” put me in a real pissy mood before dinner. Let me just say this: if you are an Asian-American who writes in alternating caps, please kill yourself immediately. You are an embarrassment to the ethnicity. Thank you. All I wanted was to drown my misery in a deliciously cold pitcher of Kirin beer while eating a wide variety of tapas plates in Japantown.
This place was the antidote I needed. Smelt fish with roe! Bite the heads off! Fresh yellowtail sashimi! Ankimo (monkfish liver)! Squid in a rich, liver-ish paste with egg! Fishballs! The real value of this place is that there are many, many different tastes to enjoy that are not necessarily sushi or sashimi. I would skip any omakase option and revel in the freedom of choosing a diversity of dishes. The best thing is that PITCHERS of Japanese beer are readily available.
The next time you want to drown your sorrows, and if you happen to work downtown or are around the area, stop on by. If you see me, I’ll buy the first pitcher of Asahi - H. Lee.
Izayoi, 132 S Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 613-9554.
