Izumiya – Get busy and get yaki
If you go to Nihonmachi Mall during Christmas season, visit the Kinokuniya bookstore for some soothingly aesthetic greeting cards and folding snow globes, then walk around the bench and feed your gaze on the delicious window display of Sophie’s Crepes. Then glance to your right, oh… what is this? Winter Toy Land? No, it’s this teeny beehive resto called Izumiya with their frontal lit up like a runway for Santa’s helicopter, reminding me of Prep and Landing.
Intrigued, we snugged in. Believe me, even if the weather outside were in the negatives, it couldn’t get any warmer in this packed place. The waitresses skillfully whizzed back and forth and sidestepped through single-person-wide aisles, heat radiated from the grill, the platters and the chatters, faces glowed under the reddish hue of dim light. Paper signs on the sliding door said “Karaoke 9 pm – 2 am”. How would they arrange enough room? Where did they hide the screen? I couldn’t imagine a larger crowd within those walls. Ever since college days I usually feel a bit tighten up if I have to practice my munching three feet away from some strangers, but what the heck, if it’s busy it must be good, the flies wouldn’t call people here otherwise (*).
There were the bentos and the sushis like usual, but the house focus was strings and strands. Yakisoba (fried noodle – $8.50) with squid, beef, shrimp, egg, and a pinch of ruby pickled radish (that I’ve had at Anzu but have no idea what it’s called or what it is. Help, anyone?). There was hardly any remnant of oil. Tonkatsu sauce lent the bundle a sour and salty whiff, which subtly forced you to take one small twirl at a time to fully savor its hidden strength.
Yaki ($8.25), short for okonomiyaki, or “cooked [pancake] with anything you want”. It’s been a while and I can’t remember what I wanted then, but that scrumptious mixture of buttery batter, crunchy crust and cabbage, soft sweet potato, and lush squirts of mayonnaise is unforgettable.
The pancake looked small, I wanted two, but a second one would doom me unfit to sidestep through the body-wide aisle. At the end we left the table with content, a fairly healthy lunch, and twenty dollars fewer in our wallet.
I know I’m such a turtle for delaying this post nearly three months after chowing, but the food is seasonless, and does seasonal look matter after all? Surely Izumiya has long taken down their Christmas decor, but the attraction doesn’t come from flashing light bulbs and puffy toys. Now the name sign stands out, and the colorful plastic yet realistic plates behind the window look more splendid than ever.
Address: Izumiya (inside Nihonmachi Mall, Japan Town)
1581 Webster Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 441-6867
* Vietnamese people would jokingly say someone is “called by the flies” if they somehow show up just in time for food without planning ahead. It’s not a demeaning, belittling, or any kind of negative remark.
I must say it was hard to find your page in search results.
You write awesome content but you should rank your blog higher in search engines.
If you don’t know 2017 seo techniues search on youtube:
1how to rank a website Marcel’s way
Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! “Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine.” by Sir Arthur Eddington.
2Some genuinely interesting points you have written.Assisted me a lot, just what I was looking for : D.
3After I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now every time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the same comment. Is there any method you’ll be able to take away me from that service? Thanks!
4Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was searching for!
5This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
6Hello, you used to write fantastic, but the last several posts have been kinda boringK I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!
7so much superb info on here, : D.
8Hi my friend! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include approximately all important infos. I would like to see more posts like this.
9Hello There. I found your weblog the usage of msn. That is an extremely well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to learn more of your helpful info. Thank you for the post. I will definitely comeback.
10I have recently started a website, the information you offer on this web site has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
11Have you ever thought about creating an e-book or guest authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based upon on the same ideas you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience would value your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e-mail.
12naturally like your website but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I’ll definitely come back again.
13Hi my family member! I wish to say that this article is amazing, nice written and include almost all vital infos. I¦d like to see more posts like this .
14I admire your work, appreciate it for all the great posts.
15Very interesting details you have mentioned, thanks for posting.
16Some times its a pain in the ass to read what people wrote but this site is very user friendly! .
17This design is spectacular! You definitely know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
18Its like you read my mind! You appear to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is magnificent blog. An excellent read. I will definitely be back.
19Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all folks you actually recognise what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also talk over with my web site =). We may have a link alternate agreement among us!
20An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
21I like this website so much, saved to bookmarks.
22Have you ever thought about creating an ebook or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog based upon on the same information you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would enjoy your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e mail.
23very good submit, i definitely love this web site, keep on it
24Perfectly written articles, regards for entropy.
25I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
26Excellent post but I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Thank you!
27F*ckin’ tremendous things here. I’m very glad to see your post. Thanks a lot and i’m looking forward to contact you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?
28Hello! I’ve been reading your web site for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Kingwood Texas! Just wanted to say keep up the fantastic job!
29I like this site its a master peace ! Glad I observed this on google .
30I love what you guys are up too. This kind of clever work and reporting! Keep up the awesome works guys I’ve added you guys to my blogroll.
31It’s actually a cool and useful piece of information. I am satisfied that you just shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
32I keep listening to the rumor speak about receiving free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the finest site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i acquire some?
33I just could not depart your web site before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often in order to check up on new posts
34Thanks for some other informative website. The place else may just I get that type of info written in such an ideal approach? I’ve a project that I’m simply now operating on, and I’ve been at the glance out for such information.
35Hi, just required you to know I he added your site to my Google bookmarks due to your layout. But seriously, I believe your internet site has 1 in the freshest theme I??ve came across. It extremely helps make reading your blog significantly easier.
36Only wanna input on few general things, The website style is perfect, the content is really superb : D.
37Great amazing issues here. I am very glad to see your post. Thank you a lot and i am having a look forward to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
38Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your web site in internet explorer, may test thisK IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a large part of other folks will leave out your great writing because of this problem.
39Thanks for every other wonderful post. The place else may just anyone get that kind of information in such an ideal means of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I’m at the look for such information.
40Some really terrific work on behalf of the owner of this site, absolutely great content material.
41Dead composed written content, appreciate it for selective information. “Life is God’s novel. Let him write it.” by Isaac Bashevis Singer.
42Hey very cool web site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find a lot of useful information here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
43I like this site because so much utile material on here :D.
44Yeah bookmaking this wasn’t a speculative conclusion great post! .
45Once I initially commented I clicked the -Notify me when new feedback are added- checkbox and now every time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the same comment. Is there any manner you possibly can take away me from that service? Thanks!
46Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thank you
47Great line up. We will be linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the good writing.
48I am not really great with English but I come up this very leisurely to read .
49Very good written article. It will be useful to anybody who employess it, including yours truly :). Keep up the good work – can’r wait to read more posts.
50