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.
Hello, Neat post. There’s a problem along with your website in web explorer, could check this?K IE nonetheless is the market chief and a big part of folks will omit your excellent writing because of this problem.
1naturally like your web site but you need to check the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I will definitely come back again.
2naturally like your web site however you have to test the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to inform the reality however I’ll certainly come again again.
3Hey very nice website!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I am happy to find a lot of useful information here in the post, we need develop more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
4Some genuinely nice stuff on this web site, I like it.
5Some genuinely interesting details you have written.Helped me a lot, just what I was searching for :D.
6There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.
7Hey very nice blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I am happy to find numerous useful info here in the post, we need work out more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
8Really clear site, appreciate it for this post.
9Can I just say what a aid to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You positively know easy methods to bring a problem to mild and make it important. Extra folks have to learn this and perceive this facet of the story. I cant imagine youre no more well-liked because you definitely have the gift.
10After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
11Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is wonderful, as well as the content!
12Hello.This post was extremely fascinating, especially because I was searching for thoughts on this subject last Sunday.
13Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share. Thank you!
14wonderful points altogether, you just gained a logo new reader. What could you suggest about your put up that you just made some days ago? Any positive?
15I believe this website has got some very excellent information for everyone. “The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.” by Diogenes.
16Whoa! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a completely different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Outstanding choice of colors!
17You are a very bright person!
18Utterly written articles, thankyou for information .
19Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Firefox. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The design look great though! Hope you get the problem resolved soon. Cheers
20of course like your website but you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the reality then again I’ll certainly come back again.
21Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing some research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! “A human being has a natural desire to have more of a good thing than he needs.” by Mark Twain.
22I truly appreciate this post. I’ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thx again
23Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed reading it, you may be a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and will come back someday. I want to encourage that you continue your great work, have a nice weekend!
24I just wanted to construct a quick comment to express gratitude to you for the nice tips and hints you are giving at this website. My incredibly long internet lookup has at the end been honored with really good suggestions to exchange with my visitors. I ‘d assume that most of us visitors are undeniably endowed to dwell in a decent network with many perfect people with valuable secrets. I feel very much grateful to have seen your entire site and look forward to plenty of more pleasurable times reading here. Thanks a lot once more for a lot of things.
25I’ve been browsing on-line greater than three hours these days, yet I never discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It’s lovely value sufficient for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made good content material as you did, the internet will be much more useful than ever before. “No nation was ever ruined by trade.” by Benjamin Franklin.
26I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my difficulty. You’re wonderful! Thanks!
27I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for posting. “The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning.” by George Baker.
28There are definitely a variety of particulars like that to take into consideration. That is a nice level to deliver up. I provide the ideas above as normal inspiration but clearly there are questions just like the one you carry up the place a very powerful thing might be working in honest good faith. I don?t know if finest practices have emerged around things like that, however I’m sure that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Both boys and girls feel the influence of only a second’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.
29Excellent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too great. I actually like what you have acquired here, really like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it wise. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is actually a tremendous web site.
30Amazing blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your design. Many thanks
31Hmm is anyone else experiencing problems with the images on this blog loading? I’m trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
32Thanks for this wonderful post, I am glad I found this internet site on yahoo.
33I also think therefore, perfectly composed post! .
34I am constantly thought about this, regards for posting.
35I got what you mean ,saved to favorites, very nice site.
36Thank you for every other wonderful post. Where else could anyone get that kind of info in such a perfect method of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I am on the look for such information.
37Hi there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
38I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.
39Very interesting subject, thanks for putting up. “The friendship that can cease has never been real.” by Saint Jerome.
40Enjoyed studying this, very good stuff, regards.
41Good day very cool web site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionallyKI’m glad to search out numerous useful info right here within the post, we need work out more strategies on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
42I do trust all of the ideas you have offered in your post. They are really convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are too quick for novices. Could you please prolong them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
43Hi, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog!
44Oh my goodness! an incredible article dude. Thanks Nonetheless I am experiencing problem with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting identical rss downside? Anybody who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx
45Your style is so unique compared to many other people. Thank you for publishing when you have the opportunity,Guess I will just make this bookmarked.
46There are definitely a number of particulars like that to take into consideration. That could be a nice level to convey up. I offer the thoughts above as general inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you deliver up the place the most important factor shall be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around issues like that, however I am sure that your job is clearly identified as a fair game. Each girls and boys feel the affect of just a second’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
47You really make it seem so easy with your presentation however I find this matter to be actually one thing which I think I might by no means understand. It seems too complex and very huge for me. I’m having a look forward on your subsequent submit, I will try to get the hang of it!
48very good publish, i actually love this website, keep on it
49I’d need to test with you here. Which isn’t one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a publish that can make individuals think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
50