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.
Wonderful paintings! That is the kind of info that are supposed to be shared around the net. Shame on Google for no longer positioning this post upper! Come on over and talk over with my site . Thanks =)
1There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.
2I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
3Pretty component of content. I simply stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to say that I acquire actually loved account your weblog posts. Any way I will be subscribing in your augment and even I success you get right of entry to consistently fast.
4Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely useful information particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information much. I was seeking this particular information for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
5It’s actually a great and helpful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
6I have been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or blog posts in this kind of space . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this website. Reading this information So i am happy to show that I have a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I such a lot surely will make certain to do not omit this website and give it a glance regularly.
7Sweet website , super pattern, real clean and employ friendly.
8Glad to be one of the visitants on this awe inspiring website : D.
9Hello, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i was just curious if you get a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you protect against it, any plugin or anything you can suggest? I get so much lately it’s driving me mad so any help is very much appreciated.
10Hi would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you suggest a good internet hosting provider at a honest price? Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!
11I really like your writing style, great information, thanks for putting up :D.
12Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.
13Merely a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw great style. “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler.” by Albert Einstein.
14hello there and thank you for your info – I’ve certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this web site, as I experienced to reload the website many times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and can damage your high quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out for much more of your respective interesting content. Make sure you update this again very soon..
15Perfect work you have done, this website is really cool with good information.
16You actually make it seem so easy together with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be really something which I believe I might never understand. It kind of feels too complicated and very wide for me. I am taking a look forward to your next publish, I will try to get the hang of it!
17Hi there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be okay. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
18Right now it seems like Expression Engine is the top blogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?
19Hey would you mind letting me know which web host you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you suggest a good internet hosting provider at a honest price? Kudos, I appreciate it!
20Hello, Neat post. There is a problem with your site in internet explorer, may check thisK IE still is the marketplace chief and a large portion of other folks will miss your magnificent writing because of this problem.
21Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a blog website? The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear concept
22You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
23Today, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a 25 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
24My brother recommended I might like this web site. He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
25Somebody essentially assist to make severely articles I might state. That is the very first time I frequented your website page and up to now? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular publish extraordinary. Excellent activity!
26you are truly a good webmaster. The website loading speed is incredible. It kind of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. In addition, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve done a excellent activity in this subject!
27I’d have to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I take pleasure in reading a post that may make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
28After examine a couple of of the weblog posts on your web site now, and I truly like your method of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site record and will probably be checking back soon. Pls check out my site as properly and let me know what you think.
29I savour, result in I discovered just what I was looking for. You have ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
30Some truly interesting points you have written.Assisted me a lot, just what I was searching for :D.
31F*ckin’ tremendous issues here. I’m very glad to see your post. Thank you a lot and i’m taking a look forward to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?
32An interesting discussion is price comment. I believe that it is best to write more on this matter, it might not be a taboo topic however generally people are not sufficient to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers
33I really like your writing style, excellent info , thankyou for putting up :D.
34Hey! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the great work!
35There is noticeably a bundle to identify about this. I suppose you made some nice points in features also.
36Rattling superb information can be found on site.
37I as well as my friends appeared to be reviewing the excellent key points from the blog and so then I had a terrible suspicion I had not expressed respect to the blog owner for those techniques. All of the women were definitely as a consequence joyful to see them and have now honestly been making the most of these things. We appreciate you indeed being really considerate as well as for going for variety of incredible resources most people are really eager to be aware of. Our sincere apologies for not expressing appreciation to you earlier.
38Fantastic goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just extremely fantastic. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is actually a tremendous site.
39I really like looking through and I think this website got some truly utilitarian stuff on it! .
40It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve learn this submit and if I may just I desire to recommend you few attention-grabbing things or tips. Maybe you could write next articles relating to this article. I want to learn more issues about it!
41of course like your web-site but you need to test the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very bothersome to inform the truth on the other hand I’ll surely come again again.
42I went over this internet site and I think you have a lot of wonderful information, saved to bookmarks (:.
43Great post, I believe website owners should larn a lot from this blog its rattling user genial.
44This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
45I want to show my thanks to you for rescuing me from such a condition. Right after checking through the search engines and obtaining techniques that were not helpful, I was thinking my entire life was gone. Living without the answers to the problems you’ve sorted out as a result of your guideline is a serious case, as well as the ones which could have in a wrong way damaged my entire career if I hadn’t encountered the blog. Your actual mastery and kindness in maneuvering all the pieces was valuable. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t discovered such a point like this. It’s possible to at this moment look forward to my future. Thank you so much for your specialized and results-oriented help. I will not be reluctant to propose your web page to any person who desires recommendations about this topic.
46I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz respond as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. thank you
47Very interesting details you have mentioned, thanks for posting. “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive” by Sir Walter Scott.
48Simply wanna remark that you have a very nice site, I like the design and style it actually stands out.
49Hey there, You have performed an incredible job. I will certainly digg it and in my view recommend to my friends. I am confident they will be benefited from this website.
50