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| About: | Izakaya Zero is in line with a growing number of restaurants specializing in "Izakaya," Japanese pub-food meant to be shared and washed down with sake or beer. Acclaimed chef Takashi Abe offers up his own interpretations on traditional Izakaya, and the result is a delightful and unique take on Japanese small plates. The decor of the restaurant is nice as well; modern with clean lines and neutral tones. Dress is casual. Some of the specialty dishes include mixed sashimi ceviche, tuna tartare, and crab cigar (hand-rolled and deep-fried, with shrimp, scallops, and spicy mango salsa). Affordable prices, terrific ambiance, and delectable food make Izakaya Zero a must-try. |
| Hours: | Dinner nightly |
| Categories: | All Bars, Pubs, & Clubs, Tapas Restaurants, Sushi Restaurants, Japanese Restaurants, International Restaurants, Restaurants |
| Payment: | MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express |
| Cuisine: | Japanese, Pacific Rim, Sushi |
| Feature: | Bar, Healthy Options, Take Out |
| Reservations Policy: | Suggested |
| Dress Code: | Casual |
| Price: | $20 - $30 |
| Other Contact Info: | Email: izakayazero@hotmail.com |
I've been to a couple of sushi joints in the OC and as an overall rating, I'd rate it an 8 out of 10. Why? 1. The waitress has a little attitude towards us the last 25 minutes we were there. 2. The same waitress took 20 minutes to get us our check and charge our card. Now for the good part:
I definitely will go back, just not with the same waitress because the food was very fresh, and very good. This is by far my favorite so far when it comes to quality of food and ambiance as a whole. We got there around 7:30 and it was quiet, there was only a couple of couples there. Once 8:00 started rolling around, groups were coming in. If you are going to go as a date, I'd recommend coming earlier so you can have a nice night with your partner romantically. I will definitely recommmend the sashimi roll. Everything they served was excellent. Our bill came out to about $75 and we ordered 3 rolls(all had at least 6-8pcs), 2 miso soups, 1 endame bowl, 1 appetizer, 1 entree 2 ice cream desserts. Pricing was reasonable for the quality/quantity of food. You also get two hours free validated when you park in the main st parking structure off of Walnut. I will definitley go there again.
Izakaya is a welcome addition to the dining in HB. As one who has traveled to Japan for more than 20 years, the synergy between traditional Japan dishes and the SoCal influences are wonderful. There is a broad selection that satifies even a family that wants Japanese dining diverstity ranging from California Rolls to Okonomiyaki. The quality is great, the staff are also a welcome change from the "whatever" approach to customer service in so many HB restaurants.
A long overdue upgrade for downtown HB...Beautifully clean and welcoming interior design provides the ideal setting for their tapas (small plates to share with your friends) style menu...Professional, timely, gracious, and warm describe the staff's demeanor...Excellent presentation feeds the eyes while the palate experiences a taste adventure well enjoyed...The scallop and uni ravioli is amazing (if you care to dare enjoy the flavor of sea urchin)...Another fun indulgence is the kobe carpaccio (thinly sliced raw beef with a yuzu soy sauce and topped with a palate cleaning green-YUM!)...I could go on, but will end by noting that the bar manager, Eric hosts a sake list to please the knowledgable afficionado and the sake novice alike...He will ask one or two questions regarding your drink/flavor preference and then guide you through the sake list with ease and accuracy...Finally, remember to send your best to the kitchen staff and young talent, executive chef, Chad...Cheers!