Izakaya Shodai

“teh karaage chicken had serious heat and crunch that reminded me of nashville hot chicken but with that perfect japanese technique — crispy exterior giving way to impossibly juicy meat inside”

“teh edamame was served ice cold, like it literally came straight from the freezer without proper warming nuff said”

“the tonkotsu ramen here is legit - rich cloudy broth thats obviously been simmering forever with perfect soft-boiled eggs and tender chashu that just melts on your tongue”

“def seating is super limited so even on weeknights youre waiting like 20-30 mins and tehy dont even do reservations which is annoying”

“tehir house-made ponzu sauce was beautifully balanced — the citrus acidity perfectly cutting through the richness of the grilled fish with just enough umami depth from what tasted like perfectly aged soy sauce and kombu”

“the tempura batter was slightly over-mixed resulting in a heavier less crispy coating that just masked rather than enhanced the vegetables underneath”

“the gyoza hit different - delicate wrappers that jsut gave way to perfectly seasoned pork and cabbage filling pan-fried to golden with that crispy bottom that like reminds me of the best agnolotti from when i was a kid ugh”

“sake selection was honestly pretty disappointing for an izakaya - only three options and none of them were interesting or like actually well chosen”

“the agedashi tofu was only $8 and easily shareable with silky cubes in this delicate dashi broth that like tasted homemade for sure. honestly amazing for the price”

“cash only policy wasnt posted anywhere until we went to pay which was awkward and we had to scramble down the block to find an ATM”

“the takoyaki had that perfect contrast — crispy golden exterior shell cracking to reveal the molten creamy interior with tender octopus pieces that had just the right amount of chew”

“teh miso soup was served lukewarm which completely ruined it. ngl the tofu should've been steaming hot to get that silky texture lol”

“sitting at the sushi counter i watched the chef meticulously prepare each piece of sashimi with incredible knife skills, adn he even explained the origin of each fish — the hamachi was particularly outstanding”

“teh single bathroom meant a long wait during dinner rush which was awkward when you're dining alone and don't wanna lose your prime counter seat big time”