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| - The food is Off the wall! Actually it's on the wall mostly. The everchanging menu at Ichiza is mostly written on cards on the wall, and is always being updated. Expect a unique experience each time you dine, and this place typically gets repeat business.
The small restaurant is centered around the large open kitchen in the middle. It is really nice to see the chefs vigorously at work while you're dining. Ichiza is noisy, busy, hip, and worth the hype.
This time we ordered:
Soju w/ lemon juice cocktail - Soju is like a rice vodka. It's 40 proof, and is typically drank with salty and pickled foods. It was served with a sliced lemon, a citrus juicer to squeeze the fresh lemon juice out, and some sprite. Very refreshing, and fun!
Beef Tongue Skewer - Toothsome, tender, and tasty. If you've never had tongue, this is a good way to eat it.
Fried Quail Egg - Perfect panko breading, the eggs came on a skewer, which made them easy to enjoy. The satisying creaminess of the egg beneath the slight crunch from the breading made for a fantastic dish.
Tom Yum Roll - Tempure Shrimp, cilantro, ginger, rice, wrapped in rice paper, served with a lime. It reminded me very much of the classic Thai soup to which it owes its name.
AgeDashi - Tofu lightly flash fried and served in a light miso broth. I enjoyed this agedashi very much, except there was a gelatenous film on the tofu. I don't know what it was, and didn't mind it, although my friend found it visually offensive which ruined the meal. I am curious what it was, but it didn't have too much impact on the dish.
Baked Black Cod in miso (Butterfish) - Not the best butterfish I've had. The broth was too salty and the skin of the black cod was mushy. A crisp skin would be nice, or at least getting the fish without the skin.
Wasabi Octopus - Raw octopus chopped into small pieces, served with fresh wasabi. Very good flavor and "burn your nostrils" hot. The issue with this dish was the octopus was chewy and cut very small, which made it difficult to eat. Think kernals of corn in size, but chewy.
Ichiza is a fun way to experience Japanese cuisine, or to get loud with friends, they stay open past 2 AM.
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