High-Energy Stone Grill

One thing often lacking in the American izakaya experience is the boisterous “Irrashai” that staff greet customers with in Japan. At Issian (1618 N.45th St,), that tradition lives on. “”I think in the beginning, some customers got scared and went home,” quips Manager and Chef Yuta Sugimoto.

But regulars have grown to enjoy the high-energy atmosphere of Issian, which opened last August. The restaurant features a stone grill – a tradition started by Japanese fishermen hundreds of years ago – which gives dishes a fresh, smoke-free taste, and a serving style known in Japan as robatayaki (or literally, “around the fire”), where the chefs deliver the food directly from the fire to the customer using long wooden paddles.

Issian is a restaurant with a sense of humor. The upbeat staff and joke-filled menu set the tone. Try some JFC, or Japanese Fried Chicken (“J comes before K, so I think we win,” says Sugimoto-san), or a mouthwatering plate of omakase (chef ’s choice) sashimi for $19.80, which the menu says is perfect for “four people or one shark.”

Japan’s izakaya are often animated places where families and friends can unwind while they dine. Issian follows in that spirit. It’s open seven nights a week and also offers lunch (Japanese curries and donburi – fish, meats and vegetables over rice) on the weekends.

Maguro and salad prepared with Issian's unique flavor

Issian offers a wide variety of skewered meats and veggies

Pastry Chef Setsuko makes mouthwatering desserts