Nomonomo Japanese Pub + Grill

The team behind Ramen Wasabi, Ramen Takeya, and Menya Goku obviously knows their way around a bowl of ramen. But Nomonomo, their intimate izakaya in Logan Square, proves that they can rock with a binchotan grill, too. They have solid larger dishes like crispy okonomiyaki or soba noodles, but focus on the grilled skewers. Beef tongue with fragrant scallion sauce, chicken meatballs with ume, salted pork belly—they’re all great. Plus, since grabbing a spot is fairly easy, it’s a good alternative if you can’t be bothered with the wait at Wasabi next door.