Budonoki

Budonoki is the kind of restaurant where you could walk in half-asleep and walk out ready to hop on the next flight to Vegas. The energy inside this dimly lit Virgil Village izakaya is that infectious. Friends huddle around tables snacking on shareable dishes like jidori chicken oyster skewers and bowls of wagyu yakisoba. Dates sip shochu cocktails and split koji pineapple soft serve at the walk-in-only bar. Old-school Missy and Ja Rule blast over the speakers. We love that cocktails arrive in adorable little penguin mugs, and servers will happily pull up a chair to discuss the restaurant’s playlist like it’s a family heirloom (we would too, it’s that good). Budonoki straddles the line between a fun, kitschy party spot and a neighborhood hangout with delicious food. Don’t be surprised if you see a few sake bombs go down.