Izakaya Full Moon

For sushi and sake in Ojai, head straight to Full Moon Izakaya. It’s a walk-in-only Japanese spot behind a tea shop that brings some freshness to the whole speakeasy thing. Rather than relying on the charm of its semi-secret backyard at the end of a long alley, this fun dinner spot serves unique bar food that’s well worth the 45-minute wait. There’s bright yellow tempura corn, wagyu beef tataki, and steamed clams in miso broth that transforms into creamy Japanese risotto. You can have a great group dinner under the string lights on the patio, but we’d also recommend sitting at the bar  for date night (where you can share sake and BBQ skewers while watching the chef make handrolls).