Izakaya By Yanaga

There’s no shortage of restaurants for ramen, premium cuts of fish, and long lists of maki rolls in Fishtown (we’re looking at you, Hiroki, Cheu, and Nunu). But when it comes to a casual spot where you can stick to the Triple H Rule–hand rolls, Happy Hour, and highballs–Izakaya by Yanaga is the place to be.

photo credit: EMILY SCHINDLER

You can expect a variety of hand rolls here, like salmon belly, shrimp, and buttery toro scallion (there’s not a bad one to be had–we checked), raw bar items like oysters and tuna tartare, and a few more filling but unremarkable options like ramen, chicken thighs, and robata.

photo credit: Eddy Marenco

Happy Hour is the perfect time to drop in because, unlike most places where a handful of items get a dollar or two knocked off, it feels like the entire menu here gets the Prime Day deals treatment. The gin-based highballs can get dangerous–they’re perfectly blended, extremely refreshing, and pair with everything on the menu. We’re partial to the Seasonal (with grapefruit and sage), our favorite for an after-work hangout or pre-Fillmore festivities.  

photo credit: Eddy Marenco

Izakaya by Yanaga won’t give you the best cuts of sashimi in the city—for that, make a reservation, head to the back, and drop the cash for a separate and more luxe experience at Omakase at Yanaga. Instead, come here for a casual night, remember the Triple H rule, and forget everything else on the menu.

Food Rundown

Tuna Rice Crisp

Who doesn’t love a satisfying crunch? The tuna rice crisps are rectangles of crispy rice topped with creamy spicy tuna and serrano pickles. Each bite has just the right amount of heat and tanginess balanced out by the fish. Order it.

photo credit: EMILY SCHINDLER

Chicken Robata

This chicken skewer is about as memorable as the meal from your weird cousin’s wedding. The yakitori sauce does nothing to enhance the flavor. It’s a dish you should skip.

Shrimp Handroll

Jumbo shrimp, sticky white rice and scallion might not be the way to everyone’s heart, but it is to ours. Order a few of these refreshing handrolls for the table.

Yellowtail Handroll

This hamachi handroll, full of chunky Kizami wasabi, scallion, and nori will have you thinking about replacing your birthday cake with a handroll tower. Each bite is light, and the avocado adds the perfect richness.

Kawasaki Chicken Ramen

You would think a mix of Kawasaki-style chicken soup, tender chicken breast, and salty anchovy oil would pack your bowl with flavor. But this ramen–like many others here–is disappointingly bland.