One of the latest food trends to take over the West Coast is the emergence of Japanese izakayas, which have been spreading like wildfire from Vancouver Island to Venice Beach.
Izakayas are often referred to as Japanese tapas bars because they serve the same function in Japan as tapas bars do in Spain--providing a cheap, no-frills space for diners to hop in, grab a few small plates of snacks and hop out. Also just like tapas, izakayas are coming to America in the form of much fancier, much more expensive eateries--and the dishes aren't get any bigger.
But there are a few genuine (and cheap) izakayas if you know where to look. One of Seattle's best is Wann, which is actually an offshoot of a Japanese chain. The menu here ranges from traditional Japanese favorites like Kobe beef tongue and dried squid tempura, to off-the-wall comfort creations like a Kurobuta sausage corn dog and brie cheese tempura.
But despite their venture into fusion-y, trendy fare, Wann keeps it real with the small plate prices, which start as low as four bucks and don't venture into double digits.
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[Photo: Wann]]]>
