Izakaya: for the love of fusion Japanese
If the wedding hullabaloo and the repetitive rich food, however delicious, gets to be too much, or if you happen to be among the lucky couples who got hitched this year, and the near constant dawats have put you off of the sacred biryani, may I suggest the perfect palette cleansing visit to Izakaya, the original home of Fried Nori Beef Tacos? The wonderful fusion item, presented in delicious servings of deep fried nori in tempura batter with a teriyaki beef filling, is Izakaya's signature dish, born of a combination of brainstorming and culinary passion of Rayana Hossain, the behind the scenes creative stimulus and the owner of Izakaya.
Izakaya, as the name indicates, has its inspiration in Japanese culture, specifically Japanese pubs, usually serving snacks and drinks rather than full meals. Situated in the bustling centre of Dhanmondi, it was originally aimed at the young and hip crowd surfing the streets between classes; but that does not mean families and professionals can not enjoy the ambience and cuisine.
Warmly lit, with faux cherry blossoms on the wall reminiscent of a Japanese orchard, the space is outfitted in minimalist furniture, also personally designed and crafted to fit the mood of the décor, creating a place fit to relax in.
The passion and love that shaped Izakaya into being is palpable when Rayana speaks of Dekko's new foray into the hospitality industry. In her words echo the sound of young blood and energy of youth, armed with a host of global experiences, eager to introduce the world to Bangladesh, be it with cuisine or with fashion, one at a time.
In an attempt to connect with the local foodies, Izakaya offered a Sushi workshop, even though it is not their primary offered dish. Rayana says despite the many steps of registration, the response received was thunderous, as 800+ people signed up for just the ten spots! What better way to enjoy your favourite item that to learn its basics? Izakaya promises more such workshops, so do look out.
The filling, but light items, like the scrumptious and tender Beef Cheese Skewer—a beef roll drenched in teriyaki sauce with a melting cheese filling, spicy salmon rice cake, avocado maki roll, beef teppanyaki, garlic rice, and the quintessentially Japanese spicy chicken ramen-- pan fried chicken and slow boiled egg topped over a fiery hot ramen soup, make up some of the other items on this fusion menu designed especially for the globalised Bengali palette; each a distinctly lovely dish, consumable on their own as snacks, or as a light late lunch or early dinner in a variety of combinations.
My personal recommendation-- try the Fried Nori Beef Tacos and the Beef Cheese Skewers; absolutely delectable!
Photo courtesy: Izakaya
Izakaya is conveniently situated opposite the Abahani field on Shat Masjid Road, over the Miniso outlet.
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