19 editor picks across United States.
19 japanese izakaya restaurants worth the trip across United States, editor-ranked. All cuisines in United States.
Raku in Las Vegas is Mitsuo Endo's Chinatown izakaya since 2008, a binchotan-charcoal robata room that drew chefs from the Strip on their nights off.
OrderThe agedashi tofu, made in-house daily, and a run of robata skewers picked at the counter.
TipBooking is essential; the room is small and the line cooks slow when the counter fills. After-hours kitchen runs to 03:00.
Raku in Las Vegas is Mitsuo Endo's Spring Mountain izakaya since 2008, binchotan-charcoal robata that drew chefs from the Strip and earned multiple James.
OrderAgedashi tofu (made in-house daily) plus a run of robata skewers chosen at the counter.
TipBooking is essential. Late-night kitchen runs to 03:00 for after-shift industry diners.
Ken Oringer's UNI inside the Eliot Hotel runs a contemporary Japanese izakaya and omakase counter in Boston's Back Bay since 2002, expanded in 2016.
Umami on 38th Street in Lawrenceville serves izakaya skewers and ramen in Pittsburgh. A lantern-lit room with a koi pond patio off Butler Street.
OrderA spread of yakitori, a bowl of ramen and a Japanese highball.
TipThe koi pond patio is the seat. Late kitchen on weekends; walk-in friendly midweek.
Sushi Izakaya Gaku on South King is the long-running Japanese izakaya in Honolulu with sashimi, robata grill plates and the cult-favourite buta no kakuni.
OrderThe chef's sashimi selection and the buta no kakuni braised pork.
TipReservations open one month ahead. Order the day's specials board first; chef cuts the best fish for early diners.
Izakaya Minato on Washington Avenue opened 2017 from Chef Thomas Takashi Cooke, with binchotan-grilled yakitori, donburi bowls and a deep sake list.
OrderA flight of yakitori from the charcoal grill, then the chicken karaage.
TipTuesday to Saturday 17:00-21:30. Resy reservations open 30 days ahead.
Izanami serves elevated izakaya plates and one of North America's deepest premium-sake lists inside the Ten Thousand Waves spa, off Hyde Park Road.
OrderNami burger with wagyu, Black sesame noodles, Robata-grilled skewers
Kemuri Tatsu-ya in Austin is the Tatsu-ya team's Japanese-izakaya-meets-Texas-BBQ mash-up on East 2nd, a Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen with sake list.
OrderThe brisket ramen; the tonkotsu broth runs into the BBQ kitchen and back out.
TipThe sake list is unusually deep for a BBQ-leaning room; ask the bar to route a flight from Junmai to Daiginjo.
Kemuri Tatsu-ya in Austin is the Tatsu-ya team's izakaya-meets-BBQ casual room on East 2nd, a Bib Gourmand kitchen built for big shared plates and sake.
OrderThe brisket ramen and the smoked-tongue maki; the menu cross-references both kitchens.
TipThe sake list runs 80 bottles; ask the bar to walk you up from Junmai to Daiginjo as a flight.
Michelin Bib Gourmand 2026. Binchotan yakitori with heritage chicken, house-ground soba and a shochu list. Counter seating near Downtown Berkeley BART.
Izakaya Den in Denver is the Kizaki brothers' South Pearl izakaya next door to Sushi Den, a small-plates and yakitori room with the same Toyosu Market fish.
OrderYakitori from the binchotan grill and the wagyu carpaccio.
TipWalk-up only at the bar. The dining room takes bookings; the kitchen closes at 11 pm, later than most South Pearl rooms.
Zuma in Miami is Rainer Becker's modern Japanese izakaya at 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way, on the Miami River at the Epic Hotel, open in Brickell since 2010.
OrderRobata-grilled black cod miso, the dish carried across every Zuma globally.
TipSit on the river terrace at sunset; the indoor robata bar is the chef-counter alternative.
Patrick Burke's Eastland Avenue ramen and izakaya counter in Nashville opened 2014. The tonkotsu and miso ramens are the canonical bowls in East Nashville.
OrderTonkotsu ramen with extra egg and chashu, plus karaage chicken.
TipHappy hour 16:00-18:00 runs $5 plates and discounted sake; counter seats easier than booths.
Yopparai on Clinton Street runs the Lower East Side's most serious sake bar in New York City. 70 by-the-cup sakes, izakaya snacks, 25 covers.
OrderSake flight of three small cups and the daily sashimi.
TipSake flights run with three-paragraph notes per pour. Bring patience and a friend who reads.
Patrick Burke's Eastland Avenue ramen and izakaya counter in Nashville opened in 2014. The tonkotsu and miso ramens are the canonical bowls in East Nashville.
OrderTonkotsu ramen with extra egg and chashu, plus the karaage chicken.
TipHappy hour 16:00-18:00 runs $5 plates and discounted sake; counter seats easier than booths.
Ichicoro Imoto downtown is the izakaya sister of Ichicoro Ramen, with yakitori, sushi rolls and a sake program from the same Seminole Heights ownership.
OrderYakitori skewers, the chicken karaage, and one of the spicy tuna rolls.
TipBar seats are first-come; the sake list rotates monthly Walk-ins usually OK.
Ichicoro Ane in Tampa Heights is the izakaya sister of Ichicoro Ramen, with sushi rolls, robata grill items and a sake list across from Armature Works.
OrderSpicy tuna roll, robata yakitori and a sake flight.
TipWalk to Armature Works after; the patio takes overflow Walk-ins usually OK.
Hidden izakaya behind a Telegraph address (unit B at the back). Seasonal small plates, yakitori, nightly specials. No website. Minimum $15 per person.
Umami on 38th Street in Lawrenceville serves izakaya skewers and ramen in Pittsburgh. A lantern-lit room with a koi pond patio off Butler Street.
OrderA spread of yakitori skewers, a bowl of ramen and a Japanese highball.
TipThe back patio with the koi pond is the seat. Walk-in friendly midweek; weekends get busy.
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