Houston's Hidden Gem Izakaya: Zen Japanese Izakaya
๐ 2015 S Shepherd Dr 700, Houston, TX 77019 ๐ฐ$$ (Moderate Price Range) ๐ Izakaya | Ambiance | Date Spot This is such a hidden gem of an izakaya in Houston! Itโs even more delicious than I expectedโgreat quality food and amazing value for money. Highly recommended!๐ธ๐ธ Takoyaki (Octopus Balls) ๐๐๐๐ Crispy on the outside, super soft inside, with generous chunks of octopus. The seasoning is perfectโoverall absolutely delicious!๐ Karaage (Japanese Fried Chicken) ๐๐ Crispy outside and tender inside, but slightly over-salted.๐ฃ๐ฃ Katsu Don (Pork Cutlet Rice Bowl) ๐๐๐ Rice bowl topped with pork katsu, onion, dashi, egg, and green onion. The rice soaks up all the savory broth, while the pork cutlet stays crispy and the meat remains tender. Definitely worth a try!๐๐ Unagi Hitsumabushi (Nagoya-Style Eel Rice, 3 Ways) ๐๐๐๐๐ Unagi Hitsumabushi is a specialty eel dish from Nagoya, Japan. The eel is served in generous portionsโtender, flavorful, and coated in a rich sauce thatโs not greasy. It comes with chopped green onions, wasabi, shredded nori, and hot dashi broth. All three ways of eating it offer unique flavors, and itโs a relatively rare dish to find in Houston. A must-try!๐๐ Yuzu Cheese Cake ๐๐๐๐ & Matcha Chestnut Cake ๐๐๐ The yuzu cheese cake is refreshing, with a strong, distinct yuzu aroma. The matcha chestnut cake is slightly sweeterโ the chestnut puree is fragrant, and thereโs hidden red bean inside. However, the matcha flavor isnโt very strong.๐ฟ๐ฟ Sake Sampler ๐๐๐ (Dewazakura Izumi Judan, Dewazakura Oka Ginjo, Tedorigawa Yamahai Daiginjo) These three sakes have distinct styles and layers of flavor, perfect for sake lovers to try them all! This spot is truly a hidden gemโnot only is the food delicious and the ambiance great, but the price is really reasonable for the quality of the food. Itโs perfect for a friendsโ get-together or a casual date with a drink. Highly recommended!๐๐ #IzakayaFood #JapaneseCuisine #JapaneseFood #HiddenGemFood #Houston #HoustonEats #HoustonRestaurantHopping #HoustonFood
