Kansas City Eats｜Creative Japanese-Style Izakaya 🍶

Restaurant: Anjin This isn’t your traditional izakaya — but it’s a fun, creative spot if you’re looking for something different! While it’s known to be super hard to book, we walked in right at 5:30 PM (right when they opened) and scored a table easily. Honestly? Based on the food alone, you probably don’t need a reservation. The food was decent — nothing mind-blowing, but enjoyable. The real highlight was the service: The waitstaff were warm, chatty, and incredibly attentive 🫶 They let me choose my own sake cup before serving — a lovely personal touch! When we showed interest in the fruit garnishing our drinks, they brought us extra to try — totally unexpected and sweet! Watching the chefs work in the open kitchen added a lively, engaging vibe to the meal. 🍢 What We Tried: Skewers: 4 chicken yakitori sticks — tender and well-seasoned Kagiage Tempura: A unique “mixed veggie fritter” — beautiful presentation, though flavor was just okay Tonkatsu Sakura Pork Collar Sandwich: A massive, thick-cut pork katsu sandwich — great value, though taste-wise, it didn’t stand out Hiramasa & Melon Tataki: Sashimi with thin-sliced melon — refreshing and nicely balanced Parfait: A giant dessert loaded with toppings — fun to look at, but taste was average 📍 Address: 1708 Oak St, Kansas City, MO 64108 💬 Verdict: Go for the vibes and service, not necessarily for authentic izakaya flavors. A pleasant experience with lots of heart! #KansasCityEats #AnjinIzakaya #JapaneseFood #KCFoodGuide #CasualDining #MidwestFoodFinds #NotYourTraditionalIzakaya