Salt Lake City｜There’s Actually an Izakaya in Chinatown

I just got back from Japan not long ago and already started missing izakayas — needed to find a local Utah spot to recharge. I’d passed this place in Chinatown several times before, always thinking it was just a ramen shop. It wasn’t until their recent renovation that I realized — hey, it's an izakaya! Let’s go! 🎌 The vibe hits just right — industrial style with raw concrete and a wooden bar counter. By day, it's a lunch-friendly spot for workers, and by night, you can enjoy a drink or two at the bar. We arrived right as they opened for lunch, and several tables were already filled. Heard they just reopened last Friday — seems like regulars are already rushing back! We ordered one of each set meal — all come with rice, soup, and potato salad. The flavors are solid, portions are huge, and prices are really reasonable. Office workers, rejoice! 🧃 Moms will appreciate the well-designed kids’ meal too — ramen or chashu rice, plus fries 🍟, fried chicken 🍗, gyoza 🥟, and ice cream 🍧. Kids love getting to try a little bit of everything! 🍟 Burdock Chips I love the slight bitterness and unique fibrous texture of fried burdock. Usually served as a ramen topping, but here you can order it alone — had to get some right away! 🍗 Stuffed Chicken Wings Such a unique snack! Boneless chicken wings stuffed with sweet roasted green onions and king oyster mushrooms, brushed with a sweet-salty glaze. One-bite goodness! 🐟 Salmon Teriyaki (Teppan-style) The best of the day! Two generous pieces of salmon — so satisfying. The skin was crispy, and mixing the poached egg into the rice, then adding a piece of crispy salmon with fried garlic… absolute perfection! 🦑 Miso Ika Teriyaki (Grilled Squid) Squid is best eaten hot — so springy and chewy, and goes perfectly with spicy mayo! The potato salad even came with fried lotus root chips — wish I could order those separately! 🥗 Tuna Poké Bowl A bowl with more toppings than rice! Enjoy big mouthfuls of tuna and mango mixed with sweet soy sauce rice. Drizzle with sesame dressing or spicy mayo for a different twist. Originally salmon + tuna, but the owner said they weren’t happy with the salmon quality, so gave me all tuna instead — great quality control! 🍵 Matcha Ramen with Ham Such a unique flavor! A matcha sea salt foam tops the creamy chicken broth — so smooth, with the creaminess balancing the slight bitterness of matcha. My first time trying this flavor — adventurous eaters, give it a go! 🎁 New Year’s Gift Time! From now until January 31, 2026, if you follow and like EllenFreakingCute, come dine at Heaya and… #SaltLakeCity #Utah #LocalGem #LifeInNorthAmerica #WinterJapaneseKitchen