This Japanese-Italian Restaurant Even Makes Amazing "Naan"!

A Japanese-Italian eatery with a waitlist even at 9 PM? They must be doing something right! And surprisingly, their oven-fried puff bread stole the show! I’d call it a must-order! 🤩🤩 🥖 Oven-fried Puff Bread “Naan” Probably a simple pizza dough baked to perfection—but how is it so delicious?! The crust is crispy, while the inside stays soft and fluffy. And who’s the genius who paired it with honey butter? 🍯 A match made in heaven! Topped with nori and sesame seeds—so fragrant! 🍣 Salmon Crudo Thick-cut salmon with lightly pickled cucumbers and sweet scallions. The cucumber flavor stands out, and the slight spiciness from the scallions balances perfectly—refreshing and sweet. 🦑 Calamari Fritti The batter is light and crispy, not greasy at all. Fried with pickled peppers 🫑—a creative touch that cuts the richness and adds flavor. 🍝 Spicy Miso Carbonara A unique combo! Udon noodles replace pasta, and the miso-carbonara sauce adds a Japanese twist. The dish feels rich and creamy—like a big, soft bite of cheese 🧀. Mushroom flavor is prominent, probably enhanced with black truffle. 🍕 Truffle Funghi Pizza The mushrooms here 🍄🟫 are standout—roasted but still crisp and sweet. The pizza highlights the mushroom flavor with minimal other seasonings—good for trying something new! 🤔 Overall, the appetizers outshone the mains for me—especially that puff bread! 😍 The dragonfruit lemonade is also delicious! Pro tip: Reserve a table on Resy in advance—the line is always long! 📍 INI Ristorante #Irvine #UCI #IrvineEats #ItalianCuisine #JapaneseFood #FusionCuisine #OrangeCounty #Foodie #LosAngeles #DateNight #HiddenGem #MustTry #FoodReview