A Pre-Theater Dinner at Izayoi

Below, the extremely beautiful and delicious (and might I add extremely expensive) toro tartare with avocado, caviar, and sprouts in a light ponzu sauce.

Izayoi is easily one of the best restaurants in J Town and perhaps one of the best Izakaya in the City if not the best. Izayoi's menu is not as vast as Haru Ulala's (which is half a block a way) but that is just fine with me because Izayoi concentrates on what they do best: fresh seafood.

For those of you who frequent the Music Center as much as I do, the restaurants in J Town are a welcome relief from the Patina restaurants. Izayoi was the perfect pre-theater choice (we saw "Doubt" last night) and also a great way to begin my restaurant orgy. Will the other restaurants live up to it? I go to a chichi Izayaka on Friday night in Bev Hills.

Below, the wonderful marinated cucumbers with octopus. Note the paper thin slices of lemon nestled between the pieces of octupus. Very refreshing!

Below, the stewed pork belly. This dish was served with some dumplings which were filled with some type of gooey goodness (maybe some type of tuber goop?)

Below, Mumsy's main course of soba in broth with tempura.

Below, yummy miso soup with clams.

Izayoi
132 S. Central Avenue (between First and Second)
Los Angeles, CA 90012