We couldn’t indulge in fine dining and tastings every night of our Japan trip, so we decided to explore some Japanese izakaya food during our visit to Kanazawa. Izakaya is somewhat like a Japanese pub, akin to Spanish tapas or a casual American tavern with broad appeal. These are the places where locals unwind after a day of work or to take your family for a good meal at a reasonable price. The menu typically includes a variety of dishes, such as yakitori, fried chicken, sashimi, sushi, and more, all meant to be shared family style. To accompany the food people usually enjoy beer, sake, or Shochu.
Our destination in Kanazawa was a restaurant called Fuwari, not far from the famed Omichi Market. While it lacks a sign-out front, you can easily spot it by the bustling crowd. The restaurant is a two-story, historic home that adds to its charm and is casual and vibrant inside. While the staff speak limited English, they can provide an English menu. If you are unsure what to order, you can always point to one of the other nearby tables.
Inside is crowded and lively, with a rustic atmosphere. Jeans are the dress code here. We were initially seated at the bar/open kitchen directly across from the hot, smoky charcoal grill. We asked to move because the smoke made our eyes burn. A word of caution is that if you are directed upstairs, hang on tightly to the rails as the steps are steep.
Fuwari is considered an upscale izakaya and attracts a predominantly young and trendy Japanese crowd. They offer a traditional regional menu with some innovative twists. The menu features a wide range of options including oysters, beef, mochi pizza, vegetables, tempura, fresh seafood from the nearby coastal waters, sashimi, fish, fried foods, and salads. Each dish, for the most part, is reasonably priced. While they offer a short wine list, the majority of the people seemed to opt for a beer.
One drawback is, that we ordered a lot and they brought everything to the table at once. Our table was overflowing with delicious food and everything was fresh and seasonal. There is only one dessert available, a pear sorbet, which I recommend you try. Yes, it appears ordinary and unadorned, but it was exceptional, fresh, and delightful, with a taste that precisely captures the essence of pear.
This izakaya is well-loved by locals and can get quite busy, so having a reservation is a good idea to avoid disappointment. The place has a fun, buzzing vibe. The kitchen is helmed by chef Ippei Matsumura, who spent a decade working at NOBU in New York City. He brings a unique twist to traditional Japanese cuisine while maintaining reasonable prices.
Recommended.
Happy dining,
Shanea
11/23/2023
