O Izakaya Lounge

O Izakaya Lounge Review

San Francisco has been hit by a mini-tsunami of izakaya spots, Japanese-style pubs where folks gather to drink and share small plates. O Izakaya delivers that tradition plus big flat-screen TVs so that no one misses an inning. The walls are covered with oversize baseball cards, and seating is a mix of booths and tall communal tables. The menu is a wild ride of noodles (soba, yam), skewers (pork belly, beef loin, duck heart), tempura, dumplings, salads, raw and cooked fish—even burgers. Sake aficionados will find plenty to choose from, including a trio of flights, plus there's lots of beer, shochu (a distilled spirit made from sweet potato, rice, or barley; similar to vodka), and cocktail choices—plus a well-priced happy hour— to ensure no one goes thirsty. There's also a daily breakfast buffet (Japanese and American).