Special thanks to Ittan Izakaya for extending this event invitation.
In Japan, an izakaya (居酒屋) is a place where people usually go to relax and mingle around after work. Besides alcoholic beverages, an izakaya also serves fresh seafood to go with booze. Ittan Izakaya (一炭居酒屋) is the first such establishment of its kind in Malaysia.
Located in the middle of the vibrant Icon City, Ittan Izakaya is managed by the same company as Shunka (旬香). The eatery has been operating for a month, but today marks its official launching ceremony.
Despite competing with more than 20 restaurants in this half-kilometer stretch of "Las Vegas Strip", Ittan Izakaya is instantly recognizable by the iconic Japanese-style murals on its exterior walls.
Stepping inside the eatery, one immediately feels the casual, laid-back ambience through the restaurant's wooden furnishing. Bar-like stools allow lone customers to break the ice between each other.
Upon closer observation, I notice that the wooden chairs here also allow customers to place their belongings. As one of the most urbanized country in the world, Japan is renowned for innovate ways to save space.
In addition, the restaurants features maritime theme similar to a seaside eatery. This is meant to emphasize the restaurant's commitment to fresh seafood.
All kinds of seafood at Ittan Izakaya are imported from Japan. The best source of fresh seafood is Tsukiji Market (築地市場) in Tokyo. As the largest fish market in the world, agents of prestigious restaurants all over Japan congregate here every morning to bid for the finest fish that the marine kingdom has to offer.
Going an extra mile to provide the freshest dining experience, Ittan Izakaya procures even live seafood for its kitchen. Air-flown from Japan, seafood selections include scallops, oysters, sea urchins and other exotic ones.
At this restaurant, sea creatures are as enormous as they are fresh! Just marvel how difficult it is to transport these marine denizens in a 7-hour flight from Japan.
Dining experience at Ittan Izakaya is centered on 4 concepts: grilled seafood (炉端焼き), kushiyaki (串焼き), sashimi (刺身) and wine (酒). Since seafood is its main focus, the restaurant is entirely pork-free.
In the wine department, the menu offers a respectable variety of sake (酒), shochu (焼酎) and beer (ビール). Tonight's launching is officiated by breaking the lid of a sake barrel.
As Chinese New Year is around the corner, there is also lion dance performance to bless tonight's event.
Although I have yet to taste food from the actual menu today, I am already looking forward to my next visit!
Name: Ittan Izakaya (一炭居酒屋)
Address: 43, Jalan Icon City, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-502-6649
Business hours: 4:00pm-1:00am (Sunday-Thursday), 4:00pm-2:00am (Friday-Saturday)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ittanizakaya
Coordinates: 5.34339 N, 100.43357 E
Directions: From the North-South Expressway, take the Bukit Mertajam exit and head east. Turn left at the next traffic lights. Turn left into Icon City on the left, using Starbucks Coffee as a landmark. Ittan Izakaya is located on the right side of the road, approximately midway down this half-kilometer avenue. There are ample parking spaces in front of the restaurant.
In Japan, an izakaya (居酒屋) is a place where people usually go to relax and mingle around after work. Besides alcoholic beverages, an izakaya also serves fresh seafood to go with booze. Ittan Izakaya (一炭居酒屋) is the first such establishment of its kind in Malaysia.
Located in the middle of the vibrant Icon City, Ittan Izakaya is managed by the same company as Shunka (旬香). The eatery has been operating for a month, but today marks its official launching ceremony.
Despite competing with more than 20 restaurants in this half-kilometer stretch of "Las Vegas Strip", Ittan Izakaya is instantly recognizable by the iconic Japanese-style murals on its exterior walls.
Stepping inside the eatery, one immediately feels the casual, laid-back ambience through the restaurant's wooden furnishing. Bar-like stools allow lone customers to break the ice between each other.
Upon closer observation, I notice that the wooden chairs here also allow customers to place their belongings. As one of the most urbanized country in the world, Japan is renowned for innovate ways to save space.
In addition, the restaurants features maritime theme similar to a seaside eatery. This is meant to emphasize the restaurant's commitment to fresh seafood.
All kinds of seafood at Ittan Izakaya are imported from Japan. The best source of fresh seafood is Tsukiji Market (築地市場) in Tokyo. As the largest fish market in the world, agents of prestigious restaurants all over Japan congregate here every morning to bid for the finest fish that the marine kingdom has to offer.
Going an extra mile to provide the freshest dining experience, Ittan Izakaya procures even live seafood for its kitchen. Air-flown from Japan, seafood selections include scallops, oysters, sea urchins and other exotic ones.
At this restaurant, sea creatures are as enormous as they are fresh! Just marvel how difficult it is to transport these marine denizens in a 7-hour flight from Japan.
Dining experience at Ittan Izakaya is centered on 4 concepts: grilled seafood (炉端焼き), kushiyaki (串焼き), sashimi (刺身) and wine (酒). Since seafood is its main focus, the restaurant is entirely pork-free.
In the wine department, the menu offers a respectable variety of sake (酒), shochu (焼酎) and beer (ビール). Tonight's launching is officiated by breaking the lid of a sake barrel.
As Chinese New Year is around the corner, there is also lion dance performance to bless tonight's event.
Although I have yet to taste food from the actual menu today, I am already looking forward to my next visit!
Name: Ittan Izakaya (一炭居酒屋)
Address: 43, Jalan Icon City, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-502-6649
Business hours: 4:00pm-1:00am (Sunday-Thursday), 4:00pm-2:00am (Friday-Saturday)
Website: https://www.facebook.com/ittanizakaya
Coordinates: 5.34339 N, 100.43357 E
Directions: From the North-South Expressway, take the Bukit Mertajam exit and head east. Turn left at the next traffic lights. Turn left into Icon City on the left, using Starbucks Coffee as a landmark. Ittan Izakaya is located on the right side of the road, approximately midway down this half-kilometer avenue. There are ample parking spaces in front of the restaurant.