Are you into Japanese cuisine? If yes, have you ever tried Japanese fusion food and that too in the unusual Banani/Gulshan area? Today's write-up is about a famous restaurant in Dhanmondi. I am sure by this time most of you are already guessing the right name. Located in Dhanmondi, the name of the place is Izakaya and I would highly recommend this if you want to experiment with Japanese fusion food.

For the ones who heard the name for the first time, I am sure you must be curious about what the name 'Izakaya' means right? Well according to Google it is a type of Japanese bar in which a variety of small, typically inexpensive dishes and snacks are served to accompany the alcoholic drinks. But this is not the exact set-up here in Dhaka. I must inform you that it is not a bar and it is not quite an inexpensive restaurant. So far whoever I recommended the place loved it (apart from those who dislike Japanese fusion).

As I stepped inside Izakaya, I was greeted by cheerful staff members in Japanese. The interior made me feel like I was teleported to a different country. Filled with artificial 'cherry blossom trees' and minimalistic wooden furniture, the place looked so well-designed and sophisticated. It's a place where you can dine with family and friends. We sat near the window where we enjoyed the view from Level 9. Great ambience.

Artificial 'cherry blossom trees'

An interesting fact that I heard about Izakaya is that they conduct free sushi workshops for 10 randomly selected interested participants who register for the workshop. So far they've held two successful workshops and the third one will take place on March 23, 2019.

As I browsed through the menu, I knew I have to visit this place again because there were so many dishes I wanted to try. I ended up ordering Spicy Salmon Maki Rolls, Tempura Ramen, a Mango Calpis and Matcha Icecream.

The Spicy Salmon Maki Rolls were good but not the best. I liked the fact that there was crab meat also.

'Spicy Salmon Maki Rolls'

The Ramen with two shrimp tempura was spicy, delicious, satisfying and recharging. It is quite difficult to finish the entire one so best to share it with another person.

'Mango Calpis'

The Mango Calpis is a mocktail which I never heard of before. It tasted like mango yogurt. The Calpis is produced by lactic acid fermentation.

Later, Matcha icecream was served. I loved the distinct green color. It tasted like creamy green tea vanilla flavor but with a slightly bitter after-taste. I wish the scoop was a bit larger though. It was the perfect ending to the meal.

'Homemade Matcha Icecream'

By now, I visited Izakaya at least 4 - 6 times even though I live quite far away. I would recommend you all to definitely try the crispy Fried Nori Beef Tacos, Spicy Chicken Ramen and homemade Black Sesame Ice-cream. I hope to share the review soon.