On the side
★★★1/2
21 Ten Thousand Waves Way, 505-428-6409, tenthousandwaves.com/food
Almost 10 years after opening — and being quickly named a semi-finalist for a “Best New Restaurant” James Beard award, Izanami continues to maintain high standards and dazzle diners with distinctive, shareable dishes from Japan, Korea and a little influence from Mexico to spice things up. Reservations are highly recommended as this is a hot spot, especially on the weekends.
Izanami serves more than 50 sakes broken into seven profile categories. But if you aren’t into sake, there are seven other drinkable categories to engage your senses, including nonalcoholic sips.
To accompany the astounding selection of adult beverages the menu features cold, hot, grilled, fried and sweet dishes
We started with a few appetizers including Spicy Cucumber + Avocado Salad ($12), Black Sesame Noodles ($12) and Pork Belly Tacos ($16 for three and $20 for four). Crisp, cold chunks of cucumber and avocado are coated in a spicy serrano vinaigrette, dusted with crushed Marcona almonds and togarashi.
Being a vegetable fritter freak, the Kakiage Fritter ($13) was quite a surprise. Julienned vegetables are coated in a tempura batter and fried until lightly golden.
The Grilled Miso Bass ($34) is another stunning dish that wowed us. Sea bass, crispy on the outside and flaky on the inside, comes in a bowl with sauteed bok choy and a generous serving of the best pickled ginger we have ever had.
The Yuzu Cheesecake ($13) is a light and naturally gluten-free option. A Japanese citrus sauce, yuzu, is a brilliant addition to this sweet dish.