Sasa

Karaage

Japanese fried chicken with a thin, shatteringly crisp crust and juicy interior — the benchmark izakaya item done reliably well here

Robata-grilled skewers

Charcoal-grilled proteins and vegetables with clean smoke and good char — rotate through whatever's listed that night rather than anchoring to one

Edamame

Simple, well-salted — an honest benchmark that the kitchen doesn't overthink

Sake cocktails

The bar's Japanese-inflected cocktails outperform the average izakaya bar — worth starting here before moving to straight pours

Gyoza

Pan-fried dumplings with a crisp, lacquered bottom — competent but not exceptional relative to the rest of the menu