PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A new Japanese joint in Fishtown combines the benefits of two restaurants in one.
Chef Kevin Yanaga was tapped by Glu Hospitality to open his own restaurant at 1832 Frankford Ave., called Izakaya by Yanaga.
“Izakaya, in the English term, it’s casual dining,” Yanaga explained.
He’s worked at some of Philadelphia’s best Japanese restaurants, like Morimoto, Pod, Zama and Double Knot.
The Japanese comfort food Yanaga serves at Izakaya is inspired by his childhood.
“I’m from Kawasaki, Japan,” he said. “It’s a 5-minute drive from Tokyo.”
There, karaage, or fried chicken, is beloved, and it differs from the American style.
“[It’s] boneless and then also marinated in a soy-based sauce. And then [for] the crust, we use the potato starch,” he said.
In about six weeks, Yanaga will turn the 12-seat back room of Izakaya into a more refined omakase — a chef’s choice, or table.
“I’d like to showcase my food and I’d like to turn this place into, let’s say, a Fishtown-style sushi omakase place,” he added.
Business in the front, party in the back.
For more on Izakaya by Yanaga, listen to the KYW Newsradio original podcast What’s Cooking on the Audacy app.