Yanaga Kappo Izakaya

Chef Kevin Yanaga's Northern Liberties izakaya fuses two Japanese traditions, kappo and izakaya, into something that feels entirely its own. Anime plays on the screens, manga covers the walls, and the menu moves between pristine nigiri, spicy tuna rice crispy, and spicy pork ragu ramen with the same confidence. Save room for the back room if you can swing it: behind a bookshelf, a speakeasy-style omakase seats a handful of guests for a 20-piece, $170 chef-guided meal with handwritten menus and rare sake poured by an in-house sommelier.