After having some desserts in LES, we decided to go get some drinks. I suggested that we should have some “real” food, since we only had some desserts. After doing some research on where to go, my hubby found a perfect spot. We love going to Izakaya, like Izakaya Mew, which is a Japanese pub with small plates of food, like tapas, that you share with your family and friends. We haven’t been to this particular spot called Izakaya Juraku, but they seem to have a really good happy hour menu, so we decided to go check it out!
Since it was still early evening on Friday, it was still rather empty. As soon as we walked in, a staff came over and told us to pick any two-people table. I liked the cozy and homey atmosphere. Even though Izakaya Juraku opened in 2018, the building itself is ancient. It used to be synagogue that was built around 1920. If you get on a Tenement Museum tour, you will most likely visit this spot! It still has the original red brick wall, rich with history.
It is a very, very long and narrow interior. It goes all the way back! They have a fully stocked bar in the middle, with more seating in the back. They also have a coat rack all the way back there.
We started off with some sake from their Happy Hour menu. We chose Yuzu Sake from Jokigen ($6/Happy Hour). Our server brought two empty sake glasses in masu, a wooden square. She poured the sake into the glass, and continued to pour until it started to over flow. By providing customers more than the glass can contain, it is a traditional way that shows appreciation of your business by some Japanese restaurant. It was really nice sake, sweet, strong, and fruity, just the way I like it!
My hubby was very much interested in the large menu of Craft Beer. I didn’t really pay much attention to it, until the general manager, Kiyo, walked over and started to have interesting conversation with us. He told us that Izakaya Juraku have the largest Japanese Craft Beer offering in New York City! They currently have almost 60 different craft beers on the menu, and will continue to grow…how awesome! He also told us that they really want to offer these craft beers at a reasonable price. And he was right, they were all around $8-$10. Super reasonable in NYC! We got excited about all the beer offerings, we decided to try a couple of them. I ordered something I had once, Hokkaido Melon Ale ($8) from Hokkaido, Japan. I love fruity wine and beer… This had a really great cantaloupe flavor, sweet, ripened melon aroma, taste, and color. Love it!
My hubby went with something that was really unique, something we have never heard of…Kyoto Beer Matcha IPA ($10). Yes, that’s right, it is matcha beer! What! It had deep, dark matcha green color, even the foam was a bit green. Very unexpected, although it makes total sense. It was certainly an interesting flavor. Hint of matcha aroma, with that distinct bitter flavor of matcha, mixed with light IPA.
There is another great things about this place, other than the history of the building, wide beer menu, and amazing price. You guessed it, their food! It had all the Japanese comfort food dishes, but with a little modern twist on most of them, that elevates the traditional dishes to the next level. The most interesting item was Smoking Anbai Miso Bacon ($8).
The general manager brought it out with a torch. He started to put some fire power below, really get the wood burning. He also torched the bacon itself from the top too.
I thought it would taste just bacon with miso. I was totally wrong… It is maple cured bacon, marinated in Anbai ale and red miso for nine hours! It was so meaty and packed with rich, earthy, amazing flavor! Torched to perfection, right before it gets crispy, but still juicy and plump. After the fire settles, smoke hugs the bacon with tenderness…adding extra smoky flavor. Totally loved it!
Next one up was Truffle Lotus Root Chips ($6/Happy Hour). Kiyo told us that they experimented this dish with actual truffle shavings, truffle oil, and truffle salt, to see which goes the best with the chips. Truffle salt was the winner, and we so agree! It might not look like much, but it was really awesome! Great truffle flavor with each bite. Crisp chips, lightly fried, a perfect accompaniment to any drinks!
The last food item we tried was Tebasaki ($9), Nagoya style Japanese chicken wings.
I thought the portion was great, like a mini-mountain. When I took my first bite, I must say I had no words…it was soooo delicious, totally out of control! Lightly fried, skin was super crispy and thin, inside was amazingly juicy, packed with sweet and tangy flavor. Such a delight, simply delicious! Finger licking good! My hubby said I had the “eyes of pleasure” like nothing he has ever seen while I was enjoying this wing. LOL.
When we asked for Kiyo what his favorite beer was, and about some unique or interesting beer that they have, he brought us something really cool. He brought two bottles of exactly the same beer, except when they were crafted. Hitachino Nest Commemorative Ale, made for New Years. One was 2009, and another one was 2011. If you look carefully, you can see one is slightly darker in color.
They had different aroma and flavor, in addition to their colors. Aged one has deeper, darker color, with a bit of banana-y notes somehow. More mellow, with hint of caramel. The newer one had notes of chocolate, vanilla and spices. Definitely more spicy and crisp than the aged one. How interesting!
Their bathroom is all the way back, a couple of unisex bathrooms. They were nice size, large for NYC. Clean and organized, with fun beer posters.
We had such fun time here at Izakaya Juraku, and it was really great talking with the general manager Kiyo. He was super friendly, and super knowledgeable when it came to food and drinks. He was trained professionally for Japanese and French cuisine, so no wonder their food are awesome! He told us they offer something he would want to eat, at affordable prices. Beer prices are especially awesome. What an amazing spot! We would definitely go back for more amazing food and drinks! It gets pretty busy, come early or make a reservation!
Izakaya Juraku ( 居酒屋じゅらく) – 121 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002