Japanese Street Food is Cool

Kushibar is a new "Japanese street food" restaurant on 2nd between Blanchard and Bell. Until now I thought "Japanese street food" was just something your girlfriend lets you do on Valentine's day and your birthday.

We had dinner there last night. It features a very large selection of grilled meats, fried foods and noodles in a great simple setting. We had fried oysters, fish cakes, spicy udon noodles with fish and grilled stuffed squid. All were awesome. They serve complimentary popcorn to you before your meal - with Japanese spices - and offer Sapporo in pitchers.

Seating offerings include communal-style tables in the dining room, two separate eating bars and a semi-covered outdoor section where you can sit at picnic tables and enjoy the people watching on 2nd Avenue. It was not crowded at any time on a Friday night from 6:00 to 7:30, but I suspect this is because it has only been open about a week. I picture Black-Bottle-style crowds in no time. Happy hour runs from 4:00 to 6:30 and includes a generous food menu and $11 Sapporo pitchers.

Kushibar is really the Japanese answer to the new gastro-pub trend and it is as good as any of the American offerings.