Izakaya Sozai

This izakaya specializes in yakitori and small plates—though in the winter, crowds throng for the Tonkotsu ramen. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with vibrant red walls and wrap-around windows facing Irving Street. Start with the nasa dengaku, grilled eggplant slathered in sweet miso and sprinkled with bonita flakes. The melt-in-your-mouth carpaccio is another specialty. Depending on the freshest fish of the day, that might be a hamachi or albacore. And the bacon-wrapped mocha is, unsurprisingly, delicious (and social-media-famous). The generous sake list features unmai, ginjo, daiginjo, and honjozo varieties.