Izakaya Wa Brings Its Skewered Meats to River Oaks

Izakaya Wa, a Houston original for Japanese drinks and casual eats, will open its second location in River Oaks five years after debuting in the Memorial area.

The forthcoming izakaya will open inside a 3,000-square-foot space in River Oaks Shopping Center next year. Over in Memorial, chef-owner Akira Asano has been serving up the Japanese equivalent of tapas, including soba and udon noodle dishes, sushi, skewered meat and veggies, plus libations like sake, beer, and wine, shōchū, and Japanese whiskey.

Claiming to be Houston’s “first and only Japanese owned and operated izakaya,” Izakaya Wa may have to duke it out with buzzy newcomer Blackbird Izakaya for bragging rights since the fledgling concept already deemed itself Houston’s first “true izakaya” before opening last month.

Stay tuned for Izakaya Wa’s official opening date and hours of operation when it debuts in River Oaks.

• Izakaya-Wa to Open in the Memorial Area This Week [EHOU]
• Republic Diner Shutters to Make Way for Blackbird Izakaya [EHOU]