inari Izakaya

Overall Review: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Dickson's Fooday mouthpiece food review is here!
This time, I visited a modern-style Japanese izakaya located above the department store in the Xinyi District.
This izakaya hasn't been open for too long; it presumably just started operating in the last few months.
Every time I pass by the nearby restaurants, I notice this izakaya, which has a very impressive and atmospheric decor inside.

Finally, I found some time to visit recently, and this restaurant also allows online reservations.
Dickson is a fan of online reservations, so if a restaurant offers that service, it feels very convenient. 🤣🤣🤣
But of course, that's just beside the point.

As for the food, I personally think it's quite good.
The dishes we ordered were all above average and had no misses.
I would say it's really decent Japanese cuisine.

If there are any limited dishes written on the board that day, you can look at the board to select special dishes.

Additionally, their ordering system is basically online via a QR code, so there aren't any physical menus to browse through.
I do think having a physical menu is still important because it gives a more dining-in experience.
Plus, some restaurants can display creative menus. Of course, this part is subjective.

Back to the main point, the dishes here are all quite tasty.
However, it's a bit unfortunate that since it's located inside a department store, the portion sizes are not very large.

If two people visit, sharing a dish would work, but be sure to order several dishes, or you might find it insufficient!

The drinks are straightforward, with a variety of beers and cocktails available.
You can order according to your needs.

The restaurant has a modern izakaya style, and there are plenty of seats.

Moreover, it is conveniently located in the Xinyi District, which has good transportation.
Just remember that since it's on the upper food court level, you'll need to take the elevator to get there.

I think if you're very interested in Japanese cuisine and enjoy the izakaya atmosphere, you definitely need to try this place.
The food is delicious, and the atmosphere is nice!

Food: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Drinks: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Atmosphere: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Service: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Price: 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Location: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘

⭐️ Food:
👉 Smoked Egg Potato Salad $240
I highly recommend this potato salad.
The overall salad is creamy with the potatoes.
Though the portion is indeed not big, it's very tasty.
The potatoes and egg are soft and delicate, paired with the smoked egg and salad combo—delicious!

👉 Crab Chawanmushi $220
The chawanmushi portion is not large; it's about the size of a regular bowl of chawanmushi.
But the ingredients are quite substantial, with plenty of crab meat inside.
You can see that from the earlier pictures.

The ingredients are very solid, and the flavor is quite delicious.
However, the price may be on the high side due to the amount of crab meat.

👉 Pork Cutlet Sandwich $350
When visiting a Japanese izakaya, one must try the pork cutlet sandwich.
However, I find it unfortunate that this sandwich lacks uniqueness.
It's not bad, but it doesn't stand out compared to the other dishes.
The pork cutlet is well-placed within the sandwich, but it doesn’t have that wow factor, making it not a must-try item here.
Also, it's cut into four pieces, so the price is a bit high. 🤣🤣

👉 Sea Urchin Udon $880
I think this dish is the best of the day.
If you're visiting, I highly recommend ordering this!
Though the price is quite high, the amount of sea urchin is generous.
The udon is dreamy, with the flavor of sea urchin throughout.
Combined with other seasonings and sauces, it's rich in flavor.
Everyone should definitely try this!

👉 Beef Tartare $480
This is probably the second best dish today.
From the picture, you can see it looks really good from when it’s served.
A large egg yolk sits on top, making it wonderful for photos.
Mixing the yolk with the beef results in a very tasty dish.
I find the price reasonable, given the generous portion of beef.

But do note, this dish is likely seasonal, so make sure to check if it's available when you visit!

👉 Chicken Cartilage with Pepper Salt $250
The chicken cartilage is quite average—it’s fine, but nothing special.
So if you're visiting, this dish isn't a must-order.

⭐️ Drinks:
👉 Classic Highball $220
When at a Japanese izakaya, of course, one must enjoy a highball.
The drinks here are fairly standard—nothing wrong with them, just your basic selection.
If you're looking for something special, feel free to ask the staff for recommendations; they have a good variety.

⭐️ Atmosphere:
The atmosphere of the restaurant is quite nice, with a slightly darker theme.
The seating capacity is also significant.

There are also some private booths, designed in a modern Japanese izakaya style, leaning towards a restaurant vibe.
The distance between tables is sufficient, so you won’t have to worry about speaking loudly bothering others.

The interior is tastefully designed with an elegant feel.
Overall, the atmosphere and seating area are quite comfortable.

The overall style and vibe are also suitable for dates and gatherings with friends!

⭐️ Service:
The staff's service attitude is pretty good.
On the day I used the QR code to order, one dish took a long time to be served, so after bringing it up to the staff, they ended up gifting it to us.
I find that level of service commendable. 🤣🤣

When dishes are brought to the table, the staff also introduces them very attentively.
Plus, because it's someone's birthday that month, they generously provided a lovely dessert, which was delicious!

⭐️ Pricing:
Since it's located in the food court of a department store in the Xinyi District, it’s a bit on the pricier side.
While the individual dish prices are not too high, the portion sizes can be small.
However, most dishes are above standard, with some being quite delicious.

I find this pricing acceptable; it's not exaggerated, just right.

⭐️ Location:
It's on the upper level of the department store in the Xinyi District, which features mainly higher-priced restaurants, so competition is likely fierce.

Being located in the heart of Xinyi District and on the upper level of the department store makes this place very convenient.
So if you're nearby and feel like dining, it’s easy to secure a reservation!

⭐️ In summary:
I personally highly recommend this Japanese izakaya.
Located above the Xinyi District department store, if you’re shopping or catching a movie nearby, this is a great dinner option!

Especially since I believe several dishes are genuinely delicious, it's certainly worth a try for fans of Japanese cuisine.

Just be aware that some items may sell out early, which is a pity.
For instance, I wanted the clam dish, but since we arrived at around 8 PM, many items were already sold out.
So for those planning to visit, keep an eye on the time to avoid missing out on what you want!