I’ve been to my share of izakayas, but Izakaya Osen is definitely one of my favorites. The word “izakaya”, is made up of three kanji characters that literally mean “stay” “drink” and “place”. Izakayas were meant to be the Japanese take of gastropub, where co-workers and friends would gather after work to socialize, drink, and eat tasty food. Izakaya Osen is definitely a little more on the upscale side compared to other izakayas, and its prices will reflect that. However, it’s very quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in Orange County for it’s variety of food, consistent quality of sashimi and sushi, and its excellent service.

One of my favorite items to get here is the sashimi premium hachi mori. Pictured on the left here is actually a “one person” serving priced at $80. It comes with 9 total pieces of sashimi, 2 pieces each of some of the fish. Given the incredibly quality, I actually think it’s quite a deal, and it’s easily shareable with another person. There is a also a “two to three person” serving that you can order that comes with 18 pieces for $160. Keep in mind this is all dinner pricing; lunch pricing is quite a bit cheaper but I also assume that the quality of the pieces are adjusted as well. I am a total sucker for golden eye snapper (also known as kinmedai). It is almost always my favorite no matter where I go. The kinmedai here is slightly smoky with some citrus notes and absolutely delectable. The uni is also incredibly fresh and rich. The toro and the amberjack were also delicious as well.

Next up is the toro uni bowl. I love that this bowl comes paired with sprouts and shredded shiso leaves as well as nori. Essentially you can make your own fresh hand rolls with this which is a very nice and unique touch! The uni is particularly fresh and this is overall a pretty filling dish. This and the hachi mori are my favorite items to order at Izakaya Osen, so please check them out!

As this place is an izakaya, they also serve many grilled items as well. My favorites are the beef tongue and Chilean seabass. They give you large chunky pieces too so that you won’t go hungry! They also serve multiple rolls, but in my personal opinion, I would rather splurge on the exceptionally fresh sashimi and sushi. Out of the rolls, the spider roll is probably my favorite.

Izakaya Osen has easily become one of my favorite restaurants in the OC, and the quality of their fish at their price point is unmatched. They also have excellent service which is always a plus. There is a cocktail bar where you can order drinks if you’re waiting on a table. On most nights, the restaurant doesn’t get quite busy until 6pm however I would highly recommend making a reservation online as it gets quite packed by 7. There is also a very cute patio outside for seating which I actually prefer because it is slightly crowded and noisy inside the restaurant during peak hours. Overall, Izakaya Osen is a must-try and a great restaurant for couples, small groups, and large groups (with reservations). Also a great option for single diners if you are OK eating at the sushi bar, which would give you a front row seat of all the action and also the ability to chat with the one of the many friendly chefs!