Vocabulary Lesson: Izakaya

Lesson one on not flubbing a restaurant order.

vocab lesson izakaya

Photo by Kristin Teig

Izakaya 
(ē·’za·kə·yə)

Derived from the Japanese word for “sake shop,” a style of casual restaurant specializing in small plates of cocktail-friendly food; also a term for the food itself. One type of izakaya is yakitori (‘ya·ki·tō·rē), grilled meat and vegetables served on skewers.

Usage: Chef Patricia Yeo’s forthcoming Central Square izakaya, called Moksa, will serve pan-Asian fare like chicken meatballs with umeboshi plum glaze (pictured), while the soon-to-open Zai in the South End will focus on yakitori-style grilled meats.