Dining tales: Izakaya Nonbei

Same same, but different

The old Japanese-only menu boards are still there, only now, the daily specials are translated into English (about time!).

Bottles of Iichiko still line one shelf, with regulars’ names penned on. Now they can buy the bottle and come drink it without a fee; the old owners used to charge $2 each time.

As for the menu, all the old favorites are there, except no oden. New stuff: a rafute shoyu-simmered pork, crab salad, desserts like kinako mochi and something called Strawberry Dream, and of course, sushi.

Thank goodness the new owners kept the old low-backed bar chairs. We always liked the heavy woodenness of the place. Nonbei’s whole theme is homey; it’s supposed to be like a Japanese farmhouse in the snow country. It’s cozy and totally enveloping, just how you should feel when you come in from the literal and figurative cold.