Izakaya Ittoku

Amazing izakaya! Best in Boston so far (making all the other ones ashamed)Great service and amazing food.

I really like those traditional Japanese dishes served by Ittoku such as Ankimo, Onigiri, and mentaiko-flavor squid. These are rarely served in most Japanese restaurants in MA. Hence, I would like to say Ittoku is one of the best japanese restaurants serving the real japanese cuisine in the greater Boston area.Because Ittoku is always popular, the servants usually reminder their customers that it will take more than 45mins to prepare a dish (especially Sushi and Sashimi). But it usually takes 20-30mins for a dish. Overall, service is fair. The restaurant is located in a mall near Lesley University. It really took me some time to find the place for the first time. The place is a bit old, but still neat. I will suggest people to make a reservation for a serious dining in because this place is really popular and full of people all the time. Otherwise, you can only sit at the bar area and it will turn out to be a bit crowded sitting there if you order a bunch of dishes.

Walked in with no line on for Thursday night dinner! The staff were quite helpful and the restaurant wasn't really smoky at all despite the grilling. We tried several dishes and quite enjoyed them:Takoyaki: 4 pieces which came out fresh with perfect texture and flavors Takowasa: raw octopus with wasabi - pretty refreshing but strongly flavored and it ended up being a lot of piecesSoft shell crab: crispy, meaty, and a bit oily but goes well with the lemon and side salad Garlic yakitori: bittersweet with some char, not all the big pieces were fully cooked Tsukune: pretty hefty and meaty with delicious char flavor Okonomiyaki: quite tasty with pork belly and vegetables, would def like to try the other varieties! Chicken skin yakitori: fatty and crisp in the best way, highly recommend Chicken thigh yakitori: juicy and flavorful, can't go wrong with this!

We tried to grab dinner at yume but they stopped taking people so we had to find a plan B, thankfully we went to Izakaya ittoku and had a great meal. We got the chefs choose skewers, the cold dan dan noodle special, and the beef and pork okonomiyaki. We enjoyed everything but the Dan Dan noodles were delicious although we added the egg which didn't do much for the dish. The okonomiyaki was good but it came out late, I think it's because they forgot the dish. The skewers were good, wifeys favorite was the chicken skin. She didn't know what it was until I searched the menu and deduced it from process of elimination. When I told her it was chicken skin, she was shook but then said I'd get it again.

Didn't even realize this was inside the Lesley U building! Right around the corner from Yume, we came here on a Friday night and there was a 1 hour wait but ended up being more like 25 minutes as people left the waitlist pretty quickly. We ordered a bunch of stuff to try, but our favorites were the karaage (super juicy and piping hot!) and the chefs choice skewers. We also got the chicken kimchi udon--interesting flavor and I really enjoyed the noodles too, they're flatter than normal udon but good chew. Service was a little bit slow given how busy they were and there was a bit of confusion, it seemed, with the orders as there were some duplicate dishes sent out/brought to the wrong table but all the servers were very sweet.

Entrance smells AMAZING. The staff is friendly. We were even asked if we needed parking validation on the way out.All the skewers were delicious! Loved the short rib one, highly recommend. I also really enjoyed the Calpico Ringo and ended up getting another one. Both of the okonomiyakis were great! I highly recommend the sukiyaki one. Will definitely come back for more!

House okonomiyaki ($15) wasn't that good. Just not that well balanced in flavor, with a harsh saltiness in some bites. The saltiness might be more bearable / even good if you were drinking, but the water was so cold it was hard to drink, so I ordered an Aomori apple juice ($4.5), which came... heavily iced. My bad! It was quite nice though, subtle and fragrant, though not very much juice overall.Since they have a really varied menu, maybe some of the other dishes are better?

Time and time I've come here, and time and time it never disappoints! I always love sampling different foods wherever I go, and so it's nice they have it tapas style so our table gets to order a bunch of different items. I like that it's never very hard to get a table, and food comes out quick so you're usually munching on one tapa plate before the next one comes out. The location itself is such a blessing since you're surrounded by such great food options alone in this food court area within Lesley University. I've loved every item we've gotten, but I'll list some of my favorites below! The menu is also massive and it helps that they have pictures on the menu. The ambiance is also laid back and gets slightly louder sometimes with crowds on the weekends. Such a fan favorite, such authentic Japanese food, I love coming here! Some of my favorites:- takoyaki- chicken thigh skewer! - cod roe pasta (heavenly)- any of the okonomiyaki dishes (a must every time we come)

Izakaya Ittoku deserves its 5/5 rating with its spacious setting, extensive menu featuring a variety of dishes, and very reasonable prices for the area. The ample seating ensures a comfortable dining experience with two bars full of seating alongside a full dining room. I went for the okonomiyaki and although it may not be the absolute best I've ever had, it definitely holds its own considering the vastness of their menu. A sure standout is the wasabi-marinated raw octopus, which undeniably impresses and adds a unique flair to the overall dining experience. The service was also incredibly friendly and quite speedy on a weekday evening. The combination of variety, fair pricing, and flavorful dishes solidifies Izakaya Ittoku as a top-notch choice.

Quick and causal spot in the Porter sq area for small eats. The chicken thigh skewers were our favorite. So juicy and tender. The karage was also great, didn't have that flour aftertaste some places have. The tofu was also quite flavorful. The waitstaff is friendly and service is quick. It's a great spot to chill with friends and get a drink with snacks. The bathroom is shared with the Lesley spaces so you need to go outside of the restaurant. Oh it also opens late each day and is not a spot for lunch. I would definitely recommend checking this out if you're in the area.