Yanaga Kappo Izakaya

I have been to YKI three times now and it continues to impress me. While I am very sensitive to the issues that usually accompany opening a new restaurant, I did not experience any on my visits. Everything seemed to running smoothly out of the gate. The food - wow. I can't wait for the omakase room to open, but the offerings in main room and bar are outstanding. Dive bar food may conjure up a negative connotation, but the food is fantastic. The small bite -nachos , gyoza, rolls - perfect to snack on at the bar. Seemingly simple but you can taste the complexity behind the "simple" facade. Larger dishes were equally ambitious and executed with perfection. Never thought spaghetti with peppers, onions and Japanese "ketchup" would taste so good- but it did. Cocktails- on the last visit YKI had the start of the bar program. Super solid house cocktails - riffs on classics but definitely with Asian bend. Cowboy Dan may have the most unique cocktail I have tried and it was delicious. Great crowd - neighborhood, families, large groups and date nights all enjoying a wonderful evening.

Enjoyed a very solid meal here tonight. It's quite casual and we walked in, party of 4 at 630p on a Friday night. Only half full. Friendly and prompt service, though one guy poured water and missed the glass without noticing, nearly soaking my son.Highlights- 1900 soft serve!! umami cukes, nirigi special, veggie mazeman,, Japanese potato salad, tuna rollDecent but not memorable- shrimp nachos, fried chicken (little boneless bites- very odd)Total with tip was $125 for 2 adults, 2 teens, and we brought our own wine.

I am so happy that an authentic izakaya opened up in the neighborhood. Fun vibes inside with great decor and homey/nostalgic food.I love that it was BYO when I stopped by last week, but it will eventually be a full bar. I'm sure they will have Japanese drinks like highballs and sours so I'm excited to try it when it's ready.For food, we ordered the kaarage, hibachi fried rice, Napolitan, agedashi nasu, Japanese potato salad and the spicy crunchy tuna roll. Everything receives a strong 10/10!!The kaarage was so good my bf really wanted to place a second order of it. Juicy, fried to perfection and paired with the tastiest dipping sauce. The broth from the agedashi tofu was addicting and we ended up adding it to our fried rice which elevated that rich dish even more. The napolitan was delicious but it didn't taste nostalgic or homey. However, I can't think of another restaurant that serves napolitan so I still plan on ordering it the days I really crave it.I plan on eating here at least twice a month. This will be my new go to!

2 words: happy hour. Amazing small plates, great prices for the quality. Chill vibes. Just a really great spot to hang, eat & catch up with an old friend type of place. HH prices at tables too, which is a huge plus.

Exciting addition to the neighborhood. We hosted during the soft open, so no bar yet. It's of to visit an izakaya without liquor, but our meal was still great. Complimentary miso soup set a flavorful tone for the meal. It was great and warming on a blustery day. The Kara age chicken was so juicy and flavorful. It came with "yum yum" sauce but I liked it on its own. The fried rice, made with duck fat, was really rich. We opted for the sous vide egg addition but it probably wasn't necessary. The rice itself was rich and delicious. My SO loved the potatoes. The rolls were good too. The roasted vegetables were fresh and flavorful. The futomaki roll was also good with a briny taste (from the seaweed?) that I liked. SO loved the cucumber avocado roll as well. I look forward to returning and enjoying the bar too. I love izakaya-style dining and am so glad this place is nearby!

Cute ambiance but very mediocre food. Sushi was fine but other places in NoLibs are better. Noodles were over cooked and soggy. It's a great place for the area but not worth venturing out of your way for.

Excellent anniversary meal. Sat out side on a nice September evening. Got there just before 6 pm so first drinks were Happy Hour and were excellent - Cowboy Dan was very unique. Pork Gyoza was perfectly fried and the sauce pairing was great, rice cakes too were delicious. Bok Choy was delicious and a big portion for a side dish. Fried Chicken was very good but not as much of a standout. We got the Big Sushi/Nigiri/Sashimi Platter which was very solid but next time I'd probably try out more of the specialty roles that looked good as well as more of their apps/other menu items as that was where their menu shined the most for us. Pumped to come back!

Yanaga Kappo Izakaya has to be one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia. We recently ate there and were surprised by how good the food was. Their food is creative and fun to eat. It is authentic Japanese food with a creative flare. We absolutely loved their version of nachos and version of spaghetti. This might be one of my favorite restaurants in the city.

This local bar/sushi spot is a hidden gem in the northern liberties. The dipping soy sauce for sushi is AMAZING. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Check out the ponzu! Rotating draft and cocktail.

Kind and knowledgeable staff, fantastic bar and this little secret is now our favorite restaurant in Philly, sorry not sorry, Stephen ! Less is often more Can we add more stars-From these New Yorker food snobs to your iPhone review - run, Uber, cycle to this hidden freaking gem