Friday night was my third date with Doug. After stressing all day about where to go we finally decided to head to downtown Huntington Beach. I read a blog in the OC Register about a new restaurant called Izakaya Zero. Izakaya is a type of Japanese tavern that serves “little plates” of food with lots of sake and drinks. Think of it as Japanese Tapas!

We got to Izakaya Zero and it was crowded! Based on the blog entry on Thursday, it said they were suffering from nearby construction and the place was empty. This Friday night it was packed! Seems the review in the OC Register brought the patrons in. However, it seems that the surge in business may have been testing. This is probably the first time the staff was tested in a full house experience.
Doug and I decided to start with drinks. I ordered a club soda with a twist of lime and he ordered a Kirin. After our drinks arrived I decided to try the Yoku-jito and Japanes Mojito. Made with limes and mint, there was also a hint of ginger.

We ordered 4 plates to eat. First we ordered a Zero Roll and Huntington Beach roll. I can’t remember what was in the rolls but I have to tell you that it was some of the best rolls I have had in a LONG time. We both enjoyed it. In Doug’s words – it was amazing! In addition to the rolls, we ordered Albacore Tataki and a plate of Tempura. The tempura was perfect, not oily and the vegetables were crisp and flavorful. The Albacore Tataki is seared albacore topped with roasted herbs and vegetable sauce. A small pile of microgreens was served on top. I LUVED that dish.The over atmosphere was very trendy and contemporary. There was a good beat going on all night. Almost everyone in the place seems to be enjoying themselves and the vibe was good. Overall it was a good night, but the service was a bit slow. Our second roll didn’t arrive until 15 minutes after we finished eating the first three plates.

Izakaya Zero
412 Walnut Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
714-960-1278