Pork Belly
豚バラCharred, unctuous and salted — the most-ordered skewer.
Japanese-owned & operated · Houston
Houston's first and only Japanese-owned izakaya.
Traditional small plates, sushi, robata-grilled skewers and sake — served in the spirit of 和, harmony.
- Japanese-owned & operated
- Two Houston locations
- Sushi, robata & yakitori
- Sake & shochu selection
The name
和 — wa, meaning harmony
In Japan, an izakaya is a neighborhood place to drink, eat and linger — a table that keeps filling up as the evening goes on. It is casual by design and generous by nature.
Izakaya WA is Houston's first and only Japanese-owned and operated izakaya, founded by Akira Asano and Hajime Kubokawa. Everything here is built around wa: the balance of small plates shared among friends, the rhythm of the grill, and a glass of sake poured to match.
From the kitchen
A few of our signatures
The menu changes with the seasons and the day's catch. These are the plates our guests come back for.
Memorial Roll
メモリアルロールOur signature roll, named for the Memorial Drive dining room.
Hamachi (Yellowtail)
はまちButtery yellowtail, a house favorite.
Katsu Curry Rice
カツカレーCrisp pork cutlet over rice with our house Japanese curry.
Grilled Fish
焼き魚Whole fish grilled simply and served with grated daikon.
Sake Flight
利き酒A guided tasting of three sakes, chosen by the house.
The experience
Eat, drink, and take your time
An izakaya is built for sharing. Order a few plates, pass them around, and let the table fill up.
寿司・刺身
Sushi & Sashimi
Cut to order by our sushi chefs, with fish chosen for the day's board.
炉端焼き
Robata & Yakitori
Skewers and grilled plates cooked over the fire. Ask what's on the grill tonight.
日本酒
Sake & Shochu
The drinks matter as much as the food — sake flights, highballs and Japanese whisky.
Visit us
Two Houston dining rooms
The same kitchen and the same spirit, at Memorial and River Oaks. Walk-ins are welcome; reservations are taken by phone.
Memorial
Memorial / Westside
12665 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77024
(713) 461-0155- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday – Saturday
- 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM · 5:00 PM – 10:00 PMLunch & dinner
- Sunday
- 5:00 PM – 9:00 PMDinner only
Not open for lunch on Sundays.
River Oaks
River Oaks / Inner Loop
2015 W Gray St, Unit J, Houston, TX 77019
(832) 548-1889- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday – Saturday
- 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM · 5:30 PM – 10:00 PMLunch & dinner
- Sunday
- 5:00 PM – 9:00 PMDinner only
Reservations
Join us for dinner tonight
Call either location to reserve, or send us a request and we'll confirm by phone.