An izakaya in the true sense of the word

Izakaya WA was founded by Akira Asano and Hajime Kubokawa, both Japanese, and remains the only izakaya in Houston that is Japanese-owned and operated end to end. That distinction is not a marketing line — it shows up in the details, from the way the fish is broken down to the way a plate is set down.

The name carries the idea behind everything we do. WA (和) is the old Japanese word for Japan itself, and it also means harmony — the balance of flavours, textures and temperatures that makes a table feel complete.

We opened with a menu of small plates, sushi and grilled skewers and a considered list of sake, and we have kept to it. Guests come for a quick lunch or settle in for a long dinner; either way, the room is built for lingering.