Ottawa, Ontario lacked a premium consistent izakaya location until the debut of Izakaya Shingen location right in Centretown. The brand-new restaurant delivers traditional and contemporary izakaya sharing dishes that represent Japanese cuisine. Shingen serves yaki onigiri, which has been around in Japan for over a millennium. The story behind the dish is that samurais packed them within bamboo leaves during their travels. In modern day, yaki onigiris are portable meals and a staple snack at izakayas.
The restaurant itself eludes a rustic aesthetic with its wooden and cultural decorations. The menu features assorted grilled foods, deep-fried goods, raw fish choices, as well as steamed and simmered options. Some notable menu options include mentaiko udon, which are udon noodles in a creamy spicy cod roe sauce and the dashi chazuke, which is essentially rice bathing in dashi broth, topped with either salmon, octopus or Japanese plum.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Premium Izakaya Locations
- Opportunity to create more premium izakaya locations in cities lacking this type of dining experience.
- Traditional and Contemporary Izakaya Dishes
- Opportunity to innovate and create new dishes that blend traditional and contemporary flavors and presentation.
- Rustic Aesthetic in Restaurants
- Opportunity to incorporate rustic and cultural decorations in restaurant designs to enhance the dining experience.
Where This Applies
- Restaurant Industry
- Restaurants can capitalize on the trend by creating premium izakaya locations and offering traditional and contemporary izakaya dishes.
- Hospitality Industry
- Hotels and resorts can consider incorporating izakaya dining experiences in their offerings to attract guests looking for unique culinary experiences.
- Interior Design Industry
- Interior designers can explore the trend of rustic aesthetics and cultural decorations to create unique dining spaces for restaurants.
