# Traditional Yakitori Izakayas Izakaya Shingen Gives Ottawa a Taste of Traditional Japan By Amy Duong | Published 2018-05-17 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/izakaya-shingen References: [ottawacitizen](http://ottawacitizen.com/life/food/local-food-reviews/dining-out-izakaya-shingen) & [izakayashingen](http://izakayashingen.com/) 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. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.9/10 - Popularity: 46% | Activity: 2% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### 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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Sake Cocktail Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sake-cocktail-menu.md) - [Japanese-Themed Bodega Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bessou-snack-shop.md) - [Theatrical Chef's Choice Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/japanese-omakase.md) - [Japanese-Peruvian Fusion Cuisine](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/japaneseperuvian-fusion-cuisine.md) - [Elevated Restaurant Sushi Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sushi-experience.md) - [Design-Forward Omakase Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/omakase-restaurant.md) - [Evolutionary Toronto Dining Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-drake-hotel.md) - [Slow-Simmered Beef Dishes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hanabi-hot-gyudon-beef.md) - [Elevated Sushi Offerings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kura-sushi-1.md)