I think this place is a great place to pre-game before the bars/clubs. It has all the sake you can think of along with your choices of beer just so you can do some sake bombs. I did enjoy the food, but you have to remember this is a tapa place. So everything you order will be small portions. I particularly like the raw octopus mainly because it was new and the wasabi sauce it swims it gives it a good kick. The grilled squid is pretty good too! They do do valet parking for about 1$, or they might have increased it to 2$.
(4)
Cathy S.
Had a fun experience here getting a bunch of Japanese small plates to share - most of the food was pretty good but not amazing. The menu is very extensive and while it's nice they have pictures it's also kind of hard to read and not very organized. Some of my favorite dishes were: - Agedashi tofu - Tori karaage (crispy fried chicken) - Omusoba (noodles in omelet) - Grilled eel We got the chef's choice 10 piece yakitori combo which was just average; it might be better to just choose the pieces next time. Overall I think this is a nice place to go as a group, though I'd go more for the experience than the food.
(3)
Sean M.
4.4444444444 Stars I have to say that when the wait without a reservation is 1-2 hours it's not hidden but it's still a gem. Moral of the story boy and girls is go right at 5pm when they open or make a reservation two weeks before. We have employed the former to great success, but we did show up sans reservation and it was 1.5 hrs. You have been warned. The menu is extensive and they have a specials menu you should not overlook. Fried: Pork, squid, octopus, chicken, french fries, smelt, assorted fish: 4/5. Sushi: ranges between 3/5 - 4/5, prefer the sashimi and specials. Ramen: same range as above, some days better sometimes... Broiled: beef, squid*, fish (mackerel*) 4.5/5. Yakitori: a solid 4.5/5 beef, veggies, meatballs, various parts of chicken, pork belly, bacon wrapped anything (quail egg esp or enoki), you can go too far with these order judiciously. Takoyaki: devine, 5/5 Others: Okonomiyaki, Katsu Don, Omusoba, tofu dishes, pickles * parking, vale only, most of the area is resident parking, park closer to harvard street and walk. * take a look at the special before ordering. * consider 3-6 people if you want variety, but twosies get seated quicker w/o reservation. * bar area is a nice place to eat can reserve tables there. * Sapporo Draft! Excellent cold sake list, domestic and imports, decent prices. * Sake Cocktails.
(4)
Sophie P.
This place is a hidden gem! food + BLUE FIN TUNA NIGIRI: Since blue fin is pretty rare these days (watch the documentary about it!) I was so happy that they had this on their sushi menu! + FATTY TUNA SCALLION ROLL: I would order this every time. The fatty tuna is a great ratio against the rice, wrapped in seaweed and topped with a lot of scallions. My favorite roll! + TAKOYAKI: The breading was not overpowering, and you could taste the octopus. There was plenty of scallions on this dish, too. + CHEF'S COMBO IZAKAYA: You cannot choose which meats you want as part of your 5 piece combo, but we got the sunagimo (gizzard), 2 tsukune (chicken meatballs), butabara (pork belly), and gyutan (beef tongue). All were seasoned well, some had a lot of pepper, but overall great meats for only $7.50! + OMUSOBA: This is an egg omelet wrapped over yakisoba noodles. I'm not sure how I haven't tried this before, but it's really good. If you're going to eat this, make sure you're hungry. It's a big portion! ~ KATSU DON: The bed of rice was covered in egg and katsu, but the katsu was almost broiled because of the egg on top. I wish the katsu was crispier. - WAFU STEAK: The steak was very hard to chew (the very reason I don't like steak), so I choked on the meat a lot - not very enjoyable. Since I live so close by, I will definitely be returning often. It's reasonably priced and really good!
(4)
Joyce L.
I really didn't want to write this review because I wanted to keep Ittoku on the DL.... But it's just too amazing! I can't stop talking about it. I'll dive right into the food. The menu is beyond overwhelming. There are a bajillion options and everything sounds so good, but for people who are limited by the depth of their stomachs and the thickness of their wallets, the following are my top 3 "MUST TRY" items: + sashimi carpaccio ~$9.50-10 The freshest sashimi I've had in Boston thus far for this price range. Really plump(?) slices. Absolutely no skimpy slices of sashimi that are so thin that they're transparent (ugh, the worst). The soy sauce isn't too overpowering, which was surprising, and it had a slight touch of wasabi in it. This was the first time I ate the radish that usually comes with sashimi plates (aka the garnish), but the radish slices looked so fresh and it added a nice crunch factor. + motsu miso (beef stomach and intestines with miso flavored sauce) ~$8-9 DON'T get turned off by the description!!! This is HEAVENLY! Trust me on this one. Just ignore the fact that you're eating intestine and your taste buds will thank you. I got a side of rice (sm 1.50/large 1.75) to eat with this dish and I would highly recommend that you do the same. What is dinner without rice???! + bon jiri (chicken tail) ~$1.75 If you like fatty foods, you will thoroughly enjoy this. I could eat 5 of these skewers on my own with a beer in hand and my life would be complete. + CAN PASS ON THE waffles a la mode ($8) for dessert: weird combination of things, but twas a good way to end our dinner. Don't think I'll order it again - it was a bit pricey for dessert and the waffles were too dry. Random tidbits of information: Ittoku is T accessible (valet for $5 if you want to drive.. I don't recommend it), they have great service and their plates are so darn cute. Still not convinced that Ittoku is amazing? a pitcher of either sapporo or kirin is only $17-18! *heart eyes emoji* If this essay doesn't make you want to come, that's totally fine! I would love not having to wait for a table at my new go-to spot, thank you very much.
(5)
Angela L.
I had been meaning to swing by to check it out for awhile and I'm really happy I finally got around to it. It really lived up to the hype! Definitely make a reservation when you come... We didn't and ended up sitting on the bar side. Also, I would recommend coming earlier in the evening, that way food will come out faster! A friend went when they first opened and she said the food took forever to come out. We got our food not too long after we ordered (thankfully, because we were so hungry!!) It's almost like little tapas, so it's nice you can try a bunch of different things. (Of course, easier when you go with more people so you can try more dishes!!) So here's what we got: -Agedashi tofu: I love this stuff. It was well done. I wish it was a little crispier, but still.. Might be one of the best I've had in Boston! -Fries: nice and crispy. -Takoyaki balls: YUM. I loved that it wasn't too full of the dough and you could taste the octopus. I've had them at other places and they aren't as good as Ittoku's! Now I'll know where to go when I'm craving. -Cripsy squid legs?: Crunchy. Just like fried seafood tastes like -Kobore sushi: uni, salmon roe, snow crab sushi. yum!! Try this when you go. -Buri Kama: broiled yellowtail collar. Very tender!! And so delicious. It falls right off the bone when you poke into it. Usually pretty difficult to find since most places don't offer it, but if you know what it is and can find it... Order it!! -Kushiyaki/yakitori: skewered meats/food. We ordered the bacon and enoki, bacon and okra, tsukune (chicken meatball), and karubi (beef short rib). Out of these, I really enjoyed the tsukune and the bacon enoki. Definitely order these early on because they take awhile to cook. -Omusoba: yakisoba noodles wrapped in egg omelet. I really thought I wouldn't like this, but I really enjoyed it!! Noodles were delicious. I almost wanted more. -Okonomiyaki: This came out last and took awhile.. So by the time it came out we were already pretty stuffed. Its almost like a seafood pancake but Japanese style. I wish it were more fried and tasted less like just batter. I would skip this one next time because I thought it almost was a bigger version of the Takoyaki balls. Overall, it was an awesome experience! Next time I want to sit on the non-bar side to see how it is. Staff were all really nice. Also, a pitcher of Sapporo is $15? $16? So it wasn't bad at all! I'm excited to come back!
(4)
JO. C.
You will never go wrong with any order at Ittoku. The most authentic Japanese Bar (Izakaya) that I have visited in the U.S. so far. My roommate and I are Japanese foodies. It is so glad that we found one and live just few blocks away. It is perfect for 2 to 3 girls to share the tapas. (My fav) Top three must-order tapas are:Takoyaki, Broiled Mackerel, and Gyoza. I ordered these three every time I go. Others like Nagaimo, Yakisoba, assorted grilled meat, and Gyoza are also recommend to order when you go with a gang. Recently I just tried out the avocado salad, which blended with diced crab and fly fish roe, and serves with the baby lettuces. It is perfectly matched and irresistible!
Husband and I came here to satisfy my prego cravings. I have been craving ramen, squid, flan, and greentea ice cream. I know, weird combination. But when you're pregnant, you'll know. All of my cravings were met with one visit to ittoku!! We ordered 9 items which came under $50. Not bad, not bad at all. Now that I'm expecting a kid, we're trying keep our budget low. I must say everything we ordered (see pics) was amazing. Although I must add the ramen was bit too salty.
(4)
Kelli A.
I have been to Ittoku twice, and mostly eaten their grilled skewer options. The bacon wrapped quail eggs are nothing short of life changing, and the takoyaki is definitely the best you can get in Allston/Brighton. The yuzo pork dish is delicious, but you need to be into some serious pork fat (as luck would have it, I am!). The staff are very friendly, and the ambiance is a bit casual. You'll feel right at home with a pitcher of beer. They also provide cold ceramic glasses with your beer, which is pretty great.
(4)
Tammy L.
I get made fun of all the time going for into izakayas and not ordering any alcohol. I go for the food and the atmosphere. My priorities are different, not wrong. Ittoku does a great job with the food and the atmosphere. You could easily spend two hours here without realizing it. It does get pretty loud but hey that is the charm of an izakaya and of most bars, right? The menu is filled with the usual izakaya food like yakitori, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, sashimi, and enough fried food for your zits to spring to life. For my first ever trip there, my friend and I split an order of the 10-piece yakitori combo, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, gyoza, fried ika, salmon, hotate and ika sashimi. The sashimi was exceptionally fresh. I have not had sashimi this fresh in a very long time in Boston. Highly recommend it. The takoyaki is also a must. Melt in your mouth good. It reminds me of Osaka. And anytime takoyaki reminds me of Osaka is a good time. The gyoza was okay and it is totally our fault. I think we let it sit for too long so the wrappers were not as crisp. And by too long, I mean we did not touch it for at least 25 minutes while we talked. Please don't do that to your gyoza. Get some beer and gobble those dumplings ASAP. Because. Beer. And. Gyoza. The 10-piece yakitori combo was good. I am going to be honest and say that I do not remember what I ate except that bacon one with quail egg. Not a fan of bacon (shush!) but it tasted really good. Please get it. It doesn't even taste like you're eating bacon. Okonomiyaki was delicious! It's not thick so don't expect that. It's savory but light at the same time, and I think it's better than average. All in all, a great place to hang out with friends who may or may not drink. Also perfect for families with babies as there is enough seating. Service was great, though water refills could have been more consistent and spaced out evenly. I didn't get a refill for the first hour, but in the second hour I got two. But other than that, I was satisfied.
(4)
Jessica Y.
This place is probably the closest thing I can find in Boston that's comparable to the yakitori places in NYC. Although the food menu is not as extensive, it will do for now. Seating is awesome, and it's a great place for hanging out with friends over a few drinks and japanese-style tapas dishes. The salmon avocado wrapped in rice paper was delicious. The wasabi-marinated raw squid was also spot on. That dish was actually pretty big compared to those I've had elsewhere. The cold tofu wasn't so great - the texture wasn't silky enough. The skewers were ok, but the ramen was not ok. Go somewhere else for good ramen.
(4)
Tony J.
Pretty cool place. This place is modeled after a Japanese izakaya; basically a bar where you hang out, have some drinks, and order a bunch of dishes to share. There's a ton of variety here. You could get sushi, sashimi, steak, ramen, yakitori, and other interesting small dishes, like omusoba, okonomiyaki, all your standard tofu appetizers, anago, and other interesting things you'd never think to try. Also, as a plus, this place has valet parking for $1 (NOT ANYMORE, NOW IT'S $5 BUT THERE'S SOMETIMES FREE PARKING ON WARREN ST). So it's pretty convenient for drivers, but it's pretty busy often, which means that people are coming back for more. Come here, but prepare to wait.
(5)
Rob T.
As usual in my reviews the truth is this is somewhere between 4 and 5 stars. Food was a 5. Service was a 4.5 But everyone should try this place so I'm rating it 5. The good was fantastic. We ate too many dishes to list really (which is kind of the point of izakaya in the first place). The sushi items were all fresh and we'll prepared. Fried items were cooked in fresh oil. Portions were very good for the price. Service was great to start but as they got busier we had to wait a little longer than I like for service. For those who don't know, izakaya is probably best described as Japanese tapas. So, frequent attention by the server is usually necessary since you order lots of small plates and beverages over the course of your meal. I'm not saying service was bad. It was definitely above average. I'm just saying that if there's an area for improvement that would be it. The atmosphere was very relaxed and casual. Plenty of small tables and big tables to accommodate groups or couples. They had a really great variety of most things you should find on an izakaya menu as well as some very interesting specials and such that make this a place we'll come back to over and over.
(5)
Minyi Z.
I have visited Ittoku many times, and I always love the food there. The only reason that I am giving 3 stars is the service I have received tonight. It was my first time sitting at the sushi bar. I have waited for long time for food, and our waitress didn't pay attention to us the whole night. I canceled one order after waiting for almost 20 mins. And then I replaced that order with a dessert, which I still waited for 20 mins and more. The ice cream was melt when it was served. I think the sushi master did a better job than my waitress cause he noticed that we were kind of upset and he helped us ask our waitress to come over( whom I couldn't find for a long time, I canceled and reorder through another waiter). Sad. I love ittoku, but tonight I was very disappointed.
(3)
Janet J.
I have been to Ittoku with friends and family multiple times and I loved every visit. Each time I venture out and try something new and all dishes have been pretty good! Some of my favorites: 1. 3 Kind Aburi sushi - torched salmon, tuna, and mackeral MY FAVORITE! Fresh quality sushi over tasty rice. Rice seasoning, temperature and texture is very important in serving sushi and not many restaurants prepare rice well. Ittoku is one of the few restaurants that actually prepares rice the way it is supposed to be prepared! 2. Buri Kama - broiled yellow tail collar This dish is one of my favs, but it has not been every time we visit because "it is difficult to get yellow tail collar" per the restaurant. They have been substituting it with salmon collar, which is good, but not as juicy, flavorful and moist as the yellow tail collar! Ittoku is one of my favorite restaurants! It is a hidden gem in Allston. I have very high standards for sushi and Ittoku definitely lives up to my standard!
(5)
Maya M.
The bacon wrapped enoki mushrooms (yakitori), sashimi and agedashi tofu are my favourites so far. Definitely plan to go back and try other things on the menu. The "light and fresh" sake (don't remember the actual name but the term light and fresh is in the menu description) goes down pretty smooth! And quick and accommodating service! They didn't mind us adding two seats to our table half way into our meal. Thanks guys!
(4)
Joichi I.
Very Japanese - closest to a real Japanese Izakaya so far. For a relatively authentic Japanese experience including the Japanese on the menu and on the walls, a great place. Service was friendly and responsive. Specials were excellent. I actually loved that they focused on a limited number of classics rather than being experimental and "off". Casual and authentic. Highly recommend for anyone yearning for a traditional and comforting taste of normal Japan.
(4)
June-Young C.
If you are here for the yakitori, then you should probably order it as soon as you get in because it takes a LOOOONGG time for them to cook it. (but it's worth it) I've tried the 10 piece combo, the "steak," octopus legs, the omusoba, and many grilled meats on those little skewers. The food really goes well with a beer, and there is no way you can only order one thing. This place is tapas style, so I recommend trying a little bit of everything. I don't think the place is famous for sushi, so go for the tasty grilled meats. The skewers are fairly small, but they make up for it in taste. Usually, I will order some rice or a omusoba to fill me up at the end. This place is unique because I have never seen and omusoba before. It is like an omurice(omelette wrapped around rice), but with noodles inside?! Overall, pretty good place.
(4)
Ashley D.
I've found it very difficult to find good, authentic Japanese food in the Boston area, but thankfully there is Ittoku! I was so excited when I moved into my new apartment off Comm Ave and discovered this place literally 2 doors down from where I now live. I come here at least once a week and the menu is so diverse that I never get bored with what they offer. They have a huge selection of sake and also offer pitchers of all of the main japanese beers. And the fooooood. It's the only place I know if in Boston where you can order some of the more traditional items like yakitori, yakisoba, omusoba, and okonomiyaki. YES. I think their yakitori selection is one of the best things they offer and it tastes so, so good after a few shots of sake and a beer or three. They also of course have various sushi dishes and offer ramen specials but it's great to try something new because they do it all very well here. Street parking is available in the area but can be kinda tough sometimes so they also offer $1 valet parking. I would definitely take advantage if I didn't live next door!
(5)
Clare Z.
The best Japanese restaurant in Boston I think. Beef tongue is the best dish here. The sashimi is very fresh and high quantity. I like the Teriyaki too.
(5)
Robert C.
Great food and great staff, we did a birthday there just recently and they were very accommodating!
(5)
Christina R.
Exactly what you want in an izakaya! Boyfriend is always happy to go there because he can speak in Japanese with all of the staff comfortably. Our bill came out to be $80, since it was our first time there and we wanted to try everything. Sashimi was fresh and delicious. Takoyaki was super tasty! Okonomiyaki was...not my favorite, since it was almost too soft, but the flavors were all there. We had the standard karrage, beer, and yakitori = cheap and tasty. Very great place in Boston. Glad to have an izakaya!
(5)
Alyssa W.
It's worth a try, but it is not the first place I think of when people ask where to go eat. Parking is hard to find in this area, but they have $1 valet service, so that is a +1 star. Food wise, this place has it all. I've never had the traditional, so I can't say how authentic their food is, but I'm sure you'll find what you want. I really love their sashimi options, everything is so fresh and they do not skimp on the size. We have tried skin, chicken thigh, tongue, cartilage, pork belly, mushroom, okra, and more. Ramen was ok, broiled mackerel was fresh. I'm used to bones in my fish and dealiing with it, but this one had really too many. (i know, what am I gonna do, tell the fish to grow fewer bones? haha) The hamachi kama is a really good prices and it's so good. just so good. So i'd definitely say you so you try this restaurant out!
(4)
Roxana F.
I came here with my cousin who was visiting from the UK since he mentioned wanting Japanese food. It had good Yelp reviews and is just down the street from my apartment. When we arrived (around 7 on a Sunday) it wasn't very crowded, but it took forever to get a server to take our order. We had to basically shout at her (sorry, but tried to make eye contact and hand gestures) to get her attention. We ordered the maki combo, the fried baby octopus special, the fried chicken, a chicken thigh yakitori, the shrimp tempura nigiri (I think it's called nigiri, the one that is served on top of rice), and the shoyu ramen. The maki was delicious. Fresh, good quality fish so we gobbled this down pretty quickly. The fried octopus was pretty tasty, but too rubbery. The fried chicken had a nice batter, but was bland. Ramen was also pretty bland, but nice anyway on such a cold night. The shrimp tempura was delicious, it's a shame they don't offer a tempura appetizer or something as we would have definitely ordered it. The chicken thigh yakitori was delicious, but came out cold. So, despite the bad service and the hit-or-miss dishes, I think I would come here again to try some of their other offerings. I've had friends rave about this place, so perhaps I need to find out what they're ordering...
(3)
Mina P.
My boyfriend and I went there last week since I've been longing to go. Ittoku is right by the T stop Warren St (B line) and the place was bigger than I anticipated it to be. The workers are friendly and the service is not bad. We ordered two asahi beers, yakisoba and ika yaki (squid). The noodles weren't too thick or thin. I liked how there was a hint of ginger sprinkled on top. The yakisoba was good and so was the ika yaki. We also ordered the katsu don afterwards (we ordered more than we could eat - our hunger clouded our judgment). I personally liked the katsu don out of the three dishes. Pork cutlet cooked with eggs over a bed of rice. It was delicious - not too dry but not soggy. It was perfectly cooked. I am definitely going again and will order the okonomiyaki and maybe the katsu don again!
(5)
Samantha B.
In the former Petit Robert Bistro space, Ittoku brings contrast to a residential neighborhood with scarce dining options. Enjoy the $1 valet parking, as Commonwealth Avenue is mainly resident parking only. Dined at this location while it was Petit Robert, and immediately noticed the transformation of the space with a few similarities. The bar area is still on the right and the kitchen is still central. The sushi bar is hidden in the back. Ittoku has many tables, but at around 7 PM on a weekend there was already a wait. Take your pick of Japanese fare, this place has it. From sushi, ramen, yakisoba, and yakitori, Ittoku has an overwhelming selection of options (with the unfortunate exclusion of curry). The 10-piece Chef's choice yakitori combo was reasonable with a random sampling of momo (thigh), sunagimo (gizzard), harami (skirt), bon jiri (chicken tail) and bacon & okura (bacon-wrapped okra). The consistency of meat varied from tender to chewy. The yakitori each had their own marinades and char textures. Would recommend the 5-piece option over the 10-piece, and a la carte options are also available. The yuzu subuta (citrus flavor pork vinegar) was enough to share with the 10-piece yakitori. The pork, onions, and mushrooms had a strong orange flavor and the dish was light on vinegar. The pork cut was cubed and most likely pork belly. Would recommend a side of rice with this dish. Finished the meal with a few quick bites, the dashimaki tamago (Japanese-style egg omelette) and piri kara kombu kyuri (spicy cucumber with kelp). They were lovely "desserts." The omelette was delicate with a smooth texture. The bits of daikon and scallion on top of each small omelette provided the perfect pairing. The cucumber spice was reminiscent of a combination of Korean and Szechuan peppers. The cucumbers were thickly sliced. This meal was a true potpourri of flavors.
(3)
Florina K.
Great date place. Wayy better than what used to be here before....that for sure. Fun food, great service, will definitely come back again. Some of the food quality could be a tab better though. Also really appreciate the valet parking here not being a rip off!!
I was excited to try out a japanese tapas bar since it was voted on Boston Magazine. The $1 valet was great. I thought the vibe was off and didn't have that fun atmosphere of a tapas bars that I frequented in NYC. We tried a lot of dishes and overall, I think the food is so and so. I am a bit confused on the hype.
(3)
Tianshu L.
All the dishes are tasteless. If u wanna try the Yakitori, make sure u take salt with u.
(2)
Steven W.
At first, I chose this restaurant because I was attracted by Japanese kabob. But I was disappointed a little as all stuff were over cooked and tasted not good per se, let alone the very limited choices for kabob. Nevertheless, I was impressed by ãŠèŒ¶æ¼¬ã‘ (tea rice, maybe) and eel sushi. Very amazing!! As a die-hard fan for eel, I have tried massive eel sushi, and this restaurant gave me surprise absolutely. The sauce is perfect and the heat was controlled very well. By the way, the surroundings are very good and the stuff speak Japanese for working while speak English when serving customers. Authentic Japanese style and it is absolutely a fabulous place drinking and talking with friends after studying or working.
It's an izakaya and it's in Boston! It's good! The yakitori is the best you're going to get around here, and maybe the only place! Since it won Best of Boston 2014 for Japanese, it's gotten dramatically more crowded. As compensation, the food and sushi has gotten that much more fresh and varied! Go, eat, have some beer and sake! This food is made for soaking up alcohol. Try the ramen, surprisingly good for a non-noodle specialist.
(5)
Maliza H.
5 stars down! For the taste of real Japanese foods, this place deserve a 5 stars. It's really hard to find a place like Ittoku in Boston. I have tried so many Japanese restaurant, this one probably my favorite one so far.
(5)
Ted W.
This place did not live up to my expectations. I really love the concept and wanted it to be awesome. They have a great variety and a very cool scene. The people were super nice and as an amazing bonus they even have free valet! But the food just wasn't that good. It wasn't bad exactly but nothing really knocked my socks off as something that I wish I could have again. I'm a huge fan of Japanese cuisine but don't consider myself a snob on the subject at all. I'm just looking for the fried stuff to be crispy and the fish to be generally fresh. I'll have to go back and give it a shot because I feel terrible posting this..
(3)
Kelvin W.
Great place for a Japanese izakaya. Food is well-priced. Only place I know that does yakitori in Boston, which is real yakitori that includes chicken skin/gizzards and not an atypical meat on a stick. The Omusoba is great to share amongst a group. Everything is great, I would say this is a hidden Japanese gem in Boston. The valet service is a great feature here. It's about a $1, which is great given everything is residential parking in the area.
(4)
Mon C.
I was looking forward to trying this place out and taking advantage of the $1 valet. Unfortunately, when we arrived valet was full. The food was decent, but not spectacular. I would probably not order the Ittoku streak again. But the sake harasu was my favorite dish that we ordered all night.
(3)
Catie C.
Tho it's opened by Japanese doesn't necessarily mean it's to die for! I came here with absolutely no expectations. Besides the greetings and thank you's (which is typical of Japanese), there's nothing worth the ha-rah of the service. I don't think care if we drank anything else besides water. After me and my friend sat down, eventually glasses of water was dropped off while we were waiting for the third. She didn't even really say anything as she dropped off the water. She didn't even come by to say anything till the third person came in to complete the party. Certainly, don't expect hospitality to be their strong point! I just find it ironic that they weren't trying to sell me sake (their signage - Sake Bar). On top of that - "Izakaya" for the name, they don't live up to it! I'll stick with H20 since that was their offering to me. The Kushiyaki took up a full page on the menu; but it didn't take up a full plate on the table. We opted to try 4 skewers - Torikawa (chicken skin), Butabara (pork belly), Bacon & Okura (Bacon wrapped Okra) and Gyutan (beef tongue). I don't go out to venture on skewers that often but these are the cheesiest kushiyaki I ever seen. Maybe there is a famine going on in Allston that I don't know about and the food needed to be rationed! Aside from that, you can smell and taste the grill. However, the recipe just ain't that great. I can probably tell my little nephew to put some food on a stick and grill it - and the results would be similar. The chicken skin was a huge disappointment. The texture - not even crispy thru. As for noodles, I was intrigued with Omusoba on the menu. Yakisoba noodles wrapped in an egg omelet. Interesting presentation. It's pretty hard to totally screw up yakisoba. A bit too saucy in my opinion. It lacked the stir fry smell and flavor. Agedashi Tofu was decent. Funny how the server gave us 2 bowls and 4 spoons between the three of us. A mathematical equation that I couldn't comprehend! Ika Yaki (Broiled Squid) was broiled to the right tenderness. Too bad there wasn't much flavor to it. I didn't think they added anything prior to grilling it as a matter of fact! There was nothing creative on the sushi page so I didn't bother trying it myself since I heard it wasn't that great of a quality and the sushi chef left bones in the fillets. I can have tuna, salmon, yellowtail just about anywhere so I didn't want to waste the money to risk getting a boner in my mouth.
(1)
Yuki S.
Karaage and asahi beer is my jam.
(5)
Alexandra K.
We absolutely loved our dinner here. My friend and I decided to go tapas style on this and just ordered a little bit of everything. Our favorites were the Omusoba - noodles in an omelet and Maguro Tartar - tuna tartar and avocado. All food was well seasoned and our waitress was just adorable and was very helpful in helping us select the dishes. Their dessert menu is a bit weak, and I would definitely like to see other more interesting items on the menu, but it does not stop me from giving this place a five star review as we really enjoyed our experience. At the end of the day that is what it's all about - enjoying the experience.
(5)
Alison P.
Came here on a Friday and oh lord it was a waste of my time. The service sucked big time. Our waitress did not understand us and she was rude. The host was rude too. I and my roommate were here last thursday and left very happy. Our waitress was very friendly and cheerful and the food was great too. But yesterday it was shit. I think its a nice place but the service is a joke.
(1)
Alex S.
This place is one of the few izakaya (居酒屋，if you don't know what it is then google it, you'll be amazed) in Boston, and it is genuine. You can expect anything you want from a izakaya in here. The service, the ambiance, and the menu options, as well as a friendly valet parking option with just $1 service fee (but I bet most people tip more than $1 anyway). It is a must go place for people who drive and enjoy Japanese cuisine in Boston. I've always had a good time in ittoku. Eating in ittoku means ordering at your own pace. If you are going to order a lot of food, you should not order them all at once because they would all be served up at the same time, then you will risk cooling your food before you had a chance to enjoy them. Order what you want for the moment, with a cup of sake, and then order other things when you are done. Why can't a meal take longer than 2 hours? I think slow eating and actually enjoying the night with friends are the soul purpose of izakaya. This place is definitely a great place to go on special occasions, or even just a friendly gathering between your pals. Only be advise that since it is a izakaya, the turn around time can be quite long, so avoid late arrival on busy holidays or weekends, or else you risk yourself standing in a line that could take years to digest. Since there really aren't many competition for izakaya here in Boston, considering the ease to park, the abundance of menu options, the delicious food, and the A+ service plus A+ interior (comfy and spacious, with traditional Japanese decorations) of the restaurant, I would rate it at 5 stars no doubt.
(5)
Jae J.
Oh. My. God. I am in love. I swear it, I'm in love. I came here on a Thursday night after eating only a light lunch because I was prepared to stuff myself silly with deliciousness and I was not disappointed. Despite it being a weekday night, the restaurant was absolutely bustling! We started off with the Kyuri Ippon Zuke (Japanese-style pickled mini cucumber) and Takoyaki (deep-fried ball-shaped octopus pancakes topped with plenty of scallions) for our apps. The cucumber was pretty good and as was the Takoyaki, though I've had better Takoyaki in New York. Still, though, not complaining. Next, we got the Chef's Choice 10 piece combo in which the chef chose 10 skewers for us. We wound up with a few skewers that I thought I would never try (chicken skin, gizzard, chicken tail) as well as some that I was already familiar with (chicken thigh, bacon & quail eggs). They were all really good, ermagerd. We also ordered a few skewers besides the Chef's Choice: bacon-wrapped okra, more bacon-wrapped quail eggs, and beef short ribs. I encourage you to to try one of each type of skewer offered because all of them are equally delicious. To rack up our bill even higher, we ordered the Ittoku! Steak, a Japanese-style ribeye steak and that was uh-ma-zing. I don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't to melt into a happy puddle into my seat like this steak made me do. My boyfriend has the stomach of ten people so he ordered the Ittoku! Ramen as well, which was just normal ramen noodles in a beef bone broth with some toppings. It was good, but it's not what they're known for, just a good side-dish. We also got the Omusoba, which were Yakisoba noodles wrapped in an egg omelette. I confess that we were so full by this point that I only ate a bite before requesting for the waitress to box this up for us. That too, though, served as a delicious lunch for the next day. Finally, we ended with dessert with Waffles a la mode, which were homemade Belgian waffles with flan and green tea Pocky and our choice of ice cream (we got green tea). Other choices of ice cream included red bean, vanilla, and strawberry. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK!
(5)
Christine K.
I know I've been pretty liberal with my five-star reviews, but this place deserves it for not only serving great food efficiently, but for dealing with our huge group of 20 people, the last few of whom trickled in at later times, making the poor waitress run back and forth with more chairs, more chairs! **A special note for parents: this place is kid-friendly. They bring out the high chairs for the little ones, and the waiters are very careful to step around the children if they happen to be running around. No anxious parent need worry about hot ramen soup spilling on their kids' heads! I took a group of friends to celebrate my birthday here, and even though they don't take reservations on Fridays and Saturdays, tonight when we arrived, we had a long table set out for us - all 20-odd people were able to sit together! We split orders by table (we occupied three), since it made sense for mini-groups to share the "tapas-like" foods and entrees. My table got the famed omusoba and an absolutely heavenly dish with tuna and avocado (other Yelpers have taken pictures of this creation). I have to say, I was totally blown away by how amazing the tuna and avocado combo tasted! GET THIS IF YOU COME HERE. We also got a sashimi plate, some fried chicken thighs, skewers, potato salad and vinegar cucumbers, and kimchi with pork. Was happy with all the choices - the chicken meat was especially tender and tasted great with the curry pepper that accompanied it. Didn't try any ramen this time, but when I return, that'll be next on the list. A word of advice: come with a sizable group if you do visit. The experience is best when splitting all the little plates, instead of sticking to your own entrees.
(5)
Sarah F.
The parking was a bit inconvenient (we didn't use the valet parking, although we later found out it was available- plan to use it or have a bit of a hike!). We went on a weeknight, so were able to get a table immediately, which was nice since we had heard it was crowded. The food was fairly good. We ordered okonomiyaki, which was nice but very fluffy from the batter; tsukemono, which were not great and I would not recommend; yakitori, which was delicious, and a few other dishes. The beer and sake we got were great as well and complimented the food. My favorite bit was that I was able to get エイã®ã²ã‚Œ, a dish that I haven't been able to find elsewhere yet since moving back to the USA, so that was wonderful. It was on their specials menu. I would definitely go back to try the other food options and would love to visit on a weekend or later in the week to get a better idea of the atmosphere. High end of three stars.
(3)
Andrew C.
Oh man. Been waiting for a good izakaya in Boston. They have a good selection of kushiyaki and yakitori! Out of the salmon collar tonight! So sad. But will have to come back again for it. Promo $1 valet parking but I doubt it'll continue for long!
(4)
Wei Y.
The Yakitoris are so-so, fried noodles are recommended! Great service and authentic Japanese style.
(4)
Ali C.
Their skewers were tasty. However, not a fan of the size portion for the price of it... Being a college student I suppose. I was definitely a huge fan of their $8 dessert: flan, ice cream (of your choice), and chocolate Belgian waffle. Oh and I liked their salmon sashimi too. Yum. Service-wise, very friendly staff... But not so much attentive ):
(3)
Yuka Y.
Coming in on a Monday night, Ittoku is dead quiet. With the exception of 3 or so tables, the place is empty. The first thing that'll strike you about the place is its sparse area-none of that claustrophobic, crammed tables you so often encounter in the restos of Allston. Considering this was a joint venture of Cafe Mami, Sapporo Ramen, and Ebi Sushi, I was expecting something small and low key but I was taken aback with the brightly lit, meticulously clean, modern atmosphere of Ittoku. The interior is reminiscent of Bonchon, but brighter and more spacious :) Might be a different story on the weekend, but the service was fine and things came in a timely manner. Majority of the servers are Japanese and the customers that came in were Japanese. Love the enticing menu, colorful with Japanese and English captions. It felt like being in NY, folks here really try to bring the yakitori/Japanese restaurant experience to you :) Definitely check out their yakitori menu, prices range from $1.50-3.00 per skewer. Favorites of me and my honey's were the -Bacon Uzura (Bacon wrapped around a quail egg) -Bacon Okura (Bacon wrapped around okura -Gyutan (Beef tongue) -Sunagimo (Chicken gizzard) The chicken skin were a disappointment- too much fat and not enough crispiness. There is good effort in flavoring the beef, as for their chicken not so much. Their chicken items were bland and needs more marinating.Overall their meat selections are excellent, nothing came out dry or too meager. They have okonomiyaki!! Their okonomiyaki was alright, but nothing outstanding. Too much batter and not enough cabbage and okonomi sauce. Kudos to the shrimp and pork slices in there. Things I look forward in happening: -Having your own shichimi bottle at the table instead of only having a little sprinkled on your yakitori dish. Sometimes that little mound of spice isn't enough for spicy aficionados like me :( The location of this place is a slight inconvenience, tucked in the inner corners of Allston (further down the same street as Mc. D's). Other than that, their menu is expansive and will require future visits from me. Beyond yakitori, they've got everything from sushis and hot plate items to cooked fish and omusoba. Booze lovers won't be disappointed, sake, wine, and beer selections available. Good effort is made in creating good presentation in every dish, overall you won't be disappointed whether coming in as a date or unwinding with friends.
(4)
Brittany L.
My boyfriend, his roommate, and I dined here once so far. The environment was bustling and we noticed that there was a dining room and bar separated. There were TV's in both the dining room and the bar to make it feel casual. I ordered the pork belly skewer (delicious with a squeeze of lemon) and the pork ramen. The broth was warming and had plenty of garlic. We were all very satisfied with the meal. Can't wait to try more delicious entrees. The place is decently priced and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants good Japanese food/ramen.
(4)
Sid C.
Oh my god worst ramen ever. Nuff said. Taste like the ones your next door neighbor can make. Do not come here.
(1)
Kelly O.
It's about time Boston has an izakaya, and Ittoku does a great job fulling that void, especially without busting the bank. Four of us checked it out on a Saturday night, and found it packed (mostly with Asians, a good sign?) and very lively. I was psyched for the 'small plates' idea so that I could try a bunch of things at once (for not a lot of $). I tried: -Sake something-or-other: it was under the 'sake cocktail' section of the menu for $16 and was recommended by our waitress when the sake cooler we wanted wasn't available, so two of us decided to split it and ended up ordering a second carafe because it was so good (sweet and lemony) -Takoyaki: freshly fried to perfection, with tons of delicious sauce/scallions drizzled all over -Omusoba: yakisoba noodles/pork wrapped in an omlette drizzled with more delicious sauce, very filling and good -Sake harasu: yummy broiled salmon belly, can't go wrong here -Yakitori skewers (green peppers, pork belly, various chicken bits- thigh, skin, butt, 'skirt steak'): skip the peppers and stick to the chicken, which I found all to be very juicy and flavorful, and is the main reason to come here IMO. Skewers are on the small side, but still a decent portion each (especially for $1.50). -Fried oysters: my friend got these, so I tried a bite and wasn't a huge fan (oysters weren't very tasty, batter was way too heavy) The service was very attentive and polite; our waitress constantly apologized because she was so busy running around to other tables, but honestly we didn't even notice because she and her team were very efficient and attentive. Bonus: you can hang out as long as you like without being bothered (none of the usual 'let's get these people out the door ASAP' you find in most restaurants). Will definitely return. Bonuses: $1 valet and $17 pitchers of Japanese beer.
(4)
Wilma O.
I am SO HAPPY to finally have a Japanese izakaya here in Boston!! I've been to this restaurant already twice since its opening 6 days ago and I plan on dragging everyone I know here. This is one thing that really disappointed me about Boston - the lack of authentic Japanese food (especially with the slow demise of Porter Exchange). My mom is Japanese and I lived there for 2.5 years as an adult, so it's what I grew up eating. In Japan, sushi is really not such a big deal -- Japanese food is all about the interesting mixes of ingredients (fishes, meat, vegetables, noodles, rice), and putting interesting spins on alternative cuisines. Izakayas give exactly that as they have large menus of small items meant to accompany alcohol. For example, french fries with cod roe sauce sounds so American but it's really something you would find on a Japanese menu (and you'd find here). As for this restaurant, it's still hard to say how things will go, and some dishes could use some work, but I give 5 stars for the high promise and some dishes that wowed everyone. For specific dishes...: - Oshizushi (I had the aburi sake and the saba) - both extremely delicious and melts in your mouth - Motsu miso yaki - I love love beef intestine but even my American friends were licking the plate because the sauce was so good - Gyukotsu ochazuke - This was a little spicy and wasn't quite a "Japanese flavor," but very tasty - Yaki ika - I have to say, this was a bit bland, could have used a little more sauce. - Various kushi - these have been good but haven't blown me out of the water (they were better at the now-dead Yakitori Zai. Though I hear the previous owner is working here now). - Wafu steak - This wasn't the best steak I've had but tasted exactly like what you'd buy at a Pepper Steak store in Tokyo The location for this restaurant is a little strange (near the Allston st T-stop), but if you are curious about having an authentic Japanese experience, please make the trip here!!
(5)
Lillian C.
Came here with a group and our resident Japanese "guide". He swears that this is a TOTALLY AUTHENTIC Japanese Izakaya and strongly recommended the place. We got there around 6:30 and it wasn't too packed so we were quickly seated. The place is decently sized, but I can see how it could get super packed pretty quickly. Service was great the whole time we were there and the people are just so friendly and nice! We tried: Ika Yaki - I love grilled squid and this place had a nice dipping sauce that gave it some flavor without being overbearing Takoyaki - soooo tasty and cooked just right. Other places use too much dough in the ball, but this was spot on Chef's choice 10 pieces Yakitori Combo - I thought the selection that came out was just all right... next time I'd probably choose my own yakitori instead of going with the combo. I think it just had multiple skewers of chicken (chicken skin, gizzard) and two of pork belly. The pork belly and chicken skin needed more time over the fire to cook the fat more until it's more crispy because what we got was just soft and chewy... Omusoba - this dish is AMAZING! The egg was cooked nicely and the noodles combined with it was so delicious. It was so good we ordered a second order of this after we finished the first one... We also ordered another roll, forgot which one, it wasn't memorable, but tasted fresh. The food was good, service was fast, and the price is pretty good. I'm def a fan!
(4)
Carol W.
I came here with my husband to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary. While it was enjoyable and the food was good, we left wondering if we would want to come back again. When our waitress handed us the menu, I was pretty excited because it reminded me of the restaurants on Saint Marks in NYC. However, upon closer examination of the menu items, I, we, realized that the offerings were much more limited. My husband loves yakitori and was disappointed in the only handful of options. I wanted something with rice, like curry, or even tempura udon, which the places on Saint Marks have. Most telling was the fact that my husband and I kept on looking over the menu to see if we could find anything else that we wanted. We ordered the following: hamachi sashimi, yaki ika, ramen, four different types of yakitori, gyoza, fried oysters, spicy tuna maki, and green tea. The green tea was complimentary. I enjoyed the house made gyoza the most. They came out on a hot plate and remained hot for quite a while. They were tasty without the sauce. I also liked the yaki ika and the mayo sauce that came with it. The tuna inside the spicy tuna maki was HUGE. It was the biggest piece of tuna that I've ever experienced in a maki! Overall, Ittoku was a bit of a let down compared to the places in NYC. It does not live up to the hype. We left feeling full, but I think I prefer going to Cafe Mami in the Porter Exchange and get filled up on the food there. I would consider coming back here again with a friend to try the okonomiyaki and takoyaki. We did like the $1 valet parking. It was very helpful.
(3)
Sean U.
Great find. Okasuba (sp?) was something new that we hadn't had before. Glad we tried it. Very friendly, efficient service. Prices very reasonable. Uni portions were quite robust and the quality was excellent. Everything we had was great. They also have 1$ valet parking despite the falling snow that was very helpful. Will be back again!
(5)
Ryan E.
Really enjoyed our night out here---this spot has seen a laundry list of restaurants come and go in the past few years and I REALLY hope this one stays. Ambiance is simple/elegant but not stuffy---couple TVs adorn the wall that no one really seemed to be watching. Wait staff was attentive, and very friendly. Food was, in my opinion, very very good. Started with fermented seaweed: flavor--on, texture--interesting Next, friend octopus balls: flavor country---like fluffy hushpuppies with pieces of octo and drizzled with japanese mayo Onto yakitori--had beef short rib, flank steak, mushroom, all great--but the standout for us with the chicken thigh for price/taste ratio ramen and okonomiyaki for mains---ramen was just delicious. Not as flavorful as the old store bought standby but I mean, they probably didn't have enough salt in the entire restaurant to recreate the college staple. Loved the okonomiyaki--couldn't identify exactly what it contained but isn't that the point? Got 2 bottles of delicious sake (1 house--cold, 1 dry--cold) for $20 total...pretty fantastic both in terms of price and taste. Will absolutely be back again!
(4)
Ambrose C.
Are you looking for the flavor of a Japanese Izakaya right here in Boston? Well, if you are looking for that place, you may have to go further to find it. Located in Brighton, this place may be worthwhile if you are really craving for this flavor. Izakayas are supposedly Japanese style bars that serve small dishes for groups of people with drinks. They have a fairly tasty selection of Kushiyaki meats served on skewers. My favorites are the chicken varieties, such as the chicken thighs and the gizzard. I really liked the tenderness of the chicken. Another favorite that I enjoyed at this place is Gyutan, or the beef tongue. All the meats had a nice tenderness, good flavor, and are great small dishes as complements for drinks. If you have a large group of people, I think ordering a lot of these meats would be a great choice. The ramen noodle bowl is not bad. The broth has a nice flavor and the noodles have a great texture. I would not say it is the best place to get ramen, but if you are really craving it, they do a decent job. Their Omusoba, which are these Yakisoba noodles wrapped in an egg omelette has a nice and tasty flavor and it's a great choice if you want some tasty eggs with a lot of good flavor with some noodles. Their most expensive dish, the Wafu Steak, is a very worthwhile and tasty dish. The tenderness of the steak was excellent. One dish with a bowl of rice would make an excellent but moderately priced dinner. The Tori Karaage fried chicken dish is a fairly good choice if you want some crispy chicken. The plate is really small, so I think you need to make 2 or 3 orders of this dish if you are with a group of people. Interior is nice. This place used to be a French Bistro before it became a Japanese Izakaya. Since this place serves small dishes, it is a good choice if you are planning on eating a lighter dinner after a really big lunch or planning on eating a larger meal several hours later in the night. Overall, if you are really looking for a tasty Japanese Izakaya in a somewhat decent city like Boston, this place is actually a pretty good choice and I think they have a lot of potential. Since I live near this place, I would not mind coming back here often if I am craving Japanese food. This place may not be the best Japanese Izakaya, but it's probably one of the best places with a Japanese Izakaya menu in a city like Boston.
(4)
Christine N.
I love ittoku! I came here late Sunday and I love yakatori. There aren't many restaurants that offer that but ittoku had a couple of different types on the menu. I rushed over around 1030 and tried finding parking on my own with no luck. I pulled up in front and remembered reading that they have $1 valet. Sweet! The guy comes up and I go eat. We sit down and skim both the menu and special menu. So many things to try and in so little time! We tried chicken skins, the steak, quail eggs, fried squid legs, fried octopus, and an assortment of sashimi. Everything was delicious. Oh! We also had their japanese sausage and bacon. So good. The sashimi was super fresh. We tried the roasted pork and I actually found that to be dry and the Hamburg which was literally a hamburger patty in a gravy sauce. Tasty like it was described but I could've done without ordering it. We asked the waitress what else we should try and she said she thinks we ordered a lot already hahah. She was right. But so good. They ran out of chicken tails so we'll have to be back to try more. And I plan of trying a lot more!
(5)
Handhi J.
Portions are a tad small and the meals a bit pricy, but the drinks are aplenty and the food is quite tasty. The menus are, to be honest, a bit cluttered but I suppose it goes along with the whole theme of the sake house.
(4)
Corey L.
Went on a Saturday for dinner with a group. My friend (who happens to be Japanese) ordered for us, Izakaya style. The restaurant itself is nice, modern inside, nothing fancy. The staff was great, super friendly and very attentive. $1 valet parking - REALLY nice. The food was pretty great. We started with a Jako Tomato Salad - good size, good mixture of ingredients, and not too much dressing. Baby sardines added a crunch and weren't super strong. We also had a Yakitori 5 piece combo - chicken meatballs, gizzard, something bacon-wrapped, King Oyster mushrooms, some chicken meat. They were tiny, but tasty - well flavored but not too much. Woulda liked the chicken meat and mushrooms to have a little more flavor, but overall quite interesting to try. Good for a group as we each got to try what we wanted off the skewers. We also shared an Omusoba, which was basically an omelet wrapped around noodles and some pork. Really really good. We also had some sort of fried balls of something - not sure what it was, but also really good. Had some cold sake the server recommended (Murai nigori?), which was exactly what we asked for - smooth but with a nice flavor. Finished with waffles a la mode, which was really good. Green tea ice cream (typical, good), with flan (typical, good - nice consistency), and a chocolate waffle. The waffle was good - a bit more solid and definitely chocolatey, could be broken into chunks, so not very light inside. Not a typical waffle, but I really liked it. Great meal!
(4)
Philly B.
Have been waiting for a place like this in Boston for a long time. Izakayas are everywhere in NY, so WHY THE HELL ARE THEY NOT HERE!? Well, someone finally stepped up their game. Have been here 4 times, only had to wait once (think it is getting more popular). Service is always great, food is unbelievable, and PLEASE tell me where in Allston can you get FREE valet parking. .. Japanese Tapas style, authentic dishes, cheap drinks, and great atmosphere. This place will not be a hidden gem for long. Raw Octopus- BOMB Omu-Soba- BOMB Yakitori- BOMB Grilled Mackerel- BOMB Support this place! Or stay away so I don't have to wait in line next time I go!
(4)
Tyler M.
This place is the best sushi/yakitori joint I have had the pleasure of frequenting since I have been in Boston. Sake is nice and (relatively) cheap, Sapporo and Stone Warrior beer for $6/pint is awesome. Compared to other sushi places I have been to where I have been charged $8 for 2 pieces of nigiri tuna, here they charge only $2/pc. Yes, it is literally double! Me and the wife tried out the sushi (I got tuna and she had salmon) and both were fresh and delicious. We sat at the bar, and service was near instant. No issues here. We asked the bartender for her recommendation on sake and she was quick to point out a delicious, fresh, and crisp sake that only ran us around $10/glass. This place is everything they advertise it to be, and I will be back many times over. Oh, and $1 valet parking!!! I didn't use it, but what the hell? Who offers such service???
(5)
Daniel M.
Boston's only true izakaya style Japanese pub. I agree with another reviewer, this place is legit. I finally was able to venture to Ittoku because I was going to a show up the street at The Paradise. Easy to find, right on Comm Ave in Allston. Parking is a little bit of an issue but they offer valet parking for $1, which I took them up on. I sat at the bar, but there seemed to be a lot of groups in the main dining area. When you walk in they greet with the traditional Japanese, 'Irraishimasse!', meaning welcome. Took a seat at the bar and ordered a Sapporo beer which they had on draught. The bartender was very helpful with the menu and even suggested a few items. I ended up ordering the yakitori 5 piece combo, bacon wrapped enoki mushroom (my favorite mushroom), and grilled shishito peppers. I love peppers. I can eat them all day long. It was all very delicious (Oishii desu) and I will be back sooner rather than later. If you are going to Ittoku and expecting the typical Boston Japanese/sushi restaurant you will be disappointed. It's more of a small pub/eatery where most of the dishes are tapas style. Izakaya style restaurants have yet to catch on in Boston but I think this place will as time goes on. Next time I will try the okonomiyaki!
(4)
Naoyuki T.
I was back at Ittoku with a Japanese visitor, and I tried a few other dishes. Beef tang, seafood salad, agedashi tofu, etc. With help of Japanese staff, I ordered their best dishes and I'll revise the stars to 4, up from 3. I think food is on par with Shiki. Again, nothing is super good, but everything is quite good. My only complaints is that parking is hard.
(4)
Latcho D.
What a wonderful Izakayas / Japanese tapas restaurant! Pretty authentic too. Many different Japanese dishes for you to try. They have homemade gyoza, which is awesome. Sushi is fresh. Great for groups and drinks.
(5)
Jeff H.
Awesome Japanese tapas place!! They have a huge selection and their sashimi is very fresh. I went with a group of 4 and we ordered several dishes, but the one dish that we all couldn't get enough of was the grilled salmon belly. The staff is very helpful and friendly. If you don't have an Allston/Brighton don't worry, that have valet for $1.
(4)
Ed Y.
Wow. What a find, my daughter found this place on yelp and wanted to go for her birthday. It use to be a french restaurant that closed last year. There is finally a place where Japanese people can go and eat authentic Japanese food. Before it was Kotobukiya food court in Somerville but now finally there is another. The food is amazing, if your not in the mood for sushi which is the norm these days and want real Japanese food like you find in thousands of izakaya restaurants all over Japan, Ittoku is the place to go. It doesn't get anymore authentic than this. Like in Japan, this is Japanese tapas style. Many small dishes, plenty of beer by the pitcher and some Japanese drinks you can't find outside of Japan. Absolutely delicious. The staff is all Japanese too so the atmosphere feels like authentic Japanese. Dining area is spacious enough for small to huge parties, can get loud like in Japan, lots of alcohol flowing. Parking is tough but for a dollar you can have your car valet. I highly recommend Izakaya Ittoku. Be prepared to taste something other than tired, over done fancy sushi plates. Japanese food is not just about raw fish, there's so much more and Izakaya gives you a small sample of it.
(5)
Sam B.
The yakitori was on point. I didn't try much sushi, but the uni was spectacular. Also, the yakisoba really hit the spot. I live in Allston, and this is the closest place to a proper Japanese restaurant you'll find in the area. Highly recommended!
(5)
Ms. S.
Average. Waited at least 45 minutes for a table. The ramen was only so-so (too salty, but one star for chopped fatback in the broth), and the kushiyaki was eh. We had the pork belly, chicken skin, and beef tongue. It's not so much the lack of seasoning which gave me pause, but rather the poorly cooked and uneven textures of the kushiyaki. Yuck. IMO, this place is way over-hyped. The next time I feel like ramen, I'm heading over to Pikaichi.
(2)
Hiroko L.
This is a relatively new Japanese izakaya-type bar & restaurant in Boston. The main Japanese chef was the creator of the very popular Sapporo Ramen in Porter Square. Ittoku offers a large variety of Japanese soul food - very similar to typical izakayas in Japan. It's hard to find street parking near the restaurant, especially on the weekend but they have valet parking ($1) service! Favorite specialties include the kobore sushi, aburi sushi, yakitori, and ebi-peno!
(4)
Vlad B.
A little piece of Tokyo in Allston. I've longed for this type of place in the Boston area (as opposed to conventional sushi) ever since coming back from a honeymoon in Japan. Went twice already, and expectations were exceeded both times. On our second visit, the service was a bit slower to refill our tea, but the place was completely packed during that time. Most of the small plates were good to outstanding. Ittoku will definitely be the go-to Japanese destination for my group of friends and I.
(5)
Ben L.
I was so horribly excited. I had these images going through my head of being in a tiny little restaurant squished next to the other patrons along a slender little bar sampling little bits of food. When I went in and realized that most of the areas had little tables and plenty of room my initial dreams were crushed. Then I looked at the menu and it's ok. It's really going to be ok. There are so many little Japanese snacks and small dishes. You have have your little grilled fish or chicken on skewers, you can have your miso soup and takoyaki and you can even get your okonomiyaki! I went through with my friend and picked through the menu ordering a couple of items off almost every page of the menu. It seems a little daunting but the trickiest part is jockeying the plates on the table as new dishes come out. There's no pause in eating and there's no issue getting everything down. You may not want to eat everything off a single page but aside from that you'll be fine. I wasn't a huge fan of the smelt that I had but most things were perfectly good and the mackerel was delicious and I may have kept picking at the skin trying to get the last little remaining bits of flesh off. There really isn't any other place like Ittoku around so it's filling a really big void and through it falls short of ideal it's well worth multiple visits and I need do try a few sakes next time that I'm there.
(4)
Bill W.
Coming from someone who does not particularly know Japanese food, Ittoku is great. My one gripe was that we had to wait about an hour to get a table for 7 of us. Still, we were able to just hang out at the bar drinking Sopporo until the table was ready. I think that is the only beer they have on tap, which would normally lower my grade for them, but you can't really expect a great beer selection at a Japanese restaurant. Overall, the food was great and the service was fantastic. I loved the way we just ordered a ton of small plates over and over until we had our fill. It was a bit expensive, but then again, sashimi grade fish comes at a price. Just set a price between 25 and 40 dollars to spend and you should be fine. I could see how someone could get carried away though and end up throwing like 60 dollars in a place like this just for themselves.
(3)
Marilyn C.
HORRIBLE SERVICE. They wouldn't come by our table for at least a half hour, and then said that they simply "didn't have" items that were clearly on the menu, messed up the drink orders, and just overall added stress to the evening. I was ready to give a small tip but they added automatic gratuity....of course. Great food though, I would go back if they didn't have a horrendous wait staff.
(3)
Sam S.
Yakitori combo is delicious.
(4)
Tara T.
been hunting for an izakaya like this and finally found it after 2 years in boston! super generous servings of sashimi, broiled squid, good and fresh and inexpensive sake, beer made for a fun, casual, and yummy evening. $1 valet, so you don't even have to worry about parking.
(5)
Stephanie M.
Not a very accessible location, but what a gem! The $1 parking is worth every penny, and the food... it was everything I could want. I've haunted Boston's Japanese restaurants for years and never found yakitori like this. The ramen is rich and delicious, the edamame mysteriously flavorful (steamed in broth??). Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Gigi M.
Cannot say enough good about this place. I lived in Japan and was really excited to hear that there was an izakaya in the Boston area. There are happily lots of excellent Japanese restaurants to choose from here, but few other izakaya that I'm aware of. Ittoku exceeded my expectations. The food (taste and selection) was amazing, the service was great, the $1 valet parking is cheap (even with tip) and convenient, and I got to listen to and practice my Japanese, which doesn't happen very often, but at ittoku, unlike at most other Japanese food places, the staff and other customers are mostly Japanese. We had yakitori (meat on skewers), shio (salt) cabbage, chicken kara-age (fried), and a wakame (seaweed) salad, sashimi, and drinks. Love those izakaya drinks! I was a bit apprehensive about ordering sashimi in a place that doesn't specialize in sushi/sashimi, but I needn't have worried - it was great. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Sj L.
Awesome food! Delicious Japanese dishes and amazing service. Be sure to have some warm sake with your order.
(5)
Kristin P.
I came here tonight with a group of 5 friends, several of which had spent time in Japan and were very excited that an izakaya style restaurant had opened in Boston. We arrived to find the place packed, with a half hour wait, which was fine and expected on a Friday night. When we were finally seated we were all starving and immediately ordered a bunch of food and drinks (we had plenty of time to look at the menu while waiting.). All the food that came out was tasty and we were happy about that (one friend said the okonomiyaki was the best he's had in the states). The big problem was... The service. It was so slow. And poor. It took about 30 minutes to get our sake we ordered, and then about 20 more minutes to get each subsequent bottle. We would have probably drunk several more bottles if they had actually come out at a reasonable pace. The food also came out slowly (which I can forgive some since this place just opened and was packed) but near the end of the night (around 10:30) when the place was emptying food was still getting to us unbelievably slow. The waitress barely checked on us, didn't refill our waters until we were done eating or even ask if we wanted to order more food or drink (which we did). We had to chase her down to order more sake (literally, my friend got up and found her). I left still hungry because I was too afraid ordering more food would have kept us there another hour (also the waitress never came by to ask...) Overall I enjoyed the food and will probably come back once it's worked out the kinks and (hopefully) the service gets better.
(3)
David S.
Very good place. I tried it for the first time last week!! They had some interesting choices. I had bacon wrapped quail egg they were awesome! Chicken skin was okay. not like I had in Singapore!! We also had some other great choices both steak choices were excellent. I would say a good choice to try again! definitely fun experience and no wait on a Thursday night..
(4)
Brian G.
Ok,so just to add on to this, I tried the omusoba last week and it was probably one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life... Pretty sure this dish will be a staple for me every time I go in now.
(5)
Greg D.
This place is terrible. I mean really really really bad. Let's start with the food. The vast majority is plain and tastes like out of the freezer microwaved food. That is IF it's even edible at all. The place smells. They obviously don't keep clean and while the bar and dining room area are decently kept, there is this overwhelming rotten fish smell outside the place and even inside. Makes you wonder how rancid the kitchen is. The drink selection is small. They essentially only serve Sapporo, which I like, but come on. How about some options? The service is terrible and the people are generally clueless who run and work at the place and totally rude and uninviting to the locals. Hello??? You moved into a residential neighborhood don't start alienating the neighbors with your awful uncleanliness, smells and ridiculous valet parking policies. These idiots don't realize if they ran a decent restaurant they could do great business with locals who live nearby. They'd have regulars who WALKED to the restaurant. Instead they buy up a huge portion of a residential street for valet, way more than they need, when most nights it sits empty with no cars or few. They put up signs they run valet until 11:30 even though they close at 11 on weekdays and threaten to TOW their neighbors even if their restaurant is deserted at 10:30. Who wants to dine at a restaurant so rude and off-putting to their best source of business their neighbors? It shows how awful the place is from the food to the management to the service to the attitude. Go away Ittoku this place can't close quick enough. And as bad as it is? It will soon.
(1)
Michael C.
I went to Ittoku recently, ordered tori karaage (fried chicken), geso karaage (fried squid) and french fries. The geso and tori were even better than before, but the biggest disappointment came with the french fries. Be aware, Ittoku completely revamped its fries. Now the fries are the same with what you can have in average American restaurants--deep fried, golden, thin. I really miss the original recipe, with which you can chew out the freshness of hand-cut potatoes. The cod roe mayo sauce is a perfect match for the original fries, but quite out of place with the new ones. The original fries are for the real gourmets, but those whose tongues have been spoiled by salt and pepper may find them tasteless and bland. But hey this is a Japanese restaurant, if you want strong flavors from condiments why don't you go to cheap Chinese restaurants? I feel nowadays there are fewer and fewer people who can appreciate the original flavor of fresh food.
(4)
Jason P.
THE JAPANESE VERSION OF TAPAS! 100% Authentic Japanese comfort food and atmosphere without the long plane ride. I have not had food this good since I left Japan. I had age dashi tofu, the sauce was light and savory and the fried tofu crispy; next had the yaki ika, the sauce was slightly sweet and the squid was tender and perfectly cooked; next we had the yaki tori 10 piece sampler with a variety of traditional yaki tori dishes of scallion wrapped in bacon, chicken and shrimp served with a spicy, roasted red pepper sprinkle on the side, a plate of beef/scallions cooked in a soy/mirin based sauce which was savory and slightly sweet with a yaki onigiri/rice ball. We had 2 bottles of sake. The bill for two was less than $75 and we left satisfied. The service was very friendly and prompt and I will return. The cheap valet parking made the experience more pleasant.
(5)
Allen H.
Great service, great food. Nice restaurant. Highly recommend. Variety of delicious Japanese dishes. My favorite is omusoba. Also don't forget to try the grills!
(5)
Samuel F.
This place is legit! Authentic izakaya style. Which is to say, a huge selection of tasty snacks, and some selections of beer and sake. I thought the food was pretty reasonably priced for bar snacks, which is not to say that it won't add up if you want to try a lot of things. You will probably want to try a lot of things, so it can be a little pricey, but I thought it was a good price for a fun evening! Things I tried: Draft beer (Sapporo) - Exactly what you'd expect, which is good! Ochazuke with pickled plum - Japanese rice soup, great when coming in from the cold Aburi Sushi (torched sushi) - Quite tasty Bacon Uzura (bacon-wrapped quail eggs) - Awesome Yakitori Combo (chicken on a stick five ways) - Not a lot of variation in the seasoning but quite a bit of variation in the texture from the different cuts, all good Sweet potato creme brulee - Very good Was pretty crowded, but we still managed to get seated right away on a Friday night. Service was generally good. Turnaround time on the food was not quite as quick as I want in an izakaya, but it was reasonable. Enjoyed it very much and I will surely be back when the yakitori craving strikes. (I was also pleased to realize that there's a Hubway station quite close, since I was able to get there from across the river way more quickly than if I'd had to rely on the B line.)
(4)
Sarah A.
I really like this place! One of the only authentic Japanese restaurants in the Boston area. I've gone a few times and the dishes are mostly all delicious! The one dish I was disappointed with was the omusoba but it was because they didn't use yakisoba noodles and it tasted more like chow mein than yakisoba. My favorite dish was the fried oysters. We also ordered the koborezushi which was pretty good! The uni was no good (I could tell from the smell of it) but the ikura and crab were not bad at all, especially considering the price. I really like the authenticity of this place. The only reason why I can't give 5 stars is that the service was a little meh when we went. I also witnessed one of the managers (?) or head waiters berating a guy who was working the entire back room of the restaurant. Poor dude was working so hard!!
(4)
Steve W.
We came on a Saturday nite at 6:30 pm with 10 people. It was already crowded and we had to wait. There is a bar area and the $1 valet parking is great. Just remember to tip the attendant when you get your car back. They have grilled meats that they sell by the stick which is good. You can try all kinds which we did. All were pretty good. They also have ramen and sushi and other appetizers. I'd like to return and try the ramen and other "sticks".
(4)
wing n.
five stars! no question asked!! services was excellent and the food is awesome!! We have been here 2 times and it was Friday night. The trick is to get here early, like around 6:00-ish. Otherwise, the restaurant got fill up quickly by 7pm. Parking is hard around and good that they have the $1 valet parking really help : ) We had the Udon noodle for other 3-years old daughter and she loves it. We had the skewer, fried noodle wrapped with omelette and they were all very tasty!! We haven't try the sushi yet and would love to try them on the next visit!! Services was really great and very friendly and I would totally come back for more!! So glad to have them here in Boston!
(5)
Lana D.
I really love Ittoku to sit, enjoy some of the freshest sushi, and relax with tea while catching up with a friend. However, ordering a quick to-go box can be difficult. The menu on their website doesn't load and the menus I've found on other sites is not the same menu at the restaurant. Step up your game Ittoku- I'd like you to stick around longer than the restaurant before you.
(3)
Hana K.
If you want AUTHENTIC Japanese food, come to Ittoku! This is a unique style of Japanese food rarely found in the States. It's called Izakaya and offers small tapas like dishes meant to be enjoyed with Japanese beer, sake, or umeshu (plum wine). MUST HAVE: Okonomiyaki - A savory pancake similar to scallion pancake but much fluffier. Omusoba - Stir-fried noodles with a Teriyaki like sauce wrapped in a omelette (I know it sounds weird but it tastes like your typical stir fried rice with egg). Delicious! Karaage - The juiciest piece of battered chicken you'll ever have! Accompanied by a set of delicious sauce. *I was not a fan of their Yakitori (chicken skewers) because it seemed a little over priced and was nothing special. TIPS: Valet parking is only $1! They do NOT take reservations for small parties on weekends so try to come here early.
(5)
Susan L.
Fun place to try many different Japanese dishes. Loved how the menu had pictures so we can tell what we were ordering. Most of the items we ordered were delicious: seaweed salad, chicken and beef yakitori, omusoba, fatty tuna maki, grilled mackerel and homemade gyoza. The broiled eel and ittoku ramen were just ok. The staff was very friendly, gave great recommendations, the only bad point was slow service in filling the water glass. They had valet parking which we didn't use but I imagine it is an efficient process as the waitress asked if we had a car with valet when giving us the check.
(4)
Shuang C.
Gyukotsu Ramen - Really mediocre. Strong garlic flavor in the broth that got boring after 3 slurps, no depth of flavor. I really couldn't tell it was beef stock instead of pork. Noodle were pretty hard, some would say "al dente," but I just call it "hard." One slice of flavorful pork, which is a pity since I craved more. The only other topping was scallions. The bowl was tiny, for what I get I can't say it was worth $8. Thigh Skewer - Juicy, but the flavor was concentrated on the outside Tsukune - Peppery, good Skin - No good. Only the edges were crispy, not the inside. Good Kawa I've had in NYC were crispy throughout. Some bits taste kinda burnt despite not crispy enough. Pork Belly - Not bad, strong porky flavor Salmon sashimi-good, but a bit colder than normal sashimi (could hear ice crystals while chewing) Service was really slow, but that's to be expected from a new restaurant. I'll go back in a few months and see if things improve.
(4)
Anna Q.
This place is worth a try! Def authentic Japanese food just like places in Japan! I love the tuna tar tar and the steak was really juicy and cooked perfectly! I went in a large group and was seated quickly. Perfect place for large groups. They have valet parking because it is kind of hard to find parking around there. Oh and the dessert with the waffles was soooooo good and decorated so cute with the two green tea pocky sticks! I love flan waffles and ice cream plus plus plus!!
(4)
Hung L.
Came here on a double date because my friend suggested this place. The staff here was really friendly, especially the valet guy. The night started off bad, we parked out front and was talking to the valet guy when some idiot in a new Honda Accord backed up for no reason and backed up into my friend's car. He came out to apologize which is when his back up sensor alarm went off, LOL, too late, you already hit the car. Valet guy told us that he saw the guy JUST pick up the car earlier that day from the dealership. Anyways, the food was alright, nothing that would make me crave to come back here. It was something new to try and was worth a shot. The omelette with ramen was good. Only tried the yakitori so I don't know how the sushi and other dishes were. All in all, if you've never tried yakitori, Ittoku is worth a try.
(3)
Patrick L.
Pretty authentic izakaya joint. My Japanese friends took me here so I had high expectations. Prices were reasonable and service was great. I recommend all of the yakitori dishes.
(4)
Stephen R.
As much as I want to love it here, things seem to be on the decline. Service has gotten sloppy and the variety and charm are long gone. What was a perfectly nice dining experience now seems to be centered on the college crowd and they are trying to be everything to everyone. Would love to see another yakatori type grill here in Boston; great concept, just not well executed here.
(2)
Brian Y.
Great place. Great variety of delicious food. Friendly service and $1 valet! Will definitely come back for more.
(5)
Henry P.
Finally! An Izakaya bar in Boston! Having had the likes in other places such at New York, Philadelphia as well as LA I was so excited to finally see that an Izakaya bar can finally have a home to call in Boston. Finally having time off of work I decided to head towards Brighton and grab dinner. First and foremost I have to say that I LOVE yakitori, I find nothing more fitting after a long day of work than to stop by with friends and coworkers, clink your beers and chow down on some delectable, somewhat greasy yet just-hits-the-stop type Japanese tapas. Having had them all over I was very eager Upon entering you are greeted at the door with "Irasshaimase!" ( welcome in Japanese ) by its entire staff, even the cooks in the back that you cannot see you hear them as well! The decor of the restaurant in very nicely decorated, modern yet still has its Japanese cultural charm. Very well lit yet just enough light to create a relaxing atmosphere. I immediately sat down and began ordering my meal, I was delighted to find out that the owners and staff are actually Japanese which is a huge plus in my book. No fancy bells or whistles, just simple and authentic Japanese dishes. My server was very polite, helpful and choosing certain items that she recommended as well as being prompt on refilling my water glass ( it never had a chance to be empty! ) Shortly my order came fresh and hot off the grill. Just the right amount of grease, a little bland than what I've had but I understand that they're still new and will definitely not stop me from coming back. My yakitori were grilled to perfection, golden on the outside yet juicy on the inside. Takoyaki could of used a little ( a lot ) less scallions and had a frozen taste but overall not too bad. I have high hopes for this establishment and is elated to see a Izakaya in Boston, I will definitely be looking forward to coming back more often. But be careful though! Those little dishes and beers add up!
(4)
Eva B.
I guess I became a regular here. I came to this restaurant 8times with my bf in 3months. Saba dishes are amazingly delicious and generous portion. it is only $8. Yakitori can be little bit tricky. Most of days The yakitori is usually good, but sometimes it was too salty. Service: Excellent service. Chieh( hard to spell, The Japanese girl, very attentive but not intrusive ) $1 valet Parking is so generous... I tried most of dishes here with sake and beers. Strong recommendations: saba, kobore sushi, Japanese yum, omo yakisoba... I love most those dishes!!
(5)
Iaroslav M.
absolutely great! fish is fresh and delicious. So many dishes ive never tried before, so that means the food is real authentic. Service is super friendly and the managers suggestions were useful. Its a good place to come either for dinner for 2 or you can bring a big group. Service is knowledgeable and can lead you though the menu. Prices are very reasonable. Decor is modern and casual and the same time. Im happy to see this treasure on Bostons food map.
(5)
Taro M.
We went Ittoku for a dinner on May 8 2015. Reviews of Yelp complimented their foods a lot and we went there with a very high expectation, that was probably our mistake. My recommendation to readers of the review is that you should go there only if you are desperate and dying to have Japanese foods. There pricing is very very reasonable but you get what you pay for. We started with "Aburi Saba" lightly grilled mackerel. It was soggy and an indication of how their fish is prepared. Then, we had some Yakitoro, grilled chicken skewers, which are no better than frozen Yakitori you can microwave at home. The killer was their special "Fresh Buri sashimi", yellow tail. As I suspected based on the quality of "Saba", the color was all wrong and it tasted like soap bar and we gave up after one bite. We had Maine sea urchin sushi coming. It was horrible to say the least. We had one small bite and could not go any further. Other dishes we had were Toro toro tongue (beef tongue) and Agedashi Tofu, which were just borderline OK. Deep fried pork smelled either very bad oil or bad pork. We both had a stomach upset after the dinner. Probably because of the yellowtail sashimi. Do not orders sashimi there. If you like to have Sushi, go to Whole Foods. Their Sushi is much much better.
(1)
J S.
I was extremely impressed with this place. Service was wonderful, food was great. There are a ton of other items on the menu I can't wait to get. The tuna tartare was some of the best I've had. S/O got spicy ramen, which I kept stealing from it was so good. I got the yakitori, which was also very tasty, even if bonito flakes look a little creepy coming out steaming (they look like they wiggle :) ). S/O was very impressed with the Sake selection. I would HIGHLY recommend this place!
(5)
Cecilia W.
Forgot the bad reviews! If u want authentic japanese tapas , come here! It's not as cheap as cafe mami but who cares! Try the yakitori ! Go go go . The owner really cares about his food! The have the one dollar valet parking:)
(5)
Jay T.
Yakitory was SO bland.... Bacon wrap was only cooked on top and bottom. Soggy and gross!!!! Sushi was average at best. Definitely do NOT try this place!!!!
(1)
Jennifer K.
Yum, yum, yum! Walked in today at 7:30pm and was told the wait time was about 25 minutes. For a Friday evening this seemed reasonable. I settled at the bar, and we wound up staying there. ("You started with me!" cheered our evening companion, the bartender). Food was yummy as always. I had some favorites (the fried oysters are so delicious!), and some new plates; the avocado and shrimp salad was as tasty as you'd expect from that combo. The fried rice ball is a mass of salty ricey goodness. Yes, it's fried, yes it's salty, but even which chopsticks I made it vanish in record time! My biggest problem with this place? My "favorites" list is rapidly outpacing my ability to eat it all in one sitting! I started the evening with a higher end Sake. I was very amused that they served it in a glass...in the traditional wooden cup. :) The bartender was also very generous with the service. Still, I did switch to hot sake for the rest of the evening. Hey, summer is coming, can I can give up the hot stuff then, right?!? What ever you do, save some room for the red bean ice cream. I just hope we can talk these folks into a lunch service and take-out for those times I can't talk my friends into joining me!
(5)
Fox J.
When it's wicked humid out, you don't want heavy pub fare- you want Ittoku. The bacon-wrapped quail eggs were perfectly cooked, and the grilled conger was a delight. We also had grilled garlic yakitori and a salmon/avocado rice roll that was incredibly delicious. The prices are phenomenally low for such a high quality of food and service.
(5)
Austin J.
Very authentic, be prepared to step out of your comfort zone if you have never had authentic Japanese food. Food was beautiful! The staff are extremely helpful and friendly. The atmosphere is really great for a date or just catching up with friends.
(4)
Alexei C.
Ittoku is an awesome Izakaya! Finally we have one in Boston. It's a great place to enjoy a beer and snack on a few yakitori. Not only is the food and drink good, but also relatively inexpensive. It's about time that one of these showed up!
(5)
Mai U.
I almost cried with joy when I tasted the "Aburi Zushi" (slightly grilled sushi). It was the best thing I've had in Boston!! This is an authentic Japanese bar with authentic Japanese food and authentic Japanese hospitality (the servers and valet parking drivers - $1 valet! were beyond fantastic)
(5)
Shirley Y.
It's currently my second time here. We are a party of 3 and were told the wait would be a max of 10 minutes because there was a table leaving now. So we waited 10 minutes and asked about how much longer. 10 more minutes...and another 10. We waited 30 minutes for a table. Finally, they made us a table. It's really a table for 2, but they squished us in. Fine, whatever. It's been 20 minutes and I don't even have a glass of water...forget how good the food is. I'm walking out.
(1)
Yichen C.
A tasty and inexpensive deal at an izakaya. Good ambiance, tasty food, and a variety of drink choices - what else do you look for?
(4)
Ash C.
Only true izakaya in town. All the staff members are super courteous and attentive. My favorite food was raw octopus with wasabi sauce and sea bass sashimi. All ingredients taste super fresh especially raw fish and the skewers have well balanced seasoning. There is a valet parking and street parking is residents only. It will be my new hangout place! Love love love
(5)
Sora C.
I've had a late dinner at Ittoku and was surprised by the incredible foods and friedly services. First, If you just give a dollar, they do valet for you! We were hungry that night so we ordered bunch of yakitori sets and sushi&rolls. I highly recommend to try ABURI SUSHI.. three pieces of torched fishes on top of sushi rice. It was amazing!!!! I love the smell of the torched fish. We've tried at least six dishes from the menu and all satisfied!! Especially the owner or manager (Japanese) came to our table and explained the authentic Japanese dishes and where all the fishes(raw) coming from..We truly had a good time and planning to grab a quick beer/Japanese tapas tomorrow for second shot!
(5)
Brian P.
Disclaimer: I came here after watching the documentary "Jiro". After finishing the video, I checked on yelp for a place to try sushi in boston and decided this place as it was the closest. It definitely has an authentic Japanese feel (trust me! I've been to Japan !) to it and I really appreciate that the manager (or guy that sits by the entrance doing paperwork) gets up to greet us. Everyone welcomes us like a typical Japanese place! Roomy, has a separate area for the bar, and with not-over stimulating decor ('Absolute simplicity is purity' as Jiro said!). We were seated and served in a timely fashion. The menu had that authentic, cheery vibe. I was thoroughly surprised by the prices! VERY reasonable. Sam adams is $4, instead of the typical 5 or 6. Because I ventured out to try sushi, and to not waste time from my indecisiveness, I went ahead and ordered the sushi combo. I'd say it took about 15 minutes to get our order so in the mean time, I checked out the restroom. No repulsive factor or anything to note, other than the toilet is not the typical "fffffff-shhhhhhhh" but rather the "FFFFFFF-SHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" kind. Try it out and you'll agree! I returned to my seat and the order came soon. I am pretty bad at discerning the different fish but I do know which is the shrimp, mackerel, tuna, and salmon. The mackerel was salty, tuna was light, but salmon was pretty juicy. the shrimp was too. I like that they don't use dyed ginger as well. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and service, but the food gets 4 stars (for my first trip). I know I'll definitely go there again. Oh and of course...water was filled promptly!
(4)
Nathaniel T.
I left here very satisfied. Good food and reasonable prices. Service was prompt and setting is cool. This hits a sweet spot for unpretentious delicious food and value.
(5)
Thu T.
First off, this place is huge. We came here on a weekday night and had no problem getting a table. As for the food, it is pure Japanese comfort food (I will come back with a knowledgeable Japanese friend to further verify). I came with low expectations and ended up being pleasantly surprised by the evening as each plate came out. The popular dishes are the Okonomiyaki (pancake) and the Omusoba (omelette with noodles inside), and both are good for the price. I suggest looking through the menu prior to visiting because there are a lot of small dishes you could overlook. Come here with some good friends and chances are you'll leave happy and full, without breaking the bank.
(4)
Emily R.
I have been searching for okonomiyaki in Boston since falling head-over-heels in love with it on my 2010 study abroad. BonChon's is premade and defrosted, and nobody else's is really "real." Last night, I finally found what I was looking for at Ittoku. Having just returned last month from my honeymoon in Kyoto and Osaka, I can confidently say that the food at Ittoku was as good as - and sometimes better than - what I enjoyed in izakayas in Japan. The karaage was hot, perfectly flavored, and moist, and was accompanied by the perfect selection of sauces. The omusoba was delicious and insanely filling, with a perfect eggy texture. The buta kimchi was a little different from what I'm used to, but still good, and the first real buta kimchi I've seen in Boston. That okonomiyaki - man. It needs more sauce, and it's a little small, but it's perfect. After eating all of this food, my husband and I were actually glad it was a little small, because it would have been impossible to eat a full-size okonomiyaki alongside all of their other delights. I don't write food reviews, because I never know what to say. Clearly, this time, I know what to say. Go to Ittoku. Just go.
(5)
Jason M.
Good sake selection and food options not available at most Japanese joints. $1 valet is a steal. Arigatou gozaimashita!
(4)
Justin K.
Let me just start by saying I had no expectations of this place prior to coming here. A chain of events one Saturday led me to joining my gf and her mom for dinner here, and I had never heard of it before. When we arrive we find out they have valet parking for $1! We're off to a great start. But everything goes downhill from there. When we walk in it's pretty crowded but not overwhelmingly so, and we inquire about the wait time for a party of 3. Half an hour? Not ideal but doable, so we wait and chat in the corner. 45 minutes go by, and we ask the waiter what the status is. Another 20 mins? Are you kidding me? I ask him why it's taking so long, and he says because there are a lot of people in front of you -.- well then, why wouldn't you give us an estimate of an hour wait in the first place? Now we're stuck in this dilemma of whether we should leave or not after we've already been waiting for 45 minutes. We decide to stick around and about 10 minutes later, he tells us a table opened up that's really small and asked if we'd be ok with that. Not wanting to wait any longer, we decide to take it. Soon after we sit down we realize it was probably the worst table in the house. It was a tiny round table right by the entrance, and the constant traffic in and out the door was giving us a continuous dose of the lovely winter chill from outside. We ordered right away since we had an hour to decide what we wanted to eat, and so we sat waiting for the food, hungry and cold. By now, I was reaaaalllyy hoping the food would be able to come in and save the night, but alas, it was the rotten cherry on top of the crappy sundae. We ordered the 10 pc yakitori, kobore sushi, the mackerel, omusoba, ramen, and the belgian waffle dessert. 10 pc yakitori: From the yelp reviews I was reading while we were waiting, the yakitori seemed to be a big hit, so I was pretty excited about this. But when it came out, I didn't even realize it was the whole thing. The amount of meat on each stick is SO SMALL. I'm not a yakitori expert or anything, but everywhere else I've had it put significantly more meat. Taste wise it was pretty good, except for a few, but I was so disappointed by the lack of meat I couldn't really enjoy it. Kobore sushi: There was honestly nothing special about this. It wasn't bursting with flavor, and didn't leave much of an impression at all. I only got to try the crab and the salmon egg pieces, so I can't speak for the uni, but I doubt that was anything special either. Mackerel: This thing was SO freaking salty. Wtf. Omusoba: This was probably the only thing that I actually liked. Good size, was tasty, came out first. Ramen: Pretty bland, nothing exciting. Belgian waffle: This was so sad. It was the smallest "belgian waffle" I had ever seen. It looked like an overcooked eggo, and didn't taste much better. It was cut in half and used to sandwich the ice cream, in a pathetic attempt at being decorative. Was NOT a good ending to the meal. Oh, and did I mention that the food took forever to come out? Yeah, not coming back here again. PS - We even had to wait another 10 minutes for the valet to bring our car around. But I guess you can't really complain for $1?
(1)
Charlie Z.
Great food but parking limited, u will need to request valet. Good things it's only $1. Would definitely go back to this place. Sashimi was very fresh!
(5)
Itch S.
Finally an Izakaya (Japanese every-man's bar), in the region. The goal is to drink away a hard days work with your coworkers or friends while nibbling on dishes (tapas-esque) over the course of the evening. It is never highbrow food and never should be expensive. Yakitori is as everyman or as close to Japanese bar food as you can get (not what was in the South-end that just closed). It should be comfortable and conducive to relaxed drinking. Ittoku is all of the above. As such it hits all the necessary bases. Food is very good and authentic (but again this is everyman food and not to be confused with Japanese gourmet) They have a very nice eclectic Sake collection but would love to see some Shochu (I'm sure their license doesn't cover it but I have seen other establishments pass it off as a brother to Sake). Big plus: They actually have owners and staff that speak Japanese.
(4)
Saeji K.
Their sushi is amazing and cheap!!!! Their dishes are on the smaller side so I would recommend a couple orders per person especially since the skewers are one per an order. Their food has lots of flavor and I think it's a better place to drink and have some food rather than a place to get dinner. The waitstaffs are very friendly and welcoming and it's ok if you have a lot of questions because they are very helpful. I would recommend this place to my friends but not for dinner.
(3)
Phoebe T.
We love this place!! Have been here with our 2 years old for 4-5 times already. They recently change their menu slightly. Can't wait to try what else they have to offer. So far, these are the items we love: 1.10 pcs chef's choice Yakitiro 2. French fries. Ordered for our 2 yrs old and it tasted so much better than what we expected 3. Yakisoba noodle wrapped in egg omelette 4. Fried squid leg. So good. A must try if you love squid.
(5)
Nelson W.
best Japanese restaurant in Boston
(5)
Tatsu I.
On The Yelp Again, To Be Continued Happened to be in the neighborhood so I ducked in at 10:45PM and got a bunch of items ordered before 11PM last order call. Kimchee Spicy Oil Hiyayakko Tofu, Shishito Peppers, Salmon and Tuna Poke, Salmon Belly Grilled and Ochazuke with Salmon. Receipt read 30 dollars for two and it was a light late-night meal for us both. While it's too early to say good or bad, this is opening night!, there's definitely a strong effort to provide a traditional izakaya experience with most things you would expect on the menu with a few twists here and there, mostly appropriated from local dishes, which themselves are appropriated from somewhere else. (Such as the Poke.) All the dishes were competent, grilling could use a bit more of an aggressive hand at the station. Portions were a bit parsimonious but inexpensive. Would recommend that the staff be trained to let customers know appropriate number of dishes to order, more training in general. I did recognize a couple of people working from the various places in Porter Exchange. The $1 valet parking is an especially considerate benefit. I theorize success will depend not really on the quality of cooking, which is par for now, but how they manage a very large menu with many things to stock, high inventory costs versus Boston's demand for a true izakaya. Hoping Ittoku doesn't go the way of Miso Market, a valiant effort ultimately met by lack of enthusiasm and patronage by local Japanophiles.
(4)
Denise L.
Great place for small plates of food to share with others. First time dining there and kids/adults all found something they enjoyed. Fun to share the food. Kids like the chicken meatballs plus the beef ramen, best. Salmon avocado roll, fried oysters very good. My favorite was the homemade gyoza - very tasty, not a thick wrapper and not too salty. We chose a variety of skewers and all were good. Everything came out piping hot as it should. This is not a noodle place. There is ramen but only two kinds - beef broth is pretty simple and bland compared to the miso version that has bean sprouts and is a little salty as it should be. Both have a piece of pork that is very tender. Parking in the area is a challenge but standard for the location. However, they do have $1 valet parking not including tip. The only downside is that we had to flag someone down to take our order.
(4)
Dee Dee Y.
We arrived at 630 pm and the wait was one hour. Valet not willing to take our car till we had our table. So we decided to go to a cafe to wait for our table. Parking was a scarce resource. Circled around and found a spot next to the cafe. 30 minutes later got a call and happily drove our car back to the restaurant. Then we saw the sign "valet closed". This was unheard of that a restaurant offers valet and closes valet at 7 PM. It is such a scam and we felt cheated. We hoped the food would be good. Noooooo. Fried oyster came out freezing cold inside. Shoyu Ramen too salty with no bone soup flavor. Meat in the ramen has no flavor and very dry. Grilled meat is not marinated and has no flavor. Dessert we had waffle thing. It was pretty but the taste was a disaster.
(1)
Theodore Y.
Really wanted this place to be delicious, but it just didn't deliver. Waitress was on point and friendly. The yakitori is forgettable. It has that charred taste but outside of that, the taste and consistency of the different cuts are homogenous. The yakitori on the special menu though, was delicious (maybe because it had different mayo sauces on it). We also got a bowl of ramen, which was okay. The noodles were a bit under and the one piece of pork it came with was too lean! Left disappointed.
(2)
nomo c.
This only reviews cooked food since I am unable to eat raw for the time being. Ramen: broth was very fishy and noodles too chewy Bara chirashi : the picture displayed was completely different from what I got. I basically paid $10 for a lg Bowl of sushi rice with tiny bits of egg, picked radish and two tiny pieces of shrimp. Oh and some shredded pieces of unagi. Beef tongue: was soft and meaty but I wasn't crazy about the seasoning Grilled oyster: delicious and the only good thing on the menu My partner in crime tried the ankimo but said it was a little tough which is not the texture you want from liver Overall it is decent food but I've definitely had better elsewhere and don't plan on visiting again any time soon. Service was spot on and everyone is friendly.
(2)
Grace M.
if you're into small plates, this place is cool b/c you can order small skewers of different meats/seafood/veggies a-la-carte but i wasn't really blown away by any of them. the sushi was okay, not amazing, and i felt like this place had a very authentic taste compared to the more americanized fun/crazy maki joints around. i didn't really enjoy it all too much but would recommend giving it a shot b/c it is quite authentic. i think it'd be a good drinking place though w/ small bites to try but not necessarily a great dinner place.
(2)
Joy Y.
Ducked in here early on a cold Monday night looking for a quick bowl of ramen. The place was (not surprisingly) practically empty at 5:30, and being that I came alone, I sat at the bar. The server was very sweet and friendly and interested in how I found out about the place (I stalk new Japanese ramen restaurants,) but also respectful enough to let me read my book on my own. I ordered the Gyukotsu Ramen. The soup was flavorful and the noodles were perfectly cooked though I could have used more meat to add some substance to the bowl. I also ordered the chicken skin yakatori which was delicious-- crispy and salty with a lovely little spicy dip on the side. The portions were pretty small so I was a little disappointed in that realm but the prices were reasonable. I would definitely be interested in coming back to check out some of the other options on the menu.
(4)
Yumi A.
Fresh sushi and sashimi made by real Japanese chef. A lot of great options, friendly staffs, will recommend it to all my friends.
(5)
Jon T.
Loved everything about this. Arrived about 7. Just use the valet parking. Fast, friendly, cheap. Greeted and seated effortlessly. Went for food selection that ran the gamut. Sushi, yakitori, octopus balls, yellowtail collar, omusoba. All fantastic. Personal favorites were the octopus balls and toro toro beef tongue, which was warm, silky and beefy. Lush. Service was great. Just a totally fantastic experience thru and thru. Will be back
(5)
Lala I.
service was friendly and polite, but very slow. the food was very underwhelming, bland (kushiyaki), relatively low quality, and not very well executed. the ambience felt more like a restaurant than izakaya which killed the mood for drinking. the $1 valet parking might have been the best part of the night. dont think i will be back anytime soon.
(2)
Victoria P.
Came here with my boyfriend with high hopes, but was disappointed. The service was EXTREMELY slow so don't make any immediate plans after dinner. The portions are small - almost like japanese tapas. My boyfriend and I shared the steak, 10pc yakitori, and the ramen. Everything was just okay. Definitely not worth the price. I'm so sad...I really wanted to like this restaurant.
(2)
Matt Z.
oh boy, one of the worst ramen in town.... please avoid this.
(1)
Yau S.
If I can give a zero star, I would rate this restaurant - ZERO Star. Because we are one of the locals and being so close proximity to this restaurant, we decide to give it a second try. I used to work in a restaurant that serve Yakitori and once in a while, I would grave for all these fun little skewers. Today the service is an absolute joke. We have a resident sticker on our car and we parked the car at the boarder line between valet and residential. Didn't see the valet attendant anywhere near site when we first got out of the car, so we went into the restaurant. There was no hostess. We waited around for about 5 minutes before a waitress sat us down. One of our dishes - yakisoba was rubbery. The noodle was so dried and it actually stick to your teeth when you chew it. I had to send it back for a different order. The rest of our meal was - ok. Nothing in particular stands out. THEN....... When we went outside to our car after we settle our tap, the valet attendant miraculously showed up and demanded us to give him $5 for valet. The menu and the signage inside restaurant said it is $1 for valet parking. I asked why are you charging us $5 when your menu said $1 for parking? He stated I should read the chalkboard sign that sticked all the way up on the 6' snow banks with snow covering half of it. We personally didn't see the sign there before we walked in the restaurant. Parking in general has been outrageous in the past few weeks with everyone using the "space saver" all around the city with the highest record of snow fall for Feb. We sincerely thought the chalk board was one of those "space savers". Regardless of this, we gave him the money. He rudely grab the money out of my friend's hand and told us," do not come back here". What the stupid valet attendant said was the icing on the cake. I have never been spoken to such way after spending money in the restaurant and leaving a good tip for the waitress. I went back inside the restaurant and demand to speak to a manager about this. They told me that manager is not around today and ask me to speak to the owner instead. The owner came out, I explained to him what his employee did. He just kept saying "yes..yes..yes....I will speak to him later." The owner kept on explaining he paid for the valet parking spaces outside. I am shocked about the fact he agreed his employee to take $5 from us when his menu said $1 for valet. The reason the restaurant spent the money on valet parking is because they want to beef up the business sales. We came in the restaurant and SPENT money. It is not like I parked the car there to run in to use their bathroom. The valet guy did absolutely nothing to park our car. He absolutely did not deserve the $5 he asked for with his nasty attitude. The valet could have nicely explained to us and we would be happy to give him a tip. He did not need to give us such a nasty attitude and make us feel like a door mat. The owner absolutely give me no apology or did he offer to return the $5 his valet guy wrongfully demand and grabbed from us. After 3 minutes into our conversation with the owner repeatedly say " yes ..yes...yes..," I left knowing the owner will stand behind his employees and will completely disregard his customers totally. I WILL NOT go back to this restaurant again. It is absolutely not like me at all to complaint in restaurant setting. I grew up in restaurant business (my family opened 3 restaurants) and frequently dine out on regular basis. I knew no matter how bad a customer's request. I had to make sure the customers are satisfied. Normally, I don't even send dishes back unless it is absolutely not edible. I didn't ask for discount, didn't use coupon, left a good tip and Ittoku left the ever lasting impression for me "Don't come back here"......... Don't even spend $1 in this restaurant because they really don't care about their customers........and not worth to waste one meal time of your life in this place. ABSOLUTELY A JOKE!!!!
(1)
Lili T.
Disappointing. Service was friendly and prompt but food wasn't good. Fried squid legs had good flavor but were tough and rubbery. Yakitori was bland and unremarkable. We got pork belly, chicken thigh, chicken skin, gizzard and short rib, none were great. The chicken skin one was especially disappointing, not crispy at all. The squid leg salad and gizzard yakitori were probably what we enjoyed the most. Overall unremarkable and we won't be back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner, Late Night Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Madelyn Y.
I think this place is a great place to pre-game before the bars/clubs. It has all the sake you can think of along with your choices of beer just so you can do some sake bombs. I did enjoy the food, but you have to remember this is a tapa place. So everything you order will be small portions. I particularly like the raw octopus mainly because it was new and the wasabi sauce it swims it gives it a good kick. The grilled squid is pretty good too! They do do valet parking for about 1$, or they might have increased it to 2$.
(4)Cathy S.
Had a fun experience here getting a bunch of Japanese small plates to share - most of the food was pretty good but not amazing. The menu is very extensive and while it's nice they have pictures it's also kind of hard to read and not very organized. Some of my favorite dishes were: - Agedashi tofu - Tori karaage (crispy fried chicken) - Omusoba (noodles in omelet) - Grilled eel We got the chef's choice 10 piece yakitori combo which was just average; it might be better to just choose the pieces next time. Overall I think this is a nice place to go as a group, though I'd go more for the experience than the food.
(3)Sean M.
4.4444444444 Stars I have to say that when the wait without a reservation is 1-2 hours it's not hidden but it's still a gem. Moral of the story boy and girls is go right at 5pm when they open or make a reservation two weeks before. We have employed the former to great success, but we did show up sans reservation and it was 1.5 hrs. You have been warned. The menu is extensive and they have a specials menu you should not overlook. Fried: Pork, squid, octopus, chicken, french fries, smelt, assorted fish: 4/5. Sushi: ranges between 3/5 - 4/5, prefer the sashimi and specials. Ramen: same range as above, some days better sometimes... Broiled: beef, squid*, fish (mackerel*) 4.5/5. Yakitori: a solid 4.5/5 beef, veggies, meatballs, various parts of chicken, pork belly, bacon wrapped anything (quail egg esp or enoki), you can go too far with these order judiciously. Takoyaki: devine, 5/5 Others: Okonomiyaki, Katsu Don, Omusoba, tofu dishes, pickles * parking, vale only, most of the area is resident parking, park closer to harvard street and walk. * take a look at the special before ordering. * consider 3-6 people if you want variety, but twosies get seated quicker w/o reservation. * bar area is a nice place to eat can reserve tables there. * Sapporo Draft! Excellent cold sake list, domestic and imports, decent prices. * Sake Cocktails.
(4)Sophie P.
This place is a hidden gem! food + BLUE FIN TUNA NIGIRI: Since blue fin is pretty rare these days (watch the documentary about it!) I was so happy that they had this on their sushi menu! + FATTY TUNA SCALLION ROLL: I would order this every time. The fatty tuna is a great ratio against the rice, wrapped in seaweed and topped with a lot of scallions. My favorite roll! + TAKOYAKI: The breading was not overpowering, and you could taste the octopus. There was plenty of scallions on this dish, too. + CHEF'S COMBO IZAKAYA: You cannot choose which meats you want as part of your 5 piece combo, but we got the sunagimo (gizzard), 2 tsukune (chicken meatballs), butabara (pork belly), and gyutan (beef tongue). All were seasoned well, some had a lot of pepper, but overall great meats for only $7.50! + OMUSOBA: This is an egg omelet wrapped over yakisoba noodles. I'm not sure how I haven't tried this before, but it's really good. If you're going to eat this, make sure you're hungry. It's a big portion! ~ KATSU DON: The bed of rice was covered in egg and katsu, but the katsu was almost broiled because of the egg on top. I wish the katsu was crispier. - WAFU STEAK: The steak was very hard to chew (the very reason I don't like steak), so I choked on the meat a lot - not very enjoyable. Since I live so close by, I will definitely be returning often. It's reasonably priced and really good!
(4)Joyce L.
I really didn't want to write this review because I wanted to keep Ittoku on the DL.... But it's just too amazing! I can't stop talking about it. I'll dive right into the food. The menu is beyond overwhelming. There are a bajillion options and everything sounds so good, but for people who are limited by the depth of their stomachs and the thickness of their wallets, the following are my top 3 "MUST TRY" items: + sashimi carpaccio ~$9.50-10 The freshest sashimi I've had in Boston thus far for this price range. Really plump(?) slices. Absolutely no skimpy slices of sashimi that are so thin that they're transparent (ugh, the worst). The soy sauce isn't too overpowering, which was surprising, and it had a slight touch of wasabi in it. This was the first time I ate the radish that usually comes with sashimi plates (aka the garnish), but the radish slices looked so fresh and it added a nice crunch factor. + motsu miso (beef stomach and intestines with miso flavored sauce) ~$8-9 DON'T get turned off by the description!!! This is HEAVENLY! Trust me on this one. Just ignore the fact that you're eating intestine and your taste buds will thank you. I got a side of rice (sm 1.50/large 1.75) to eat with this dish and I would highly recommend that you do the same. What is dinner without rice???! + bon jiri (chicken tail) ~$1.75 If you like fatty foods, you will thoroughly enjoy this. I could eat 5 of these skewers on my own with a beer in hand and my life would be complete. + CAN PASS ON THE waffles a la mode ($8) for dessert: weird combination of things, but twas a good way to end our dinner. Don't think I'll order it again - it was a bit pricey for dessert and the waffles were too dry. Random tidbits of information: Ittoku is T accessible (valet for $5 if you want to drive.. I don't recommend it), they have great service and their plates are so darn cute. Still not convinced that Ittoku is amazing? a pitcher of either sapporo or kirin is only $17-18! *heart eyes emoji* If this essay doesn't make you want to come, that's totally fine! I would love not having to wait for a table at my new go-to spot, thank you very much.
(5)Angela L.
I had been meaning to swing by to check it out for awhile and I'm really happy I finally got around to it. It really lived up to the hype! Definitely make a reservation when you come... We didn't and ended up sitting on the bar side. Also, I would recommend coming earlier in the evening, that way food will come out faster! A friend went when they first opened and she said the food took forever to come out. We got our food not too long after we ordered (thankfully, because we were so hungry!!) It's almost like little tapas, so it's nice you can try a bunch of different things. (Of course, easier when you go with more people so you can try more dishes!!) So here's what we got: -Agedashi tofu: I love this stuff. It was well done. I wish it was a little crispier, but still.. Might be one of the best I've had in Boston! -Fries: nice and crispy. -Takoyaki balls: YUM. I loved that it wasn't too full of the dough and you could taste the octopus. I've had them at other places and they aren't as good as Ittoku's! Now I'll know where to go when I'm craving. -Cripsy squid legs?: Crunchy. Just like fried seafood tastes like -Kobore sushi: uni, salmon roe, snow crab sushi. yum!! Try this when you go. -Buri Kama: broiled yellowtail collar. Very tender!! And so delicious. It falls right off the bone when you poke into it. Usually pretty difficult to find since most places don't offer it, but if you know what it is and can find it... Order it!! -Kushiyaki/yakitori: skewered meats/food. We ordered the bacon and enoki, bacon and okra, tsukune (chicken meatball), and karubi (beef short rib). Out of these, I really enjoyed the tsukune and the bacon enoki. Definitely order these early on because they take awhile to cook. -Omusoba: yakisoba noodles wrapped in egg omelet. I really thought I wouldn't like this, but I really enjoyed it!! Noodles were delicious. I almost wanted more. -Okonomiyaki: This came out last and took awhile.. So by the time it came out we were already pretty stuffed. Its almost like a seafood pancake but Japanese style. I wish it were more fried and tasted less like just batter. I would skip this one next time because I thought it almost was a bigger version of the Takoyaki balls. Overall, it was an awesome experience! Next time I want to sit on the non-bar side to see how it is. Staff were all really nice. Also, a pitcher of Sapporo is $15? $16? So it wasn't bad at all! I'm excited to come back!
(4)JO. C.
You will never go wrong with any order at Ittoku. The most authentic Japanese Bar (Izakaya) that I have visited in the U.S. so far. My roommate and I are Japanese foodies. It is so glad that we found one and live just few blocks away. It is perfect for 2 to 3 girls to share the tapas. (My fav) Top three must-order tapas are:Takoyaki, Broiled Mackerel, and Gyoza. I ordered these three every time I go. Others like Nagaimo, Yakisoba, assorted grilled meat, and Gyoza are also recommend to order when you go with a gang. Recently I just tried out the avocado salad, which blended with diced crab and fly fish roe, and serves with the baby lettuces. It is perfectly matched and irresistible!
(4)Vivian C.
Ittoku normally offers valet parking, but that was on hiatus during the excessively snowy winter of 2015. Parking was tough, but we ended up with a nice walk after dinner to help with the digestion. They wouldn't seat us till a certain majority of our party had arrived, but we ended up with a nice table in the relatively quieter bar area of the restaurant. From among the yakitori menu, I found that I did not care for the gizzard nor chicken tail. We had ordered the 10 piece Chef's choice Yakitori Combo $14.50, and a plate of slaw accompanied the skewers. Nagaimo Fuwafuwa Yaki (grated Japanese yam, couldn't read the rest) $8.50 was like nothing I imagined. It came in a neat little cast iron pan. The portion was light as the pan was short. It was an eggy dish with an okay flavor but was babyfood in texture. Once and done. The Kinoko Butter Itame (Assorted mushrooms pan-fried with butter) $9.00 was a small dish, but big on buttery good flavor. A number of dishes we ordered were good enough for a future repeat performance: . Geso Karaage (Fried Squid Legs) $7.00 . Okonomiyaki (Japanese-style pancake with pork and seafood) $8.50 . Omusoba (Yakisoba noodles wrapped in an egg omelet) $9.00 . Yuzu Subuta (Pan-fried pork with Japanese citrus flavor vinegar) $9 . Hire-Katsu Don (Pork Filet Cutlet in Egg Omelette) $9.50 The Big Yaki Onigiri (Giant grilled rice ball with soy sauce) $3.50/pc was rather simple, but reminiscent of the browned crisp rice from Chinese bo zai fan or Korean dolsot bibimbap. As for dessert, we tried both the Ittoku! Yaki Imo Brûlée (Homemade a rich koimo potato custard base topped with a contrasting layer of hard caramel) $5.75 and the Waffles a la mode (Homemade Belgian waffles with flan and ice cream) $8.00. I didn't realize the creme brulee was an out of the norm variation when we placed our order. But it was rather obvious when it arrived an off color. It was also a rougher texture than the usual smooth and creamy. I didn't care for it. The Belgian waffles were chocolate and Belgian in but shape alone. The flan and ice cream however were fine. An acceptable meal A terrific evening.
(3)Le T.
Husband and I came here to satisfy my prego cravings. I have been craving ramen, squid, flan, and greentea ice cream. I know, weird combination. But when you're pregnant, you'll know. All of my cravings were met with one visit to ittoku!! We ordered 9 items which came under $50. Not bad, not bad at all. Now that I'm expecting a kid, we're trying keep our budget low. I must say everything we ordered (see pics) was amazing. Although I must add the ramen was bit too salty.
(4)Kelli A.
I have been to Ittoku twice, and mostly eaten their grilled skewer options. The bacon wrapped quail eggs are nothing short of life changing, and the takoyaki is definitely the best you can get in Allston/Brighton. The yuzo pork dish is delicious, but you need to be into some serious pork fat (as luck would have it, I am!). The staff are very friendly, and the ambiance is a bit casual. You'll feel right at home with a pitcher of beer. They also provide cold ceramic glasses with your beer, which is pretty great.
(4)Tammy L.
I get made fun of all the time going for into izakayas and not ordering any alcohol. I go for the food and the atmosphere. My priorities are different, not wrong. Ittoku does a great job with the food and the atmosphere. You could easily spend two hours here without realizing it. It does get pretty loud but hey that is the charm of an izakaya and of most bars, right? The menu is filled with the usual izakaya food like yakitori, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, sashimi, and enough fried food for your zits to spring to life. For my first ever trip there, my friend and I split an order of the 10-piece yakitori combo, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, gyoza, fried ika, salmon, hotate and ika sashimi. The sashimi was exceptionally fresh. I have not had sashimi this fresh in a very long time in Boston. Highly recommend it. The takoyaki is also a must. Melt in your mouth good. It reminds me of Osaka. And anytime takoyaki reminds me of Osaka is a good time. The gyoza was okay and it is totally our fault. I think we let it sit for too long so the wrappers were not as crisp. And by too long, I mean we did not touch it for at least 25 minutes while we talked. Please don't do that to your gyoza. Get some beer and gobble those dumplings ASAP. Because. Beer. And. Gyoza. The 10-piece yakitori combo was good. I am going to be honest and say that I do not remember what I ate except that bacon one with quail egg. Not a fan of bacon (shush!) but it tasted really good. Please get it. It doesn't even taste like you're eating bacon. Okonomiyaki was delicious! It's not thick so don't expect that. It's savory but light at the same time, and I think it's better than average. All in all, a great place to hang out with friends who may or may not drink. Also perfect for families with babies as there is enough seating. Service was great, though water refills could have been more consistent and spaced out evenly. I didn't get a refill for the first hour, but in the second hour I got two. But other than that, I was satisfied.
(4)Jessica Y.
This place is probably the closest thing I can find in Boston that's comparable to the yakitori places in NYC. Although the food menu is not as extensive, it will do for now. Seating is awesome, and it's a great place for hanging out with friends over a few drinks and japanese-style tapas dishes. The salmon avocado wrapped in rice paper was delicious. The wasabi-marinated raw squid was also spot on. That dish was actually pretty big compared to those I've had elsewhere. The cold tofu wasn't so great - the texture wasn't silky enough. The skewers were ok, but the ramen was not ok. Go somewhere else for good ramen.
(4)Tony J.
Pretty cool place. This place is modeled after a Japanese izakaya; basically a bar where you hang out, have some drinks, and order a bunch of dishes to share. There's a ton of variety here. You could get sushi, sashimi, steak, ramen, yakitori, and other interesting small dishes, like omusoba, okonomiyaki, all your standard tofu appetizers, anago, and other interesting things you'd never think to try. Also, as a plus, this place has valet parking for $1 (NOT ANYMORE, NOW IT'S $5 BUT THERE'S SOMETIMES FREE PARKING ON WARREN ST). So it's pretty convenient for drivers, but it's pretty busy often, which means that people are coming back for more. Come here, but prepare to wait.
(5)Rob T.
As usual in my reviews the truth is this is somewhere between 4 and 5 stars. Food was a 5. Service was a 4.5 But everyone should try this place so I'm rating it 5. The good was fantastic. We ate too many dishes to list really (which is kind of the point of izakaya in the first place). The sushi items were all fresh and we'll prepared. Fried items were cooked in fresh oil. Portions were very good for the price. Service was great to start but as they got busier we had to wait a little longer than I like for service. For those who don't know, izakaya is probably best described as Japanese tapas. So, frequent attention by the server is usually necessary since you order lots of small plates and beverages over the course of your meal. I'm not saying service was bad. It was definitely above average. I'm just saying that if there's an area for improvement that would be it. The atmosphere was very relaxed and casual. Plenty of small tables and big tables to accommodate groups or couples. They had a really great variety of most things you should find on an izakaya menu as well as some very interesting specials and such that make this a place we'll come back to over and over.
(5)Minyi Z.
I have visited Ittoku many times, and I always love the food there. The only reason that I am giving 3 stars is the service I have received tonight. It was my first time sitting at the sushi bar. I have waited for long time for food, and our waitress didn't pay attention to us the whole night. I canceled one order after waiting for almost 20 mins. And then I replaced that order with a dessert, which I still waited for 20 mins and more. The ice cream was melt when it was served. I think the sushi master did a better job than my waitress cause he noticed that we were kind of upset and he helped us ask our waitress to come over( whom I couldn't find for a long time, I canceled and reorder through another waiter). Sad. I love ittoku, but tonight I was very disappointed.
(3)Janet J.
I have been to Ittoku with friends and family multiple times and I loved every visit. Each time I venture out and try something new and all dishes have been pretty good! Some of my favorites: 1. 3 Kind Aburi sushi - torched salmon, tuna, and mackeral MY FAVORITE! Fresh quality sushi over tasty rice. Rice seasoning, temperature and texture is very important in serving sushi and not many restaurants prepare rice well. Ittoku is one of the few restaurants that actually prepares rice the way it is supposed to be prepared! 2. Buri Kama - broiled yellow tail collar This dish is one of my favs, but it has not been every time we visit because "it is difficult to get yellow tail collar" per the restaurant. They have been substituting it with salmon collar, which is good, but not as juicy, flavorful and moist as the yellow tail collar! Ittoku is one of my favorite restaurants! It is a hidden gem in Allston. I have very high standards for sushi and Ittoku definitely lives up to my standard!
(5)Maya M.
The bacon wrapped enoki mushrooms (yakitori), sashimi and agedashi tofu are my favourites so far. Definitely plan to go back and try other things on the menu. The "light and fresh" sake (don't remember the actual name but the term light and fresh is in the menu description) goes down pretty smooth! And quick and accommodating service! They didn't mind us adding two seats to our table half way into our meal. Thanks guys!
(4)Joichi I.
Very Japanese - closest to a real Japanese Izakaya so far. For a relatively authentic Japanese experience including the Japanese on the menu and on the walls, a great place. Service was friendly and responsive. Specials were excellent. I actually loved that they focused on a limited number of classics rather than being experimental and "off". Casual and authentic. Highly recommend for anyone yearning for a traditional and comforting taste of normal Japan.
(4)June-Young C.
If you are here for the yakitori, then you should probably order it as soon as you get in because it takes a LOOOONGG time for them to cook it. (but it's worth it) I've tried the 10 piece combo, the "steak," octopus legs, the omusoba, and many grilled meats on those little skewers. The food really goes well with a beer, and there is no way you can only order one thing. This place is tapas style, so I recommend trying a little bit of everything. I don't think the place is famous for sushi, so go for the tasty grilled meats. The skewers are fairly small, but they make up for it in taste. Usually, I will order some rice or a omusoba to fill me up at the end. This place is unique because I have never seen and omusoba before. It is like an omurice(omelette wrapped around rice), but with noodles inside?! Overall, pretty good place.
(4)Ashley D.
I've found it very difficult to find good, authentic Japanese food in the Boston area, but thankfully there is Ittoku! I was so excited when I moved into my new apartment off Comm Ave and discovered this place literally 2 doors down from where I now live. I come here at least once a week and the menu is so diverse that I never get bored with what they offer. They have a huge selection of sake and also offer pitchers of all of the main japanese beers. And the fooooood. It's the only place I know if in Boston where you can order some of the more traditional items like yakitori, yakisoba, omusoba, and okonomiyaki. YES. I think their yakitori selection is one of the best things they offer and it tastes so, so good after a few shots of sake and a beer or three. They also of course have various sushi dishes and offer ramen specials but it's great to try something new because they do it all very well here. Street parking is available in the area but can be kinda tough sometimes so they also offer $1 valet parking. I would definitely take advantage if I didn't live next door!
(5)Clare Z.
The best Japanese restaurant in Boston I think. Beef tongue is the best dish here. The sashimi is very fresh and high quantity. I like the Teriyaki too.
(5)Robert C.
Great food and great staff, we did a birthday there just recently and they were very accommodating!
(5)Christina R.
Exactly what you want in an izakaya! Boyfriend is always happy to go there because he can speak in Japanese with all of the staff comfortably. Our bill came out to be $80, since it was our first time there and we wanted to try everything. Sashimi was fresh and delicious. Takoyaki was super tasty! Okonomiyaki was...not my favorite, since it was almost too soft, but the flavors were all there. We had the standard karrage, beer, and yakitori = cheap and tasty. Very great place in Boston. Glad to have an izakaya!
(5)Alyssa W.
It's worth a try, but it is not the first place I think of when people ask where to go eat. Parking is hard to find in this area, but they have $1 valet service, so that is a +1 star. Food wise, this place has it all. I've never had the traditional, so I can't say how authentic their food is, but I'm sure you'll find what you want. I really love their sashimi options, everything is so fresh and they do not skimp on the size. We have tried skin, chicken thigh, tongue, cartilage, pork belly, mushroom, okra, and more. Ramen was ok, broiled mackerel was fresh. I'm used to bones in my fish and dealiing with it, but this one had really too many. (i know, what am I gonna do, tell the fish to grow fewer bones? haha) The hamachi kama is a really good prices and it's so good. just so good. So i'd definitely say you so you try this restaurant out!
(4)Roxana F.
I came here with my cousin who was visiting from the UK since he mentioned wanting Japanese food. It had good Yelp reviews and is just down the street from my apartment. When we arrived (around 7 on a Sunday) it wasn't very crowded, but it took forever to get a server to take our order. We had to basically shout at her (sorry, but tried to make eye contact and hand gestures) to get her attention. We ordered the maki combo, the fried baby octopus special, the fried chicken, a chicken thigh yakitori, the shrimp tempura nigiri (I think it's called nigiri, the one that is served on top of rice), and the shoyu ramen. The maki was delicious. Fresh, good quality fish so we gobbled this down pretty quickly. The fried octopus was pretty tasty, but too rubbery. The fried chicken had a nice batter, but was bland. Ramen was also pretty bland, but nice anyway on such a cold night. The shrimp tempura was delicious, it's a shame they don't offer a tempura appetizer or something as we would have definitely ordered it. The chicken thigh yakitori was delicious, but came out cold. So, despite the bad service and the hit-or-miss dishes, I think I would come here again to try some of their other offerings. I've had friends rave about this place, so perhaps I need to find out what they're ordering...
(3)Mina P.
My boyfriend and I went there last week since I've been longing to go. Ittoku is right by the T stop Warren St (B line) and the place was bigger than I anticipated it to be. The workers are friendly and the service is not bad. We ordered two asahi beers, yakisoba and ika yaki (squid). The noodles weren't too thick or thin. I liked how there was a hint of ginger sprinkled on top. The yakisoba was good and so was the ika yaki. We also ordered the katsu don afterwards (we ordered more than we could eat - our hunger clouded our judgment). I personally liked the katsu don out of the three dishes. Pork cutlet cooked with eggs over a bed of rice. It was delicious - not too dry but not soggy. It was perfectly cooked. I am definitely going again and will order the okonomiyaki and maybe the katsu don again!
(5)Samantha B.
In the former Petit Robert Bistro space, Ittoku brings contrast to a residential neighborhood with scarce dining options. Enjoy the $1 valet parking, as Commonwealth Avenue is mainly resident parking only. Dined at this location while it was Petit Robert, and immediately noticed the transformation of the space with a few similarities. The bar area is still on the right and the kitchen is still central. The sushi bar is hidden in the back. Ittoku has many tables, but at around 7 PM on a weekend there was already a wait. Take your pick of Japanese fare, this place has it. From sushi, ramen, yakisoba, and yakitori, Ittoku has an overwhelming selection of options (with the unfortunate exclusion of curry). The 10-piece Chef's choice yakitori combo was reasonable with a random sampling of momo (thigh), sunagimo (gizzard), harami (skirt), bon jiri (chicken tail) and bacon & okura (bacon-wrapped okra). The consistency of meat varied from tender to chewy. The yakitori each had their own marinades and char textures. Would recommend the 5-piece option over the 10-piece, and a la carte options are also available. The yuzu subuta (citrus flavor pork vinegar) was enough to share with the 10-piece yakitori. The pork, onions, and mushrooms had a strong orange flavor and the dish was light on vinegar. The pork cut was cubed and most likely pork belly. Would recommend a side of rice with this dish. Finished the meal with a few quick bites, the dashimaki tamago (Japanese-style egg omelette) and piri kara kombu kyuri (spicy cucumber with kelp). They were lovely "desserts." The omelette was delicate with a smooth texture. The bits of daikon and scallion on top of each small omelette provided the perfect pairing. The cucumber spice was reminiscent of a combination of Korean and Szechuan peppers. The cucumbers were thickly sliced. This meal was a true potpourri of flavors.
(3)Florina K.
Great date place. Wayy better than what used to be here before....that for sure. Fun food, great service, will definitely come back again. Some of the food quality could be a tab better though. Also really appreciate the valet parking here not being a rip off!!
(4)Nicky F.
SO CHEAP AND GOOD! I have never heard of this place until my good friend introduced me to it. The menu had many authentic (and some that are very new to me) dishes. The OMUSOBA was really good! Although our soba noodles were not so well cooked, it tasted great. It's not too sweet and had the right amount of saltiness. We also ordered fatty tuna nigiri, salmon sashimi, and the avocado and shrimp salad. I would say that the fish were very fresh, and so worth it for the price. Lastly we tried the steak it was really soft and juicy. This place is pretty great, the staffs were really nice and helpful. We tried the potato creme brûlée for dessert. It's not as good as we thought it would be as it has this distinguished taste. I would recommend you to try something else.
(4)Thai-Anh H.
I was excited to try out a japanese tapas bar since it was voted on Boston Magazine. The $1 valet was great. I thought the vibe was off and didn't have that fun atmosphere of a tapas bars that I frequented in NYC. We tried a lot of dishes and overall, I think the food is so and so. I am a bit confused on the hype.
(3)Tianshu L.
All the dishes are tasteless. If u wanna try the Yakitori, make sure u take salt with u.
(2)Steven W.
At first, I chose this restaurant because I was attracted by Japanese kabob. But I was disappointed a little as all stuff were over cooked and tasted not good per se, let alone the very limited choices for kabob. Nevertheless, I was impressed by ãŠèŒ¶æ¼¬ã‘ (tea rice, maybe) and eel sushi. Very amazing!! As a die-hard fan for eel, I have tried massive eel sushi, and this restaurant gave me surprise absolutely. The sauce is perfect and the heat was controlled very well. By the way, the surroundings are very good and the stuff speak Japanese for working while speak English when serving customers. Authentic Japanese style and it is absolutely a fabulous place drinking and talking with friends after studying or working.
(4)Eva W.
Favorite place to have sashimi and sake and Japanese BBQ! Loooooooove the tuna tartar! Cannot have enough of that! Sashimi is fresh and tasty and service is good! 下雪天在这里åƒçƒ§çƒ¤å–暖暖的清酒真是太棒了ï¼å¤§æº€è¶³ï¼
(5)Nam L.
It's an izakaya and it's in Boston! It's good! The yakitori is the best you're going to get around here, and maybe the only place! Since it won Best of Boston 2014 for Japanese, it's gotten dramatically more crowded. As compensation, the food and sushi has gotten that much more fresh and varied! Go, eat, have some beer and sake! This food is made for soaking up alcohol. Try the ramen, surprisingly good for a non-noodle specialist.
(5)Maliza H.
5 stars down! For the taste of real Japanese foods, this place deserve a 5 stars. It's really hard to find a place like Ittoku in Boston. I have tried so many Japanese restaurant, this one probably my favorite one so far.
(5)Ted W.
This place did not live up to my expectations. I really love the concept and wanted it to be awesome. They have a great variety and a very cool scene. The people were super nice and as an amazing bonus they even have free valet! But the food just wasn't that good. It wasn't bad exactly but nothing really knocked my socks off as something that I wish I could have again. I'm a huge fan of Japanese cuisine but don't consider myself a snob on the subject at all. I'm just looking for the fried stuff to be crispy and the fish to be generally fresh. I'll have to go back and give it a shot because I feel terrible posting this..
(3)Kelvin W.
Great place for a Japanese izakaya. Food is well-priced. Only place I know that does yakitori in Boston, which is real yakitori that includes chicken skin/gizzards and not an atypical meat on a stick. The Omusoba is great to share amongst a group. Everything is great, I would say this is a hidden Japanese gem in Boston. The valet service is a great feature here. It's about a $1, which is great given everything is residential parking in the area.
(4)Mon C.
I was looking forward to trying this place out and taking advantage of the $1 valet. Unfortunately, when we arrived valet was full. The food was decent, but not spectacular. I would probably not order the Ittoku streak again. But the sake harasu was my favorite dish that we ordered all night.
(3)Catie C.
Tho it's opened by Japanese doesn't necessarily mean it's to die for! I came here with absolutely no expectations. Besides the greetings and thank you's (which is typical of Japanese), there's nothing worth the ha-rah of the service. I don't think care if we drank anything else besides water. After me and my friend sat down, eventually glasses of water was dropped off while we were waiting for the third. She didn't even really say anything as she dropped off the water. She didn't even come by to say anything till the third person came in to complete the party. Certainly, don't expect hospitality to be their strong point! I just find it ironic that they weren't trying to sell me sake (their signage - Sake Bar). On top of that - "Izakaya" for the name, they don't live up to it! I'll stick with H20 since that was their offering to me. The Kushiyaki took up a full page on the menu; but it didn't take up a full plate on the table. We opted to try 4 skewers - Torikawa (chicken skin), Butabara (pork belly), Bacon & Okura (Bacon wrapped Okra) and Gyutan (beef tongue). I don't go out to venture on skewers that often but these are the cheesiest kushiyaki I ever seen. Maybe there is a famine going on in Allston that I don't know about and the food needed to be rationed! Aside from that, you can smell and taste the grill. However, the recipe just ain't that great. I can probably tell my little nephew to put some food on a stick and grill it - and the results would be similar. The chicken skin was a huge disappointment. The texture - not even crispy thru. As for noodles, I was intrigued with Omusoba on the menu. Yakisoba noodles wrapped in an egg omelet. Interesting presentation. It's pretty hard to totally screw up yakisoba. A bit too saucy in my opinion. It lacked the stir fry smell and flavor. Agedashi Tofu was decent. Funny how the server gave us 2 bowls and 4 spoons between the three of us. A mathematical equation that I couldn't comprehend! Ika Yaki (Broiled Squid) was broiled to the right tenderness. Too bad there wasn't much flavor to it. I didn't think they added anything prior to grilling it as a matter of fact! There was nothing creative on the sushi page so I didn't bother trying it myself since I heard it wasn't that great of a quality and the sushi chef left bones in the fillets. I can have tuna, salmon, yellowtail just about anywhere so I didn't want to waste the money to risk getting a boner in my mouth.
(1)Yuki S.
Karaage and asahi beer is my jam.
(5)Alexandra K.
We absolutely loved our dinner here. My friend and I decided to go tapas style on this and just ordered a little bit of everything. Our favorites were the Omusoba - noodles in an omelet and Maguro Tartar - tuna tartar and avocado. All food was well seasoned and our waitress was just adorable and was very helpful in helping us select the dishes. Their dessert menu is a bit weak, and I would definitely like to see other more interesting items on the menu, but it does not stop me from giving this place a five star review as we really enjoyed our experience. At the end of the day that is what it's all about - enjoying the experience.
(5)Alison P.
Came here on a Friday and oh lord it was a waste of my time. The service sucked big time. Our waitress did not understand us and she was rude. The host was rude too. I and my roommate were here last thursday and left very happy. Our waitress was very friendly and cheerful and the food was great too. But yesterday it was shit. I think its a nice place but the service is a joke.
(1)Alex S.
This place is one of the few izakaya (居酒屋，if you don't know what it is then google it, you'll be amazed) in Boston, and it is genuine. You can expect anything you want from a izakaya in here. The service, the ambiance, and the menu options, as well as a friendly valet parking option with just $1 service fee (but I bet most people tip more than $1 anyway). It is a must go place for people who drive and enjoy Japanese cuisine in Boston. I've always had a good time in ittoku. Eating in ittoku means ordering at your own pace. If you are going to order a lot of food, you should not order them all at once because they would all be served up at the same time, then you will risk cooling your food before you had a chance to enjoy them. Order what you want for the moment, with a cup of sake, and then order other things when you are done. Why can't a meal take longer than 2 hours? I think slow eating and actually enjoying the night with friends are the soul purpose of izakaya. This place is definitely a great place to go on special occasions, or even just a friendly gathering between your pals. Only be advise that since it is a izakaya, the turn around time can be quite long, so avoid late arrival on busy holidays or weekends, or else you risk yourself standing in a line that could take years to digest. Since there really aren't many competition for izakaya here in Boston, considering the ease to park, the abundance of menu options, the delicious food, and the A+ service plus A+ interior (comfy and spacious, with traditional Japanese decorations) of the restaurant, I would rate it at 5 stars no doubt.
(5)Jae J.
Oh. My. God. I am in love. I swear it, I'm in love. I came here on a Thursday night after eating only a light lunch because I was prepared to stuff myself silly with deliciousness and I was not disappointed. Despite it being a weekday night, the restaurant was absolutely bustling! We started off with the Kyuri Ippon Zuke (Japanese-style pickled mini cucumber) and Takoyaki (deep-fried ball-shaped octopus pancakes topped with plenty of scallions) for our apps. The cucumber was pretty good and as was the Takoyaki, though I've had better Takoyaki in New York. Still, though, not complaining. Next, we got the Chef's Choice 10 piece combo in which the chef chose 10 skewers for us. We wound up with a few skewers that I thought I would never try (chicken skin, gizzard, chicken tail) as well as some that I was already familiar with (chicken thigh, bacon & quail eggs). They were all really good, ermagerd. We also ordered a few skewers besides the Chef's Choice: bacon-wrapped okra, more bacon-wrapped quail eggs, and beef short ribs. I encourage you to to try one of each type of skewer offered because all of them are equally delicious. To rack up our bill even higher, we ordered the Ittoku! Steak, a Japanese-style ribeye steak and that was uh-ma-zing. I don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't to melt into a happy puddle into my seat like this steak made me do. My boyfriend has the stomach of ten people so he ordered the Ittoku! Ramen as well, which was just normal ramen noodles in a beef bone broth with some toppings. It was good, but it's not what they're known for, just a good side-dish. We also got the Omusoba, which were Yakisoba noodles wrapped in an egg omelette. I confess that we were so full by this point that I only ate a bite before requesting for the waitress to box this up for us. That too, though, served as a delicious lunch for the next day. Finally, we ended with dessert with Waffles a la mode, which were homemade Belgian waffles with flan and green tea Pocky and our choice of ice cream (we got green tea). Other choices of ice cream included red bean, vanilla, and strawberry. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK!
(5)Christine K.
I know I've been pretty liberal with my five-star reviews, but this place deserves it for not only serving great food efficiently, but for dealing with our huge group of 20 people, the last few of whom trickled in at later times, making the poor waitress run back and forth with more chairs, more chairs! **A special note for parents: this place is kid-friendly. They bring out the high chairs for the little ones, and the waiters are very careful to step around the children if they happen to be running around. No anxious parent need worry about hot ramen soup spilling on their kids' heads! I took a group of friends to celebrate my birthday here, and even though they don't take reservations on Fridays and Saturdays, tonight when we arrived, we had a long table set out for us - all 20-odd people were able to sit together! We split orders by table (we occupied three), since it made sense for mini-groups to share the "tapas-like" foods and entrees. My table got the famed omusoba and an absolutely heavenly dish with tuna and avocado (other Yelpers have taken pictures of this creation). I have to say, I was totally blown away by how amazing the tuna and avocado combo tasted! GET THIS IF YOU COME HERE. We also got a sashimi plate, some fried chicken thighs, skewers, potato salad and vinegar cucumbers, and kimchi with pork. Was happy with all the choices - the chicken meat was especially tender and tasted great with the curry pepper that accompanied it. Didn't try any ramen this time, but when I return, that'll be next on the list. A word of advice: come with a sizable group if you do visit. The experience is best when splitting all the little plates, instead of sticking to your own entrees.
(5)Sarah F.
The parking was a bit inconvenient (we didn't use the valet parking, although we later found out it was available- plan to use it or have a bit of a hike!). We went on a weeknight, so were able to get a table immediately, which was nice since we had heard it was crowded. The food was fairly good. We ordered okonomiyaki, which was nice but very fluffy from the batter; tsukemono, which were not great and I would not recommend; yakitori, which was delicious, and a few other dishes. The beer and sake we got were great as well and complimented the food. My favorite bit was that I was able to get エイã®ã²ã‚Œ, a dish that I haven't been able to find elsewhere yet since moving back to the USA, so that was wonderful. It was on their specials menu. I would definitely go back to try the other food options and would love to visit on a weekend or later in the week to get a better idea of the atmosphere. High end of three stars.
(3)Andrew C.
Oh man. Been waiting for a good izakaya in Boston. They have a good selection of kushiyaki and yakitori! Out of the salmon collar tonight! So sad. But will have to come back again for it. Promo $1 valet parking but I doubt it'll continue for long!
(4)Wei Y.
The Yakitoris are so-so, fried noodles are recommended! Great service and authentic Japanese style.
(4)Ali C.
Their skewers were tasty. However, not a fan of the size portion for the price of it... Being a college student I suppose. I was definitely a huge fan of their $8 dessert: flan, ice cream (of your choice), and chocolate Belgian waffle. Oh and I liked their salmon sashimi too. Yum. Service-wise, very friendly staff... But not so much attentive ):
(3)Yuka Y.
Coming in on a Monday night, Ittoku is dead quiet. With the exception of 3 or so tables, the place is empty. The first thing that'll strike you about the place is its sparse area-none of that claustrophobic, crammed tables you so often encounter in the restos of Allston. Considering this was a joint venture of Cafe Mami, Sapporo Ramen, and Ebi Sushi, I was expecting something small and low key but I was taken aback with the brightly lit, meticulously clean, modern atmosphere of Ittoku. The interior is reminiscent of Bonchon, but brighter and more spacious :) Might be a different story on the weekend, but the service was fine and things came in a timely manner. Majority of the servers are Japanese and the customers that came in were Japanese. Love the enticing menu, colorful with Japanese and English captions. It felt like being in NY, folks here really try to bring the yakitori/Japanese restaurant experience to you :) Definitely check out their yakitori menu, prices range from $1.50-3.00 per skewer. Favorites of me and my honey's were the -Bacon Uzura (Bacon wrapped around a quail egg) -Bacon Okura (Bacon wrapped around okura -Gyutan (Beef tongue) -Sunagimo (Chicken gizzard) The chicken skin were a disappointment- too much fat and not enough crispiness. There is good effort in flavoring the beef, as for their chicken not so much. Their chicken items were bland and needs more marinating.Overall their meat selections are excellent, nothing came out dry or too meager. They have okonomiyaki!! Their okonomiyaki was alright, but nothing outstanding. Too much batter and not enough cabbage and okonomi sauce. Kudos to the shrimp and pork slices in there. Things I look forward in happening: -Having your own shichimi bottle at the table instead of only having a little sprinkled on your yakitori dish. Sometimes that little mound of spice isn't enough for spicy aficionados like me :( The location of this place is a slight inconvenience, tucked in the inner corners of Allston (further down the same street as Mc. D's). Other than that, their menu is expansive and will require future visits from me. Beyond yakitori, they've got everything from sushis and hot plate items to cooked fish and omusoba. Booze lovers won't be disappointed, sake, wine, and beer selections available. Good effort is made in creating good presentation in every dish, overall you won't be disappointed whether coming in as a date or unwinding with friends.
(4)Brittany L.
My boyfriend, his roommate, and I dined here once so far. The environment was bustling and we noticed that there was a dining room and bar separated. There were TV's in both the dining room and the bar to make it feel casual. I ordered the pork belly skewer (delicious with a squeeze of lemon) and the pork ramen. The broth was warming and had plenty of garlic. We were all very satisfied with the meal. Can't wait to try more delicious entrees. The place is decently priced and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants good Japanese food/ramen.
(4)Sid C.
Oh my god worst ramen ever. Nuff said. Taste like the ones your next door neighbor can make. Do not come here.
(1)Kelly O.
It's about time Boston has an izakaya, and Ittoku does a great job fulling that void, especially without busting the bank. Four of us checked it out on a Saturday night, and found it packed (mostly with Asians, a good sign?) and very lively. I was psyched for the 'small plates' idea so that I could try a bunch of things at once (for not a lot of $). I tried: -Sake something-or-other: it was under the 'sake cocktail' section of the menu for $16 and was recommended by our waitress when the sake cooler we wanted wasn't available, so two of us decided to split it and ended up ordering a second carafe because it was so good (sweet and lemony) -Takoyaki: freshly fried to perfection, with tons of delicious sauce/scallions drizzled all over -Omusoba: yakisoba noodles/pork wrapped in an omlette drizzled with more delicious sauce, very filling and good -Sake harasu: yummy broiled salmon belly, can't go wrong here -Yakitori skewers (green peppers, pork belly, various chicken bits- thigh, skin, butt, 'skirt steak'): skip the peppers and stick to the chicken, which I found all to be very juicy and flavorful, and is the main reason to come here IMO. Skewers are on the small side, but still a decent portion each (especially for $1.50). -Fried oysters: my friend got these, so I tried a bite and wasn't a huge fan (oysters weren't very tasty, batter was way too heavy) The service was very attentive and polite; our waitress constantly apologized because she was so busy running around to other tables, but honestly we didn't even notice because she and her team were very efficient and attentive. Bonus: you can hang out as long as you like without being bothered (none of the usual 'let's get these people out the door ASAP' you find in most restaurants). Will definitely return. Bonuses: $1 valet and $17 pitchers of Japanese beer.
(4)Wilma O.
I am SO HAPPY to finally have a Japanese izakaya here in Boston!! I've been to this restaurant already twice since its opening 6 days ago and I plan on dragging everyone I know here. This is one thing that really disappointed me about Boston - the lack of authentic Japanese food (especially with the slow demise of Porter Exchange). My mom is Japanese and I lived there for 2.5 years as an adult, so it's what I grew up eating. In Japan, sushi is really not such a big deal -- Japanese food is all about the interesting mixes of ingredients (fishes, meat, vegetables, noodles, rice), and putting interesting spins on alternative cuisines. Izakayas give exactly that as they have large menus of small items meant to accompany alcohol. For example, french fries with cod roe sauce sounds so American but it's really something you would find on a Japanese menu (and you'd find here). As for this restaurant, it's still hard to say how things will go, and some dishes could use some work, but I give 5 stars for the high promise and some dishes that wowed everyone. For specific dishes...: - Oshizushi (I had the aburi sake and the saba) - both extremely delicious and melts in your mouth - Motsu miso yaki - I love love beef intestine but even my American friends were licking the plate because the sauce was so good - Gyukotsu ochazuke - This was a little spicy and wasn't quite a "Japanese flavor," but very tasty - Yaki ika - I have to say, this was a bit bland, could have used a little more sauce. - Various kushi - these have been good but haven't blown me out of the water (they were better at the now-dead Yakitori Zai. Though I hear the previous owner is working here now). - Wafu steak - This wasn't the best steak I've had but tasted exactly like what you'd buy at a Pepper Steak store in Tokyo The location for this restaurant is a little strange (near the Allston st T-stop), but if you are curious about having an authentic Japanese experience, please make the trip here!!
(5)Lillian C.
Came here with a group and our resident Japanese "guide". He swears that this is a TOTALLY AUTHENTIC Japanese Izakaya and strongly recommended the place. We got there around 6:30 and it wasn't too packed so we were quickly seated. The place is decently sized, but I can see how it could get super packed pretty quickly. Service was great the whole time we were there and the people are just so friendly and nice! We tried: Ika Yaki - I love grilled squid and this place had a nice dipping sauce that gave it some flavor without being overbearing Takoyaki - soooo tasty and cooked just right. Other places use too much dough in the ball, but this was spot on Chef's choice 10 pieces Yakitori Combo - I thought the selection that came out was just all right... next time I'd probably choose my own yakitori instead of going with the combo. I think it just had multiple skewers of chicken (chicken skin, gizzard) and two of pork belly. The pork belly and chicken skin needed more time over the fire to cook the fat more until it's more crispy because what we got was just soft and chewy... Omusoba - this dish is AMAZING! The egg was cooked nicely and the noodles combined with it was so delicious. It was so good we ordered a second order of this after we finished the first one... We also ordered another roll, forgot which one, it wasn't memorable, but tasted fresh. The food was good, service was fast, and the price is pretty good. I'm def a fan!
(4)Carol W.
I came here with my husband to celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary. While it was enjoyable and the food was good, we left wondering if we would want to come back again. When our waitress handed us the menu, I was pretty excited because it reminded me of the restaurants on Saint Marks in NYC. However, upon closer examination of the menu items, I, we, realized that the offerings were much more limited. My husband loves yakitori and was disappointed in the only handful of options. I wanted something with rice, like curry, or even tempura udon, which the places on Saint Marks have. Most telling was the fact that my husband and I kept on looking over the menu to see if we could find anything else that we wanted. We ordered the following: hamachi sashimi, yaki ika, ramen, four different types of yakitori, gyoza, fried oysters, spicy tuna maki, and green tea. The green tea was complimentary. I enjoyed the house made gyoza the most. They came out on a hot plate and remained hot for quite a while. They were tasty without the sauce. I also liked the yaki ika and the mayo sauce that came with it. The tuna inside the spicy tuna maki was HUGE. It was the biggest piece of tuna that I've ever experienced in a maki! Overall, Ittoku was a bit of a let down compared to the places in NYC. It does not live up to the hype. We left feeling full, but I think I prefer going to Cafe Mami in the Porter Exchange and get filled up on the food there. I would consider coming back here again with a friend to try the okonomiyaki and takoyaki. We did like the $1 valet parking. It was very helpful.
(3)Sean U.
Great find. Okasuba (sp?) was something new that we hadn't had before. Glad we tried it. Very friendly, efficient service. Prices very reasonable. Uni portions were quite robust and the quality was excellent. Everything we had was great. They also have 1$ valet parking despite the falling snow that was very helpful. Will be back again!
(5)Ryan E.
Really enjoyed our night out here---this spot has seen a laundry list of restaurants come and go in the past few years and I REALLY hope this one stays. Ambiance is simple/elegant but not stuffy---couple TVs adorn the wall that no one really seemed to be watching. Wait staff was attentive, and very friendly. Food was, in my opinion, very very good. Started with fermented seaweed: flavor--on, texture--interesting Next, friend octopus balls: flavor country---like fluffy hushpuppies with pieces of octo and drizzled with japanese mayo Onto yakitori--had beef short rib, flank steak, mushroom, all great--but the standout for us with the chicken thigh for price/taste ratio ramen and okonomiyaki for mains---ramen was just delicious. Not as flavorful as the old store bought standby but I mean, they probably didn't have enough salt in the entire restaurant to recreate the college staple. Loved the okonomiyaki--couldn't identify exactly what it contained but isn't that the point? Got 2 bottles of delicious sake (1 house--cold, 1 dry--cold) for $20 total...pretty fantastic both in terms of price and taste. Will absolutely be back again!
(4)Ambrose C.
Are you looking for the flavor of a Japanese Izakaya right here in Boston? Well, if you are looking for that place, you may have to go further to find it. Located in Brighton, this place may be worthwhile if you are really craving for this flavor. Izakayas are supposedly Japanese style bars that serve small dishes for groups of people with drinks. They have a fairly tasty selection of Kushiyaki meats served on skewers. My favorites are the chicken varieties, such as the chicken thighs and the gizzard. I really liked the tenderness of the chicken. Another favorite that I enjoyed at this place is Gyutan, or the beef tongue. All the meats had a nice tenderness, good flavor, and are great small dishes as complements for drinks. If you have a large group of people, I think ordering a lot of these meats would be a great choice. The ramen noodle bowl is not bad. The broth has a nice flavor and the noodles have a great texture. I would not say it is the best place to get ramen, but if you are really craving it, they do a decent job. Their Omusoba, which are these Yakisoba noodles wrapped in an egg omelette has a nice and tasty flavor and it's a great choice if you want some tasty eggs with a lot of good flavor with some noodles. Their most expensive dish, the Wafu Steak, is a very worthwhile and tasty dish. The tenderness of the steak was excellent. One dish with a bowl of rice would make an excellent but moderately priced dinner. The Tori Karaage fried chicken dish is a fairly good choice if you want some crispy chicken. The plate is really small, so I think you need to make 2 or 3 orders of this dish if you are with a group of people. Interior is nice. This place used to be a French Bistro before it became a Japanese Izakaya. Since this place serves small dishes, it is a good choice if you are planning on eating a lighter dinner after a really big lunch or planning on eating a larger meal several hours later in the night. Overall, if you are really looking for a tasty Japanese Izakaya in a somewhat decent city like Boston, this place is actually a pretty good choice and I think they have a lot of potential. Since I live near this place, I would not mind coming back here often if I am craving Japanese food. This place may not be the best Japanese Izakaya, but it's probably one of the best places with a Japanese Izakaya menu in a city like Boston.
(4)Christine N.
I love ittoku! I came here late Sunday and I love yakatori. There aren't many restaurants that offer that but ittoku had a couple of different types on the menu. I rushed over around 1030 and tried finding parking on my own with no luck. I pulled up in front and remembered reading that they have $1 valet. Sweet! The guy comes up and I go eat. We sit down and skim both the menu and special menu. So many things to try and in so little time! We tried chicken skins, the steak, quail eggs, fried squid legs, fried octopus, and an assortment of sashimi. Everything was delicious. Oh! We also had their japanese sausage and bacon. So good. The sashimi was super fresh. We tried the roasted pork and I actually found that to be dry and the Hamburg which was literally a hamburger patty in a gravy sauce. Tasty like it was described but I could've done without ordering it. We asked the waitress what else we should try and she said she thinks we ordered a lot already hahah. She was right. But so good. They ran out of chicken tails so we'll have to be back to try more. And I plan of trying a lot more!
(5)Handhi J.
Portions are a tad small and the meals a bit pricy, but the drinks are aplenty and the food is quite tasty. The menus are, to be honest, a bit cluttered but I suppose it goes along with the whole theme of the sake house.
(4)Corey L.
Went on a Saturday for dinner with a group. My friend (who happens to be Japanese) ordered for us, Izakaya style. The restaurant itself is nice, modern inside, nothing fancy. The staff was great, super friendly and very attentive. $1 valet parking - REALLY nice. The food was pretty great. We started with a Jako Tomato Salad - good size, good mixture of ingredients, and not too much dressing. Baby sardines added a crunch and weren't super strong. We also had a Yakitori 5 piece combo - chicken meatballs, gizzard, something bacon-wrapped, King Oyster mushrooms, some chicken meat. They were tiny, but tasty - well flavored but not too much. Woulda liked the chicken meat and mushrooms to have a little more flavor, but overall quite interesting to try. Good for a group as we each got to try what we wanted off the skewers. We also shared an Omusoba, which was basically an omelet wrapped around noodles and some pork. Really really good. We also had some sort of fried balls of something - not sure what it was, but also really good. Had some cold sake the server recommended (Murai nigori?), which was exactly what we asked for - smooth but with a nice flavor. Finished with waffles a la mode, which was really good. Green tea ice cream (typical, good), with flan (typical, good - nice consistency), and a chocolate waffle. The waffle was good - a bit more solid and definitely chocolatey, could be broken into chunks, so not very light inside. Not a typical waffle, but I really liked it. Great meal!
(4)Philly B.
Have been waiting for a place like this in Boston for a long time. Izakayas are everywhere in NY, so WHY THE HELL ARE THEY NOT HERE!? Well, someone finally stepped up their game. Have been here 4 times, only had to wait once (think it is getting more popular). Service is always great, food is unbelievable, and PLEASE tell me where in Allston can you get FREE valet parking. .. Japanese Tapas style, authentic dishes, cheap drinks, and great atmosphere. This place will not be a hidden gem for long. Raw Octopus- BOMB Omu-Soba- BOMB Yakitori- BOMB Grilled Mackerel- BOMB Support this place! Or stay away so I don't have to wait in line next time I go!
(4)Tyler M.
This place is the best sushi/yakitori joint I have had the pleasure of frequenting since I have been in Boston. Sake is nice and (relatively) cheap, Sapporo and Stone Warrior beer for $6/pint is awesome. Compared to other sushi places I have been to where I have been charged $8 for 2 pieces of nigiri tuna, here they charge only $2/pc. Yes, it is literally double! Me and the wife tried out the sushi (I got tuna and she had salmon) and both were fresh and delicious. We sat at the bar, and service was near instant. No issues here. We asked the bartender for her recommendation on sake and she was quick to point out a delicious, fresh, and crisp sake that only ran us around $10/glass. This place is everything they advertise it to be, and I will be back many times over. Oh, and $1 valet parking!!! I didn't use it, but what the hell? Who offers such service???
(5)Daniel M.
Boston's only true izakaya style Japanese pub. I agree with another reviewer, this place is legit. I finally was able to venture to Ittoku because I was going to a show up the street at The Paradise. Easy to find, right on Comm Ave in Allston. Parking is a little bit of an issue but they offer valet parking for $1, which I took them up on. I sat at the bar, but there seemed to be a lot of groups in the main dining area. When you walk in they greet with the traditional Japanese, 'Irraishimasse!', meaning welcome. Took a seat at the bar and ordered a Sapporo beer which they had on draught. The bartender was very helpful with the menu and even suggested a few items. I ended up ordering the yakitori 5 piece combo, bacon wrapped enoki mushroom (my favorite mushroom), and grilled shishito peppers. I love peppers. I can eat them all day long. It was all very delicious (Oishii desu) and I will be back sooner rather than later. If you are going to Ittoku and expecting the typical Boston Japanese/sushi restaurant you will be disappointed. It's more of a small pub/eatery where most of the dishes are tapas style. Izakaya style restaurants have yet to catch on in Boston but I think this place will as time goes on. Next time I will try the okonomiyaki!
(4)Naoyuki T.
I was back at Ittoku with a Japanese visitor, and I tried a few other dishes. Beef tang, seafood salad, agedashi tofu, etc. With help of Japanese staff, I ordered their best dishes and I'll revise the stars to 4, up from 3. I think food is on par with Shiki. Again, nothing is super good, but everything is quite good. My only complaints is that parking is hard.
(4)Latcho D.
What a wonderful Izakayas / Japanese tapas restaurant! Pretty authentic too. Many different Japanese dishes for you to try. They have homemade gyoza, which is awesome. Sushi is fresh. Great for groups and drinks.
(5)Jeff H.
Awesome Japanese tapas place!! They have a huge selection and their sashimi is very fresh. I went with a group of 4 and we ordered several dishes, but the one dish that we all couldn't get enough of was the grilled salmon belly. The staff is very helpful and friendly. If you don't have an Allston/Brighton don't worry, that have valet for $1.
(4)Ed Y.
Wow. What a find, my daughter found this place on yelp and wanted to go for her birthday. It use to be a french restaurant that closed last year. There is finally a place where Japanese people can go and eat authentic Japanese food. Before it was Kotobukiya food court in Somerville but now finally there is another. The food is amazing, if your not in the mood for sushi which is the norm these days and want real Japanese food like you find in thousands of izakaya restaurants all over Japan, Ittoku is the place to go. It doesn't get anymore authentic than this. Like in Japan, this is Japanese tapas style. Many small dishes, plenty of beer by the pitcher and some Japanese drinks you can't find outside of Japan. Absolutely delicious. The staff is all Japanese too so the atmosphere feels like authentic Japanese. Dining area is spacious enough for small to huge parties, can get loud like in Japan, lots of alcohol flowing. Parking is tough but for a dollar you can have your car valet. I highly recommend Izakaya Ittoku. Be prepared to taste something other than tired, over done fancy sushi plates. Japanese food is not just about raw fish, there's so much more and Izakaya gives you a small sample of it.
(5)Sam B.
The yakitori was on point. I didn't try much sushi, but the uni was spectacular. Also, the yakisoba really hit the spot. I live in Allston, and this is the closest place to a proper Japanese restaurant you'll find in the area. Highly recommended!
(5)Ms. S.
Average. Waited at least 45 minutes for a table. The ramen was only so-so (too salty, but one star for chopped fatback in the broth), and the kushiyaki was eh. We had the pork belly, chicken skin, and beef tongue. It's not so much the lack of seasoning which gave me pause, but rather the poorly cooked and uneven textures of the kushiyaki. Yuck. IMO, this place is way over-hyped. The next time I feel like ramen, I'm heading over to Pikaichi.
(2)Hiroko L.
This is a relatively new Japanese izakaya-type bar & restaurant in Boston. The main Japanese chef was the creator of the very popular Sapporo Ramen in Porter Square. Ittoku offers a large variety of Japanese soul food - very similar to typical izakayas in Japan. It's hard to find street parking near the restaurant, especially on the weekend but they have valet parking ($1) service! Favorite specialties include the kobore sushi, aburi sushi, yakitori, and ebi-peno!
(4)Vlad B.
A little piece of Tokyo in Allston. I've longed for this type of place in the Boston area (as opposed to conventional sushi) ever since coming back from a honeymoon in Japan. Went twice already, and expectations were exceeded both times. On our second visit, the service was a bit slower to refill our tea, but the place was completely packed during that time. Most of the small plates were good to outstanding. Ittoku will definitely be the go-to Japanese destination for my group of friends and I.
(5)Ben L.
I was so horribly excited. I had these images going through my head of being in a tiny little restaurant squished next to the other patrons along a slender little bar sampling little bits of food. When I went in and realized that most of the areas had little tables and plenty of room my initial dreams were crushed. Then I looked at the menu and it's ok. It's really going to be ok. There are so many little Japanese snacks and small dishes. You have have your little grilled fish or chicken on skewers, you can have your miso soup and takoyaki and you can even get your okonomiyaki! I went through with my friend and picked through the menu ordering a couple of items off almost every page of the menu. It seems a little daunting but the trickiest part is jockeying the plates on the table as new dishes come out. There's no pause in eating and there's no issue getting everything down. You may not want to eat everything off a single page but aside from that you'll be fine. I wasn't a huge fan of the smelt that I had but most things were perfectly good and the mackerel was delicious and I may have kept picking at the skin trying to get the last little remaining bits of flesh off. There really isn't any other place like Ittoku around so it's filling a really big void and through it falls short of ideal it's well worth multiple visits and I need do try a few sakes next time that I'm there.
(4)Bill W.
Coming from someone who does not particularly know Japanese food, Ittoku is great. My one gripe was that we had to wait about an hour to get a table for 7 of us. Still, we were able to just hang out at the bar drinking Sopporo until the table was ready. I think that is the only beer they have on tap, which would normally lower my grade for them, but you can't really expect a great beer selection at a Japanese restaurant. Overall, the food was great and the service was fantastic. I loved the way we just ordered a ton of small plates over and over until we had our fill. It was a bit expensive, but then again, sashimi grade fish comes at a price. Just set a price between 25 and 40 dollars to spend and you should be fine. I could see how someone could get carried away though and end up throwing like 60 dollars in a place like this just for themselves.
(3)Marilyn C.
HORRIBLE SERVICE. They wouldn't come by our table for at least a half hour, and then said that they simply "didn't have" items that were clearly on the menu, messed up the drink orders, and just overall added stress to the evening. I was ready to give a small tip but they added automatic gratuity....of course. Great food though, I would go back if they didn't have a horrendous wait staff.
(3)Sam S.
Yakitori combo is delicious.
(4)Tara T.
been hunting for an izakaya like this and finally found it after 2 years in boston! super generous servings of sashimi, broiled squid, good and fresh and inexpensive sake, beer made for a fun, casual, and yummy evening. $1 valet, so you don't even have to worry about parking.
(5)Stephanie M.
Not a very accessible location, but what a gem! The $1 parking is worth every penny, and the food... it was everything I could want. I've haunted Boston's Japanese restaurants for years and never found yakitori like this. The ramen is rich and delicious, the edamame mysteriously flavorful (steamed in broth??). Can't wait to go back.
(5)Gigi M.
Cannot say enough good about this place. I lived in Japan and was really excited to hear that there was an izakaya in the Boston area. There are happily lots of excellent Japanese restaurants to choose from here, but few other izakaya that I'm aware of. Ittoku exceeded my expectations. The food (taste and selection) was amazing, the service was great, the $1 valet parking is cheap (even with tip) and convenient, and I got to listen to and practice my Japanese, which doesn't happen very often, but at ittoku, unlike at most other Japanese food places, the staff and other customers are mostly Japanese. We had yakitori (meat on skewers), shio (salt) cabbage, chicken kara-age (fried), and a wakame (seaweed) salad, sashimi, and drinks. Love those izakaya drinks! I was a bit apprehensive about ordering sashimi in a place that doesn't specialize in sushi/sashimi, but I needn't have worried - it was great. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Sj L.
Awesome food! Delicious Japanese dishes and amazing service. Be sure to have some warm sake with your order.
(5)Kristin P.
I came here tonight with a group of 5 friends, several of which had spent time in Japan and were very excited that an izakaya style restaurant had opened in Boston. We arrived to find the place packed, with a half hour wait, which was fine and expected on a Friday night. When we were finally seated we were all starving and immediately ordered a bunch of food and drinks (we had plenty of time to look at the menu while waiting.). All the food that came out was tasty and we were happy about that (one friend said the okonomiyaki was the best he's had in the states). The big problem was... The service. It was so slow. And poor. It took about 30 minutes to get our sake we ordered, and then about 20 more minutes to get each subsequent bottle. We would have probably drunk several more bottles if they had actually come out at a reasonable pace. The food also came out slowly (which I can forgive some since this place just opened and was packed) but near the end of the night (around 10:30) when the place was emptying food was still getting to us unbelievably slow. The waitress barely checked on us, didn't refill our waters until we were done eating or even ask if we wanted to order more food or drink (which we did). We had to chase her down to order more sake (literally, my friend got up and found her). I left still hungry because I was too afraid ordering more food would have kept us there another hour (also the waitress never came by to ask...) Overall I enjoyed the food and will probably come back once it's worked out the kinks and (hopefully) the service gets better.
(3)David S.
Very good place. I tried it for the first time last week!! They had some interesting choices. I had bacon wrapped quail egg they were awesome! Chicken skin was okay. not like I had in Singapore!! We also had some other great choices both steak choices were excellent. I would say a good choice to try again! definitely fun experience and no wait on a Thursday night..
(4)Brian G.
Ok,so just to add on to this, I tried the omusoba last week and it was probably one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life... Pretty sure this dish will be a staple for me every time I go in now.
(5)Greg D.
This place is terrible. I mean really really really bad. Let's start with the food. The vast majority is plain and tastes like out of the freezer microwaved food. That is IF it's even edible at all. The place smells. They obviously don't keep clean and while the bar and dining room area are decently kept, there is this overwhelming rotten fish smell outside the place and even inside. Makes you wonder how rancid the kitchen is. The drink selection is small. They essentially only serve Sapporo, which I like, but come on. How about some options? The service is terrible and the people are generally clueless who run and work at the place and totally rude and uninviting to the locals. Hello??? You moved into a residential neighborhood don't start alienating the neighbors with your awful uncleanliness, smells and ridiculous valet parking policies. These idiots don't realize if they ran a decent restaurant they could do great business with locals who live nearby. They'd have regulars who WALKED to the restaurant. Instead they buy up a huge portion of a residential street for valet, way more than they need, when most nights it sits empty with no cars or few. They put up signs they run valet until 11:30 even though they close at 11 on weekdays and threaten to TOW their neighbors even if their restaurant is deserted at 10:30. Who wants to dine at a restaurant so rude and off-putting to their best source of business their neighbors? It shows how awful the place is from the food to the management to the service to the attitude. Go away Ittoku this place can't close quick enough. And as bad as it is? It will soon.
(1)Michael C.
I went to Ittoku recently, ordered tori karaage (fried chicken), geso karaage (fried squid) and french fries. The geso and tori were even better than before, but the biggest disappointment came with the french fries. Be aware, Ittoku completely revamped its fries. Now the fries are the same with what you can have in average American restaurants--deep fried, golden, thin. I really miss the original recipe, with which you can chew out the freshness of hand-cut potatoes. The cod roe mayo sauce is a perfect match for the original fries, but quite out of place with the new ones. The original fries are for the real gourmets, but those whose tongues have been spoiled by salt and pepper may find them tasteless and bland. But hey this is a Japanese restaurant, if you want strong flavors from condiments why don't you go to cheap Chinese restaurants? I feel nowadays there are fewer and fewer people who can appreciate the original flavor of fresh food.
(4)Jason P.
THE JAPANESE VERSION OF TAPAS! 100% Authentic Japanese comfort food and atmosphere without the long plane ride. I have not had food this good since I left Japan. I had age dashi tofu, the sauce was light and savory and the fried tofu crispy; next had the yaki ika, the sauce was slightly sweet and the squid was tender and perfectly cooked; next we had the yaki tori 10 piece sampler with a variety of traditional yaki tori dishes of scallion wrapped in bacon, chicken and shrimp served with a spicy, roasted red pepper sprinkle on the side, a plate of beef/scallions cooked in a soy/mirin based sauce which was savory and slightly sweet with a yaki onigiri/rice ball. We had 2 bottles of sake. The bill for two was less than $75 and we left satisfied. The service was very friendly and prompt and I will return. The cheap valet parking made the experience more pleasant.
(5)Allen H.
Great service, great food. Nice restaurant. Highly recommend. Variety of delicious Japanese dishes. My favorite is omusoba. Also don't forget to try the grills!
(5)Samuel F.
This place is legit! Authentic izakaya style. Which is to say, a huge selection of tasty snacks, and some selections of beer and sake. I thought the food was pretty reasonably priced for bar snacks, which is not to say that it won't add up if you want to try a lot of things. You will probably want to try a lot of things, so it can be a little pricey, but I thought it was a good price for a fun evening! Things I tried: Draft beer (Sapporo) - Exactly what you'd expect, which is good! Ochazuke with pickled plum - Japanese rice soup, great when coming in from the cold Aburi Sushi (torched sushi) - Quite tasty Bacon Uzura (bacon-wrapped quail eggs) - Awesome Yakitori Combo (chicken on a stick five ways) - Not a lot of variation in the seasoning but quite a bit of variation in the texture from the different cuts, all good Sweet potato creme brulee - Very good Was pretty crowded, but we still managed to get seated right away on a Friday night. Service was generally good. Turnaround time on the food was not quite as quick as I want in an izakaya, but it was reasonable. Enjoyed it very much and I will surely be back when the yakitori craving strikes. (I was also pleased to realize that there's a Hubway station quite close, since I was able to get there from across the river way more quickly than if I'd had to rely on the B line.)
(4)Sarah A.
I really like this place! One of the only authentic Japanese restaurants in the Boston area. I've gone a few times and the dishes are mostly all delicious! The one dish I was disappointed with was the omusoba but it was because they didn't use yakisoba noodles and it tasted more like chow mein than yakisoba. My favorite dish was the fried oysters. We also ordered the koborezushi which was pretty good! The uni was no good (I could tell from the smell of it) but the ikura and crab were not bad at all, especially considering the price. I really like the authenticity of this place. The only reason why I can't give 5 stars is that the service was a little meh when we went. I also witnessed one of the managers (?) or head waiters berating a guy who was working the entire back room of the restaurant. Poor dude was working so hard!!
(4)Steve W.
We came on a Saturday nite at 6:30 pm with 10 people. It was already crowded and we had to wait. There is a bar area and the $1 valet parking is great. Just remember to tip the attendant when you get your car back. They have grilled meats that they sell by the stick which is good. You can try all kinds which we did. All were pretty good. They also have ramen and sushi and other appetizers. I'd like to return and try the ramen and other "sticks".
(4)wing n.
five stars! no question asked!! services was excellent and the food is awesome!! We have been here 2 times and it was Friday night. The trick is to get here early, like around 6:00-ish. Otherwise, the restaurant got fill up quickly by 7pm. Parking is hard around and good that they have the $1 valet parking really help : ) We had the Udon noodle for other 3-years old daughter and she loves it. We had the skewer, fried noodle wrapped with omelette and they were all very tasty!! We haven't try the sushi yet and would love to try them on the next visit!! Services was really great and very friendly and I would totally come back for more!! So glad to have them here in Boston!
(5)Lana D.
I really love Ittoku to sit, enjoy some of the freshest sushi, and relax with tea while catching up with a friend. However, ordering a quick to-go box can be difficult. The menu on their website doesn't load and the menus I've found on other sites is not the same menu at the restaurant. Step up your game Ittoku- I'd like you to stick around longer than the restaurant before you.
(3)Hana K.
If you want AUTHENTIC Japanese food, come to Ittoku! This is a unique style of Japanese food rarely found in the States. It's called Izakaya and offers small tapas like dishes meant to be enjoyed with Japanese beer, sake, or umeshu (plum wine). MUST HAVE: Okonomiyaki - A savory pancake similar to scallion pancake but much fluffier. Omusoba - Stir-fried noodles with a Teriyaki like sauce wrapped in a omelette (I know it sounds weird but it tastes like your typical stir fried rice with egg). Delicious! Karaage - The juiciest piece of battered chicken you'll ever have! Accompanied by a set of delicious sauce. *I was not a fan of their Yakitori (chicken skewers) because it seemed a little over priced and was nothing special. TIPS: Valet parking is only $1! They do NOT take reservations for small parties on weekends so try to come here early.
(5)Susan L.
Fun place to try many different Japanese dishes. Loved how the menu had pictures so we can tell what we were ordering. Most of the items we ordered were delicious: seaweed salad, chicken and beef yakitori, omusoba, fatty tuna maki, grilled mackerel and homemade gyoza. The broiled eel and ittoku ramen were just ok. The staff was very friendly, gave great recommendations, the only bad point was slow service in filling the water glass. They had valet parking which we didn't use but I imagine it is an efficient process as the waitress asked if we had a car with valet when giving us the check.
(4)Shuang C.
Gyukotsu Ramen - Really mediocre. Strong garlic flavor in the broth that got boring after 3 slurps, no depth of flavor. I really couldn't tell it was beef stock instead of pork. Noodle were pretty hard, some would say "al dente," but I just call it "hard." One slice of flavorful pork, which is a pity since I craved more. The only other topping was scallions. The bowl was tiny, for what I get I can't say it was worth $8. Thigh Skewer - Juicy, but the flavor was concentrated on the outside Tsukune - Peppery, good Skin - No good. Only the edges were crispy, not the inside. Good Kawa I've had in NYC were crispy throughout. Some bits taste kinda burnt despite not crispy enough. Pork Belly - Not bad, strong porky flavor Salmon sashimi-good, but a bit colder than normal sashimi (could hear ice crystals while chewing) Service was really slow, but that's to be expected from a new restaurant. I'll go back in a few months and see if things improve.
(4)Anna Q.
This place is worth a try! Def authentic Japanese food just like places in Japan! I love the tuna tar tar and the steak was really juicy and cooked perfectly! I went in a large group and was seated quickly. Perfect place for large groups. They have valet parking because it is kind of hard to find parking around there. Oh and the dessert with the waffles was soooooo good and decorated so cute with the two green tea pocky sticks! I love flan waffles and ice cream plus plus plus!!
(4)Hung L.
Came here on a double date because my friend suggested this place. The staff here was really friendly, especially the valet guy. The night started off bad, we parked out front and was talking to the valet guy when some idiot in a new Honda Accord backed up for no reason and backed up into my friend's car. He came out to apologize which is when his back up sensor alarm went off, LOL, too late, you already hit the car. Valet guy told us that he saw the guy JUST pick up the car earlier that day from the dealership. Anyways, the food was alright, nothing that would make me crave to come back here. It was something new to try and was worth a shot. The omelette with ramen was good. Only tried the yakitori so I don't know how the sushi and other dishes were. All in all, if you've never tried yakitori, Ittoku is worth a try.
(3)Patrick L.
Pretty authentic izakaya joint. My Japanese friends took me here so I had high expectations. Prices were reasonable and service was great. I recommend all of the yakitori dishes.
(4)Stephen R.
As much as I want to love it here, things seem to be on the decline. Service has gotten sloppy and the variety and charm are long gone. What was a perfectly nice dining experience now seems to be centered on the college crowd and they are trying to be everything to everyone. Would love to see another yakatori type grill here in Boston; great concept, just not well executed here.
(2)Brian Y.
Great place. Great variety of delicious food. Friendly service and $1 valet! Will definitely come back for more.
(5)Henry P.
Finally! An Izakaya bar in Boston! Having had the likes in other places such at New York, Philadelphia as well as LA I was so excited to finally see that an Izakaya bar can finally have a home to call in Boston. Finally having time off of work I decided to head towards Brighton and grab dinner. First and foremost I have to say that I LOVE yakitori, I find nothing more fitting after a long day of work than to stop by with friends and coworkers, clink your beers and chow down on some delectable, somewhat greasy yet just-hits-the-stop type Japanese tapas. Having had them all over I was very eager Upon entering you are greeted at the door with "Irasshaimase!" ( welcome in Japanese ) by its entire staff, even the cooks in the back that you cannot see you hear them as well! The decor of the restaurant in very nicely decorated, modern yet still has its Japanese cultural charm. Very well lit yet just enough light to create a relaxing atmosphere. I immediately sat down and began ordering my meal, I was delighted to find out that the owners and staff are actually Japanese which is a huge plus in my book. No fancy bells or whistles, just simple and authentic Japanese dishes. My server was very polite, helpful and choosing certain items that she recommended as well as being prompt on refilling my water glass ( it never had a chance to be empty! ) Shortly my order came fresh and hot off the grill. Just the right amount of grease, a little bland than what I've had but I understand that they're still new and will definitely not stop me from coming back. My yakitori were grilled to perfection, golden on the outside yet juicy on the inside. Takoyaki could of used a little ( a lot ) less scallions and had a frozen taste but overall not too bad. I have high hopes for this establishment and is elated to see a Izakaya in Boston, I will definitely be looking forward to coming back more often. But be careful though! Those little dishes and beers add up!
(4)Eva B.
I guess I became a regular here. I came to this restaurant 8times with my bf in 3months. Saba dishes are amazingly delicious and generous portion. it is only $8. Yakitori can be little bit tricky. Most of days The yakitori is usually good, but sometimes it was too salty. Service: Excellent service. Chieh( hard to spell, The Japanese girl, very attentive but not intrusive ) $1 valet Parking is so generous... I tried most of dishes here with sake and beers. Strong recommendations: saba, kobore sushi, Japanese yum, omo yakisoba... I love most those dishes!!
(5)Iaroslav M.
absolutely great! fish is fresh and delicious. So many dishes ive never tried before, so that means the food is real authentic. Service is super friendly and the managers suggestions were useful. Its a good place to come either for dinner for 2 or you can bring a big group. Service is knowledgeable and can lead you though the menu. Prices are very reasonable. Decor is modern and casual and the same time. Im happy to see this treasure on Bostons food map.
(5)Taro M.
We went Ittoku for a dinner on May 8 2015. Reviews of Yelp complimented their foods a lot and we went there with a very high expectation, that was probably our mistake. My recommendation to readers of the review is that you should go there only if you are desperate and dying to have Japanese foods. There pricing is very very reasonable but you get what you pay for. We started with "Aburi Saba" lightly grilled mackerel. It was soggy and an indication of how their fish is prepared. Then, we had some Yakitoro, grilled chicken skewers, which are no better than frozen Yakitori you can microwave at home. The killer was their special "Fresh Buri sashimi", yellow tail. As I suspected based on the quality of "Saba", the color was all wrong and it tasted like soap bar and we gave up after one bite. We had Maine sea urchin sushi coming. It was horrible to say the least. We had one small bite and could not go any further. Other dishes we had were Toro toro tongue (beef tongue) and Agedashi Tofu, which were just borderline OK. Deep fried pork smelled either very bad oil or bad pork. We both had a stomach upset after the dinner. Probably because of the yellowtail sashimi. Do not orders sashimi there. If you like to have Sushi, go to Whole Foods. Their Sushi is much much better.
(1)J S.
I was extremely impressed with this place. Service was wonderful, food was great. There are a ton of other items on the menu I can't wait to get. The tuna tartare was some of the best I've had. S/O got spicy ramen, which I kept stealing from it was so good. I got the yakitori, which was also very tasty, even if bonito flakes look a little creepy coming out steaming (they look like they wiggle :) ). S/O was very impressed with the Sake selection. I would HIGHLY recommend this place!
(5)Cecilia W.
Forgot the bad reviews! If u want authentic japanese tapas , come here! It's not as cheap as cafe mami but who cares! Try the yakitori ! Go go go . The owner really cares about his food! The have the one dollar valet parking:)
(5)Jay T.
Yakitory was SO bland.... Bacon wrap was only cooked on top and bottom. Soggy and gross!!!! Sushi was average at best. Definitely do NOT try this place!!!!
(1)Jennifer K.
Yum, yum, yum! Walked in today at 7:30pm and was told the wait time was about 25 minutes. For a Friday evening this seemed reasonable. I settled at the bar, and we wound up staying there. ("You started with me!" cheered our evening companion, the bartender). Food was yummy as always. I had some favorites (the fried oysters are so delicious!), and some new plates; the avocado and shrimp salad was as tasty as you'd expect from that combo. The fried rice ball is a mass of salty ricey goodness. Yes, it's fried, yes it's salty, but even which chopsticks I made it vanish in record time! My biggest problem with this place? My "favorites" list is rapidly outpacing my ability to eat it all in one sitting! I started the evening with a higher end Sake. I was very amused that they served it in a glass...in the traditional wooden cup. :) The bartender was also very generous with the service. Still, I did switch to hot sake for the rest of the evening. Hey, summer is coming, can I can give up the hot stuff then, right?!? What ever you do, save some room for the red bean ice cream. I just hope we can talk these folks into a lunch service and take-out for those times I can't talk my friends into joining me!
(5)Fox J.
When it's wicked humid out, you don't want heavy pub fare- you want Ittoku. The bacon-wrapped quail eggs were perfectly cooked, and the grilled conger was a delight. We also had grilled garlic yakitori and a salmon/avocado rice roll that was incredibly delicious. The prices are phenomenally low for such a high quality of food and service.
(5)Austin J.
Very authentic, be prepared to step out of your comfort zone if you have never had authentic Japanese food. Food was beautiful! The staff are extremely helpful and friendly. The atmosphere is really great for a date or just catching up with friends.
(4)Alexei C.
Ittoku is an awesome Izakaya! Finally we have one in Boston. It's a great place to enjoy a beer and snack on a few yakitori. Not only is the food and drink good, but also relatively inexpensive. It's about time that one of these showed up!
(5)Mai U.
I almost cried with joy when I tasted the "Aburi Zushi" (slightly grilled sushi). It was the best thing I've had in Boston!! This is an authentic Japanese bar with authentic Japanese food and authentic Japanese hospitality (the servers and valet parking drivers - $1 valet! were beyond fantastic)
(5)Shirley Y.
It's currently my second time here. We are a party of 3 and were told the wait would be a max of 10 minutes because there was a table leaving now. So we waited 10 minutes and asked about how much longer. 10 more minutes...and another 10. We waited 30 minutes for a table. Finally, they made us a table. It's really a table for 2, but they squished us in. Fine, whatever. It's been 20 minutes and I don't even have a glass of water...forget how good the food is. I'm walking out.
(1)Yichen C.
A tasty and inexpensive deal at an izakaya. Good ambiance, tasty food, and a variety of drink choices - what else do you look for?
(4)Ash C.
Only true izakaya in town. All the staff members are super courteous and attentive. My favorite food was raw octopus with wasabi sauce and sea bass sashimi. All ingredients taste super fresh especially raw fish and the skewers have well balanced seasoning. There is a valet parking and street parking is residents only. It will be my new hangout place! Love love love
(5)Sora C.
I've had a late dinner at Ittoku and was surprised by the incredible foods and friedly services. First, If you just give a dollar, they do valet for you! We were hungry that night so we ordered bunch of yakitori sets and sushi&rolls. I highly recommend to try ABURI SUSHI.. three pieces of torched fishes on top of sushi rice. It was amazing!!!! I love the smell of the torched fish. We've tried at least six dishes from the menu and all satisfied!! Especially the owner or manager (Japanese) came to our table and explained the authentic Japanese dishes and where all the fishes(raw) coming from..We truly had a good time and planning to grab a quick beer/Japanese tapas tomorrow for second shot!
(5)Brian P.
Disclaimer: I came here after watching the documentary "Jiro". After finishing the video, I checked on yelp for a place to try sushi in boston and decided this place as it was the closest. It definitely has an authentic Japanese feel (trust me! I've been to Japan !) to it and I really appreciate that the manager (or guy that sits by the entrance doing paperwork) gets up to greet us. Everyone welcomes us like a typical Japanese place! Roomy, has a separate area for the bar, and with not-over stimulating decor ('Absolute simplicity is purity' as Jiro said!). We were seated and served in a timely fashion. The menu had that authentic, cheery vibe. I was thoroughly surprised by the prices! VERY reasonable. Sam adams is $4, instead of the typical 5 or 6. Because I ventured out to try sushi, and to not waste time from my indecisiveness, I went ahead and ordered the sushi combo. I'd say it took about 15 minutes to get our order so in the mean time, I checked out the restroom. No repulsive factor or anything to note, other than the toilet is not the typical "fffffff-shhhhhhhh" but rather the "FFFFFFF-SHHHHHHHHHHHH!!" kind. Try it out and you'll agree! I returned to my seat and the order came soon. I am pretty bad at discerning the different fish but I do know which is the shrimp, mackerel, tuna, and salmon. The mackerel was salty, tuna was light, but salmon was pretty juicy. the shrimp was too. I like that they don't use dyed ginger as well. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and service, but the food gets 4 stars (for my first trip). I know I'll definitely go there again. Oh and of course...water was filled promptly!
(4)Nathaniel T.
I left here very satisfied. Good food and reasonable prices. Service was prompt and setting is cool. This hits a sweet spot for unpretentious delicious food and value.
(5)Thu T.
First off, this place is huge. We came here on a weekday night and had no problem getting a table. As for the food, it is pure Japanese comfort food (I will come back with a knowledgeable Japanese friend to further verify). I came with low expectations and ended up being pleasantly surprised by the evening as each plate came out. The popular dishes are the Okonomiyaki (pancake) and the Omusoba (omelette with noodles inside), and both are good for the price. I suggest looking through the menu prior to visiting because there are a lot of small dishes you could overlook. Come here with some good friends and chances are you'll leave happy and full, without breaking the bank.
(4)Emily R.
I have been searching for okonomiyaki in Boston since falling head-over-heels in love with it on my 2010 study abroad. BonChon's is premade and defrosted, and nobody else's is really "real." Last night, I finally found what I was looking for at Ittoku. Having just returned last month from my honeymoon in Kyoto and Osaka, I can confidently say that the food at Ittoku was as good as - and sometimes better than - what I enjoyed in izakayas in Japan. The karaage was hot, perfectly flavored, and moist, and was accompanied by the perfect selection of sauces. The omusoba was delicious and insanely filling, with a perfect eggy texture. The buta kimchi was a little different from what I'm used to, but still good, and the first real buta kimchi I've seen in Boston. That okonomiyaki - man. It needs more sauce, and it's a little small, but it's perfect. After eating all of this food, my husband and I were actually glad it was a little small, because it would have been impossible to eat a full-size okonomiyaki alongside all of their other delights. I don't write food reviews, because I never know what to say. Clearly, this time, I know what to say. Go to Ittoku. Just go.
(5)Jason M.
Good sake selection and food options not available at most Japanese joints. $1 valet is a steal. Arigatou gozaimashita!
(4)Justin K.
Let me just start by saying I had no expectations of this place prior to coming here. A chain of events one Saturday led me to joining my gf and her mom for dinner here, and I had never heard of it before. When we arrive we find out they have valet parking for $1! We're off to a great start. But everything goes downhill from there. When we walk in it's pretty crowded but not overwhelmingly so, and we inquire about the wait time for a party of 3. Half an hour? Not ideal but doable, so we wait and chat in the corner. 45 minutes go by, and we ask the waiter what the status is. Another 20 mins? Are you kidding me? I ask him why it's taking so long, and he says because there are a lot of people in front of you -.- well then, why wouldn't you give us an estimate of an hour wait in the first place? Now we're stuck in this dilemma of whether we should leave or not after we've already been waiting for 45 minutes. We decide to stick around and about 10 minutes later, he tells us a table opened up that's really small and asked if we'd be ok with that. Not wanting to wait any longer, we decide to take it. Soon after we sit down we realize it was probably the worst table in the house. It was a tiny round table right by the entrance, and the constant traffic in and out the door was giving us a continuous dose of the lovely winter chill from outside. We ordered right away since we had an hour to decide what we wanted to eat, and so we sat waiting for the food, hungry and cold. By now, I was reaaaalllyy hoping the food would be able to come in and save the night, but alas, it was the rotten cherry on top of the crappy sundae. We ordered the 10 pc yakitori, kobore sushi, the mackerel, omusoba, ramen, and the belgian waffle dessert. 10 pc yakitori: From the yelp reviews I was reading while we were waiting, the yakitori seemed to be a big hit, so I was pretty excited about this. But when it came out, I didn't even realize it was the whole thing. The amount of meat on each stick is SO SMALL. I'm not a yakitori expert or anything, but everywhere else I've had it put significantly more meat. Taste wise it was pretty good, except for a few, but I was so disappointed by the lack of meat I couldn't really enjoy it. Kobore sushi: There was honestly nothing special about this. It wasn't bursting with flavor, and didn't leave much of an impression at all. I only got to try the crab and the salmon egg pieces, so I can't speak for the uni, but I doubt that was anything special either. Mackerel: This thing was SO freaking salty. Wtf. Omusoba: This was probably the only thing that I actually liked. Good size, was tasty, came out first. Ramen: Pretty bland, nothing exciting. Belgian waffle: This was so sad. It was the smallest "belgian waffle" I had ever seen. It looked like an overcooked eggo, and didn't taste much better. It was cut in half and used to sandwich the ice cream, in a pathetic attempt at being decorative. Was NOT a good ending to the meal. Oh, and did I mention that the food took forever to come out? Yeah, not coming back here again. PS - We even had to wait another 10 minutes for the valet to bring our car around. But I guess you can't really complain for $1?
(1)Charlie Z.
Great food but parking limited, u will need to request valet. Good things it's only $1. Would definitely go back to this place. Sashimi was very fresh!
(5)Itch S.
Finally an Izakaya (Japanese every-man's bar), in the region. The goal is to drink away a hard days work with your coworkers or friends while nibbling on dishes (tapas-esque) over the course of the evening. It is never highbrow food and never should be expensive. Yakitori is as everyman or as close to Japanese bar food as you can get (not what was in the South-end that just closed). It should be comfortable and conducive to relaxed drinking. Ittoku is all of the above. As such it hits all the necessary bases. Food is very good and authentic (but again this is everyman food and not to be confused with Japanese gourmet) They have a very nice eclectic Sake collection but would love to see some Shochu (I'm sure their license doesn't cover it but I have seen other establishments pass it off as a brother to Sake). Big plus: They actually have owners and staff that speak Japanese.
(4)Saeji K.
Their sushi is amazing and cheap!!!! Their dishes are on the smaller side so I would recommend a couple orders per person especially since the skewers are one per an order. Their food has lots of flavor and I think it's a better place to drink and have some food rather than a place to get dinner. The waitstaffs are very friendly and welcoming and it's ok if you have a lot of questions because they are very helpful. I would recommend this place to my friends but not for dinner.
(3)Phoebe T.
We love this place!! Have been here with our 2 years old for 4-5 times already. They recently change their menu slightly. Can't wait to try what else they have to offer. So far, these are the items we love: 1.10 pcs chef's choice Yakitiro 2. French fries. Ordered for our 2 yrs old and it tasted so much better than what we expected 3. Yakisoba noodle wrapped in egg omelette 4. Fried squid leg. So good. A must try if you love squid.
(5)Nelson W.
best Japanese restaurant in Boston
(5)Tatsu I.
On The Yelp Again, To Be Continued Happened to be in the neighborhood so I ducked in at 10:45PM and got a bunch of items ordered before 11PM last order call. Kimchee Spicy Oil Hiyayakko Tofu, Shishito Peppers, Salmon and Tuna Poke, Salmon Belly Grilled and Ochazuke with Salmon. Receipt read 30 dollars for two and it was a light late-night meal for us both. While it's too early to say good or bad, this is opening night!, there's definitely a strong effort to provide a traditional izakaya experience with most things you would expect on the menu with a few twists here and there, mostly appropriated from local dishes, which themselves are appropriated from somewhere else. (Such as the Poke.) All the dishes were competent, grilling could use a bit more of an aggressive hand at the station. Portions were a bit parsimonious but inexpensive. Would recommend that the staff be trained to let customers know appropriate number of dishes to order, more training in general. I did recognize a couple of people working from the various places in Porter Exchange. The $1 valet parking is an especially considerate benefit. I theorize success will depend not really on the quality of cooking, which is par for now, but how they manage a very large menu with many things to stock, high inventory costs versus Boston's demand for a true izakaya. Hoping Ittoku doesn't go the way of Miso Market, a valiant effort ultimately met by lack of enthusiasm and patronage by local Japanophiles.
(4)Denise L.
Great place for small plates of food to share with others. First time dining there and kids/adults all found something they enjoyed. Fun to share the food. Kids like the chicken meatballs plus the beef ramen, best. Salmon avocado roll, fried oysters very good. My favorite was the homemade gyoza - very tasty, not a thick wrapper and not too salty. We chose a variety of skewers and all were good. Everything came out piping hot as it should. This is not a noodle place. There is ramen but only two kinds - beef broth is pretty simple and bland compared to the miso version that has bean sprouts and is a little salty as it should be. Both have a piece of pork that is very tender. Parking in the area is a challenge but standard for the location. However, they do have $1 valet parking not including tip. The only downside is that we had to flag someone down to take our order.
(4)Dee Dee Y.
We arrived at 630 pm and the wait was one hour. Valet not willing to take our car till we had our table. So we decided to go to a cafe to wait for our table. Parking was a scarce resource. Circled around and found a spot next to the cafe. 30 minutes later got a call and happily drove our car back to the restaurant. Then we saw the sign "valet closed". This was unheard of that a restaurant offers valet and closes valet at 7 PM. It is such a scam and we felt cheated. We hoped the food would be good. Noooooo. Fried oyster came out freezing cold inside. Shoyu Ramen too salty with no bone soup flavor. Meat in the ramen has no flavor and very dry. Grilled meat is not marinated and has no flavor. Dessert we had waffle thing. It was pretty but the taste was a disaster.
(1)Theodore Y.
Really wanted this place to be delicious, but it just didn't deliver. Waitress was on point and friendly. The yakitori is forgettable. It has that charred taste but outside of that, the taste and consistency of the different cuts are homogenous. The yakitori on the special menu though, was delicious (maybe because it had different mayo sauces on it). We also got a bowl of ramen, which was okay. The noodles were a bit under and the one piece of pork it came with was too lean! Left disappointed.
(2)nomo c.
This only reviews cooked food since I am unable to eat raw for the time being. Ramen: broth was very fishy and noodles too chewy Bara chirashi : the picture displayed was completely different from what I got. I basically paid $10 for a lg Bowl of sushi rice with tiny bits of egg, picked radish and two tiny pieces of shrimp. Oh and some shredded pieces of unagi. Beef tongue: was soft and meaty but I wasn't crazy about the seasoning Grilled oyster: delicious and the only good thing on the menu My partner in crime tried the ankimo but said it was a little tough which is not the texture you want from liver Overall it is decent food but I've definitely had better elsewhere and don't plan on visiting again any time soon. Service was spot on and everyone is friendly.
(2)Grace M.
if you're into small plates, this place is cool b/c you can order small skewers of different meats/seafood/veggies a-la-carte but i wasn't really blown away by any of them. the sushi was okay, not amazing, and i felt like this place had a very authentic taste compared to the more americanized fun/crazy maki joints around. i didn't really enjoy it all too much but would recommend giving it a shot b/c it is quite authentic. i think it'd be a good drinking place though w/ small bites to try but not necessarily a great dinner place.
(2)Joy Y.
Ducked in here early on a cold Monday night looking for a quick bowl of ramen. The place was (not surprisingly) practically empty at 5:30, and being that I came alone, I sat at the bar. The server was very sweet and friendly and interested in how I found out about the place (I stalk new Japanese ramen restaurants,) but also respectful enough to let me read my book on my own. I ordered the Gyukotsu Ramen. The soup was flavorful and the noodles were perfectly cooked though I could have used more meat to add some substance to the bowl. I also ordered the chicken skin yakatori which was delicious-- crispy and salty with a lovely little spicy dip on the side. The portions were pretty small so I was a little disappointed in that realm but the prices were reasonable. I would definitely be interested in coming back to check out some of the other options on the menu.
(4)Yumi A.
Fresh sushi and sashimi made by real Japanese chef. A lot of great options, friendly staffs, will recommend it to all my friends.
(5)Jon T.
Loved everything about this. Arrived about 7. Just use the valet parking. Fast, friendly, cheap. Greeted and seated effortlessly. Went for food selection that ran the gamut. Sushi, yakitori, octopus balls, yellowtail collar, omusoba. All fantastic. Personal favorites were the octopus balls and toro toro beef tongue, which was warm, silky and beefy. Lush. Service was great. Just a totally fantastic experience thru and thru. Will be back
(5)Lala I.
service was friendly and polite, but very slow. the food was very underwhelming, bland (kushiyaki), relatively low quality, and not very well executed. the ambience felt more like a restaurant than izakaya which killed the mood for drinking. the $1 valet parking might have been the best part of the night. dont think i will be back anytime soon.
(2)Victoria P.
Came here with my boyfriend with high hopes, but was disappointed. The service was EXTREMELY slow so don't make any immediate plans after dinner. The portions are small - almost like japanese tapas. My boyfriend and I shared the steak, 10pc yakitori, and the ramen. Everything was just okay. Definitely not worth the price. I'm so sad...I really wanted to like this restaurant.
(2)Matt Z.
oh boy, one of the worst ramen in town.... please avoid this.
(1)Yau S.
If I can give a zero star, I would rate this restaurant - ZERO Star. Because we are one of the locals and being so close proximity to this restaurant, we decide to give it a second try. I used to work in a restaurant that serve Yakitori and once in a while, I would grave for all these fun little skewers. Today the service is an absolute joke. We have a resident sticker on our car and we parked the car at the boarder line between valet and residential. Didn't see the valet attendant anywhere near site when we first got out of the car, so we went into the restaurant. There was no hostess. We waited around for about 5 minutes before a waitress sat us down. One of our dishes - yakisoba was rubbery. The noodle was so dried and it actually stick to your teeth when you chew it. I had to send it back for a different order. The rest of our meal was - ok. Nothing in particular stands out. THEN....... When we went outside to our car after we settle our tap, the valet attendant miraculously showed up and demanded us to give him $5 for valet. The menu and the signage inside restaurant said it is $1 for valet parking. I asked why are you charging us $5 when your menu said $1 for parking? He stated I should read the chalkboard sign that sticked all the way up on the 6' snow banks with snow covering half of it. We personally didn't see the sign there before we walked in the restaurant. Parking in general has been outrageous in the past few weeks with everyone using the "space saver" all around the city with the highest record of snow fall for Feb. We sincerely thought the chalk board was one of those "space savers". Regardless of this, we gave him the money. He rudely grab the money out of my friend's hand and told us," do not come back here". What the stupid valet attendant said was the icing on the cake. I have never been spoken to such way after spending money in the restaurant and leaving a good tip for the waitress. I went back inside the restaurant and demand to speak to a manager about this. They told me that manager is not around today and ask me to speak to the owner instead. The owner came out, I explained to him what his employee did. He just kept saying "yes..yes..yes....I will speak to him later." The owner kept on explaining he paid for the valet parking spaces outside. I am shocked about the fact he agreed his employee to take $5 from us when his menu said $1 for valet. The reason the restaurant spent the money on valet parking is because they want to beef up the business sales. We came in the restaurant and SPENT money. It is not like I parked the car there to run in to use their bathroom. The valet guy did absolutely nothing to park our car. He absolutely did not deserve the $5 he asked for with his nasty attitude. The valet could have nicely explained to us and we would be happy to give him a tip. He did not need to give us such a nasty attitude and make us feel like a door mat. The owner absolutely give me no apology or did he offer to return the $5 his valet guy wrongfully demand and grabbed from us. After 3 minutes into our conversation with the owner repeatedly say " yes ..yes...yes..," I left knowing the owner will stand behind his employees and will completely disregard his customers totally. I WILL NOT go back to this restaurant again. It is absolutely not like me at all to complaint in restaurant setting. I grew up in restaurant business (my family opened 3 restaurants) and frequently dine out on regular basis. I knew no matter how bad a customer's request. I had to make sure the customers are satisfied. Normally, I don't even send dishes back unless it is absolutely not edible. I didn't ask for discount, didn't use coupon, left a good tip and Ittoku left the ever lasting impression for me "Don't come back here"......... Don't even spend $1 in this restaurant because they really don't care about their customers........and not worth to waste one meal time of your life in this place. ABSOLUTELY A JOKE!!!!
(1)Lili T.
Disappointing. Service was friendly and prompt but food wasn't good. Fried squid legs had good flavor but were tough and rubbery. Yakitori was bland and unremarkable. We got pork belly, chicken thigh, chicken skin, gizzard and short rib, none were great. The chicken skin one was especially disappointing, not crispy at all. The squid leg salad and gizzard yakitori were probably what we enjoyed the most. Overall unremarkable and we won't be back.
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