Eating in Osaka, America

Introducing Japanese cuisine from Osaka Sushi and Izakaya

By: Michelle Lee

Candy Roll from Osaka Sushi and Izakaya

When you hear the name “Osaka,” what’s the first thing that you think of? The city in Japan? The professional tennis player? Well, the first thing that I think of is the local Japanese sushi restaurant in Layton, Utah. There are so many reasons why this restaurant is special. First of all, there are only two in Utah: one in Layton and one in Tooele. You can’t find any other restaurant going by the name Osaka Sushi and Izakaya in the country. As a local resident of Layton, I come here often to enjoy some Japanese cuisine. Due to COVID-19, their dine-in services are currently unavailable, but you can still enjoy some delicious food by yourself or with your family and friends by ordering takeout or even delivery through Doordash.

Izakaya

Osaka Sushi and Izakaya, or “Osaka Sushi” for short, opened for business in 2003. Compared to other local restaurants, this one’s fairly new. At first, the name of the restaurant was slightly unfamiliar. What exactly is izakaya? To give an answer using more familiar words, it’s a Japanese style bar where customers can enjoy drinks along with their food. From beer to sake, they can order whichever they prefer. Let’s say you stepped into Osaka Sushi right now, ready to experience their izakaya for the first time. You’ve already ordered your drinks, but you have no idea what you should order to eat. Thankfully, there’s a guide to that. According to Patty Lee’s list of 10 izakaya dishes to try, okonomiyaki, gyoza, and yakitori are some popular dishes when it comes to izakaya, and Osaka Sushi serves those three dishes.

Popular Izakaya dishes (from left to right): tsukune yakitori, gyoza, and assorted yakitori

Image from Osaka Sushi and Izakaya

Okonomiyaki is a pancake that’s cooked with seafood and vegetables, and it comes with a tangy sauce and fish flakes. It is usually customizable, so you can add whatever ingredients you’d like. Gyoza may sound a bit more familiar. It’s a type of pot stickers that can come in pork or chicken. Unlike these two dishes that are in the appetizer section of the menu, yakitori has its own section. Yakitori is basically the Japanese style meat skewers, and Osaka Sushi offers a wide variety of them, from butabara (pork belly) to hotate (scallop) to atsuage (deep fried tofu). All three dishes are quite popular in Japanese cuisine, so they’re definitely worth trying.

A Deeper Look into the Menu

Although a tiny part of Osaka Sushi’s menu has already been introduced, there’s so much more to discuss such as the sushi menu and the entrées. As most people know, sushi is quite popular among Americans. That’s why sushi is commonly ordered here. I’m not much of a sushi person, but Osaka Sushi has a particular roll that I just recently found out that I like, and that is the Candy Roll. Inside the rolled-up rice and seaweed are spicy crab and tempura shrimp. On top of the roll are some sliced avocados, sprinkled with sesame seeds and lightly drizzled with sweet sauce. If you order takeout, they give you a small container of soy sauce to dip your rolls in if you’d like. This is a great one to try if you prefer cooked sushi or are even hesitant to try sushi in general.

This is a takeout box containing 2 Candy Rolls from Osaka Sushi and Izakaya.

If you’re a fan of eels, then the Dragon Roll is for you. While the name may sound intimidating to some people, the visual presentation is a work of culinary art. The roll is topped with eel sauce and cooked eels that give off a brownish color, and inside are crab, cucumber, and avocado. Just like a tied gift box, all of this is tied together with a string of seaweed. While the Candy Roll is one of Osaka Sushi’s signature rolls, the Dragon Roll is a classic, so you can try it in different sushi restaurants and note the differences in flavor and presentation.

This is a takeout box containing 2 Dragon Rolls from Osaka Sushi and Izakaya.

Sushi may be popular among many Osaka Sushi’s customers, but of course, that doesn’t mean you’re obligated to order sushi whenever you come to this restaurant. The menu has an entrée section, which happens to be the very first section in the online version. Whether it’s a bento box or a rice bowl or noodles, you can order whatever seems appealing to your taste buds because they have it all. For those who would prefer “sushi in a bowl,” there is even a poke bowl section in the menu. The online menu is so helpful because it provides a brief but clear description of each menu item. Looking through it before ordering will save you from the frustration of not knowing what to order, which happens way too often.

Specials

Although there are plenty of sushi restaurants out there, Osaka Sushi is different because of their specials. In Layton, they give a 50% discount on a good number of sushi and even a few of their appetizers. It’s important to remember that not all sushi is on this menu. For example, based on this menu the Candy Roll is half off, but the Dragon Roll isn’t. Layton’s 50% off sushi menu is offered every Tuesday. On the other hand, Tooele’s half off sushi menu is currently available every day. If you’re ever looking for some affordable sushi in Utah, then you can visit Tooele’s restaurant.

You can also celebrate your birthday with a free entrée or roll.

Image from Osaka Sushi and Izakaya

Another special of Layton’s restaurant is their happy hour special that consists of $4 starters, reduced price sushi rolls, and more. This menu is available every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5pm to 6:30pm. Unfortunately, the happy hour special is only for dine-in, which is still not an option for customers. During a time when social distancing is essential, it’s more important to keep that distance to protect each other so that everyone can stay healthy.

Conclusion

Eating out may be an issue at the moment, but of course, that doesn’t mean you have to cook every meal while you’re at home. You can skip cooking for a couple of days and just order takeout or delivery from your favorite local restaurants or even try some place new. Take this time to explore your cuisine options. If you ever visit Layton or Tooele, don’t forget to stop by Osaka Sushi and Izakaya to enjoy some good Japanese cuisine. It’ll be like experiencing the city of Japan in America.