Mr Max Izakaya

The Got Weekend take

Why go

At Mr Max Izakaya on North Belt Line Road, the details are part of the draw: shoes come off for low-table seating, hand-lettered signs fill out the setting, and a basket lets you pick your own sake cup. The restaurant pairs its Japanese-style seating with a sushi bar and a broad sake selection, giving you plenty to explore beyond the familiar sushi dinner. Look to dishes such as oden—fishcakes served in dashi broth—alongside grilled fish collars, eggplant braised with miso, and raw octopus with wasabi. Chef Tokeshi creates the menu and personally selects the ingredients; the restaurant also holds certification from the Japan External Trade Organization as an authentic Japanese restaurant in the United States. Come for the specific pleasures of this izakaya setup: distinctive dishes, sake and a seat close to the floor. Reservations are recommended, and the official site offers a dedicated Irving booking link.

• Try oden with fishcakes in dashi broth.
• Explore grilled fish collars, miso-braised eggplant and raw octopus with wasabi.
• Choose your sake cup from a basket and explore the sake selection.
• Settle into shoes-off, low-table seating surrounded by hand-lettered signs.

A distinctive dinner for Japanese-food enthusiasts and sake drinkers who enjoy exploring dishes in a traditional seating setup.