Sakana Beibe in Kyoto: Sunny American Desposition

SAKANA BEIBE (Shake it up, baby)

This robata izakaya sits in the middle of Kyoto. The owners are brothers Atsu and Yasu, who trained at an Izakaya in Vancouver, BC. They opened this establishment in April. Yasu is a colleague of Makoto Kimoto, owner of Suika and Tamari Bar, both well-known izakayas in Seattle. At the center of the restaurant is a counter that surrounds a large grilling space, where the day’s recommendation, like fish, is grilled in front of the diners. It’s an authentic Japanese Izakaya, but the brothers’ friendly and welcoming demeanor lends the place a sunny American disposition.